The effect of a training program on family stress and life satisfaction: A randomized controlled study of mothers of children with disabilities.

OBJECTIVE: This randomized controlled study focused on mothers of children with disabilities to determine the effect of a training program on family stress and life satisfaction. METHOD: The sample consisted of 52 mothers of children with disabilities (intervention group = 26 and control group = 26). The intervention group participated in a five-session training program on coping mechanisms and life satisfaction. Data were collected using the Questionnaire On Resource And Stress (QRS-FT) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). RESULTS: After the intervention, the mean life satisfaction scores of the intervention group participants increased (p < 0.05), while their mean total score of family stress decreased (p > 0.05). In the control group, the mean life satisfaction scores decreased (p > 0.05), while the mean total score of family stress increased (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The intervention helped mothers of children with disabilities experience more satisfaction with life and less family stress. Authorities should consider the outcomes of educational intervention studies and formulate training programs for mothers of children with disabilities. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Nurses can use interactive educational programs as nursing interventions to help mothers of children with disabilities experience less family stress and more life satisfaction.

The immediate effect of thoracolumbar fascia taping on biomechanical properties, low back pain and balance in individuals with transfemoral amputation.

BACKGROUND: In individuals with transfemoral amputation (TFA), adaptations caused by prosthesis use may adversely affect contractile/noncontractile structures. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immediate effect of the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) kinesiology taping (KT) on the tone and stiffness of the fascia, low back pain (LBP) and standing balance in individuals with TFA. METHODS: Syrian male participants with TFA were enrolled in the prospective, single-blind, randomised controlled trial. Participants were divided into two groups: Experimental (EG with KT, n= 15) and Control (CG with sham KT, n= 14). A 6-minute walk test (6MWT) was performed, after which KT was applied. Measurements were taken at baseline, immediately after the 6MWT and 30 minutes after KT. RESULTS: Although pain decreased below baseline in both groups at 30 minutes post intervention (p< 0.001), the rate of pain reduction was significantly higher in the EG (p= 0.016). Anterior-posterior sway with eyes open improved significantly 30 minutes after KT application only in the EG (p= 0.010). In the eyes closed condition, anterior-posterior and medio-lateral sway decreased significantly compared to baseline 30 minutes after taping in the EG (p= 0.010-0.032). CONCLUSION: KT can be used as an effective method to support standing balance and reduce LBP in individuals with TFA.

The Quality of Life and Influencing Factors in Turkish Children Receiving Cancer Treatment.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the quality of life and the influencing factors in children aged 8-12 years who are treated for cancer in Turkey. DESIGN AND METHODS: The cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted on 300 children with cancer and their parents. The data were collected using the Questionnaire Form and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory PedsQL (4.0) Child and Parent Form. Descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, univariate and multiple binary logistic regression analysis were used for the evaluation. RESULTS: The mean age of the children was 8.92 ± 0.98 years and the quality of life scores in all sub-dimensions and in total (36.26 ± 5.23) were found to be low. According to the univariate binary logistic regression analysis, the father being unemployed, the house being heated with a stove, and development of extravasation during the chemotherapy treatment process created a risk of decreasing the children's quality of life score (7.15 units, 41.29 units, and 44.47 units, respectively) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The father's unemployment, heating the house with a stove, and the development of extravasation during treatment were found to affect the children's quality of life negatively in the study. Inter-institutional cooperation, taking the necessary measures to decrease the frequency of extravasation development, and ensuring nurses continue family-centered care during these processes are recommended to support the families. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Interventions for early detection and prevention of the negative changes related to the quality of life in children with cancer need to be planned.

Determination of burnout, life satisfaction, and stress coping styles of parents with disabled children.

PURPOSE: This study determined problems, fatigue, life satisfaction, family stress, and coping strategies of families who had a disabled child and the relationships between them. DESIGN AND METHODS: This descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted with 191 parents of children with disabilities. FINDINGS: As the life satisfaction of childcare providers increased, their emotional exhaustion decreased and sense of personal accomplishment increased (p < 0.05). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: It is necessary that nurses and health team members should provide regular and continuous education for burnout, life satisfaction, family stress and coping styles to parents of disabled children using interactive education techniques and group interactions.

Sleep Quality and Related Factors in Turkish High School Adolescents.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine the sleep quality and related risk factors in high school adolescents. DESIGNS AND METHODS: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 400 adolescents. Data collection was with the 'Data Collection Form' and the 'Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index' (PSQI). RESULTS: More than half of the adolescents had poor sleep quality (53.0%). PSQI scores were found to be associated with age, sex, poor school success, chronic disease, exposure to domestic verbal violence, inability to participate in sports, and feeling tired. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Adolescents should be supported by educational and informative programs about sleep hygiene.

Can positive parenting program (Triple P) be useful to prevent child maltreatment?

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effect of the positive parenting program (Triple P) on child maltreatment, children's behaviors, and coping strategies of mothers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was the pretest-posttest quasiexperimental design. Secondary care state hospital located in the Cappadocia region between January and February 2016. This study was conducted with mothers (n: 138) of children aged between 4 and 12 years, 126 mothers were available to finish the study. Triple P was provided to the mothers in totally three sessions as once per a week. Mothers filled the scales and parent-child information form before the intervention and just after the intervention. Parent-child information form, child behavior checklist, and ways of coping inventory were administered to the mothers. RESULTS: It was determined that after the training, mean scores obtained by the children from the subscales of anxiety, social problems, somatic complaints, attention problems, rule-breaking, and aggressive behaviors decreased (P < 0.05) and desperate approach and submissive approach mean scores of the mothers decreased (P < 0.001) whereas their social support mean scores increased (P < 0.05). In addition, the mothers, who stated that they were frequently looking angry (17.4%), yelling (24.6%), sometimes humiliating (27.7%) to their children, and injured their faces (6.3%) in the past 1 month, said that they did these behaviors to their children at lower rate at the end of the training (3.9%, 17.4%, 19.8%, and 0.0%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: It was determined that Triple P was effective in reducing children's behavioral problems and improving mothers' strategies of coping with stress and contributed the reduction of emotional and physical abuse applied to children. It is recommended to ensure the continuity of these training programs.

[Case management based multidisciplinary care protocol in the palliative care of cancer patients]. / Kanser hastasinin palyatif bakiminda vaka yönetimine dayali multidispliner bakim protokolü.

Today, multifaceted approach is needed for the palliative care of advanced stage cancer patients. The main objective for these patients, elimination of pain and other symptoms, psychosocial and spiritual needs are met and to increase the quality of life. We are also faced with the challenge of meeting the physical and psychosocial needs of family members. The purpose of a holistic approach to patient and family who provide effective and quality care, care coordination and case management of a multidisciplinary team approach is based on cooperation. Care protocols specified patient care activities to be carried by the related disciplines to achieve results on a timeline that shows a certain, a multidisciplinary clinical management tool. A lot of care guidelines and protocols developed by a team of experts to contribute to the palliative care activities, and this is thought to be a guiding team members, working with patients.