The effect of footbath applied to patients receiving hemodialysis treatment on comfort, fatigue, and dialysis symptoms: A randomized controlled study.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of warm water footbaths on comfort, fatigue, and dialysis symptoms in patients undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS: Data were collected from a total of 58 patients, 31 in the intervention group and 27 in the placebo group. The data in the study are collected using the intervention and control group informed volunteer Form, Patient Demonstration Form, foot Bath Application Monitoring Chart, fatigue VAS Scale Form, Dialysis Symptom Index, and Hemodialysis Comfort Scale (HCS). RESULTS: In the second follow-up in the intervention group, HCS was determined to significantly increase all sub-size and total score averages by the first trace (p < 0.05). VAS fatigue point averages were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the intervention group. CONCLUSION: It was determined that the footbath applied to patients who received hemodialysis treatment increased comfort and reduced fatigue and dialysis symptoms.

The Power of Spiritual Well-Being: Its Relationship with Pain Intensity, Pain Management, and Pain Catastrophizing in Individuals with Chronic Pain.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain negatively affects human life. Chronic pain is multidimensional. Therefore, a multidimensional approach that focuses on the biologic, psychological, sociologic, and spiritual needs of patients is required in pain management. AIM: This study was conducted to determine the relationship of spiritual well-being with the level of pain catastrophizing, pain intensity, and pain management in individuals with chronic pain. METHODS: The snowball sampling method was used in the research and the data were collected by individuals with ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis who had chronic pain via an online survey form. The study was completed between March and May 2023 with the participation of 399 people. The data of the study were collected using the Descriptive Characteristics Questionnaire, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Three-Factor Spiritual Well-Being Scale, and Numerical Rating Scale. RESULTS: There was a negative, high-level correlation between the spiritual well-being and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale and its subscales. At the same time, there was a negative, weak level correlation between the levels of spiritual well-being and the pain intensity. Spiritual Well-Being Scale scores differ according to the method used in pain management. Spiritual well-being and pain intensity explain 68% of the total variance in pain catastrophizing. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this research show that there may be a relationship between increased spirituality and reduced perceptions of pain in this population.

The effect of audio-visual video with korotkoff sounds on anxiety levels and blood pressure measurement skills of nursing students: A randomized controlled study.

AIM: This study was aimed to determine the effect of the audio-visual video created with korotkoff sounds on the anxiety levels and blood pressure measurement skills of nursing students. BACKGROUND: Blood pressure measurement is the basis of nursing care and clinical decision. For this reason, it is stated that nursing students should specialize in this skill. DESIGN: This research was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study. METHOD: This research was conducted with 130 (intervention group: 67, control group: 63) nursing students in the nursing department of a university in March 2022. Before the skill practice, the students in the intervention group listened to the korotkoff sounds using an audio-visual video containing the korotkoff sounds and then the practice was made. Data of the study were collected using the short version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the student introduction form and the blood pressure measurement evaluation form. RESULTS: The mean age of the students was 19.41 (SD 1.75) in the intervention group and 19.20 (SD 1.04) in the control group. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory mean scores of both groups were similar before the skill practice. At the end of the skill practice, the state anxiety score of the intervention group 0.56 (SD 1.03) was lower than the control group 1.30 (SD 1.81) and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). When the blood pressure measurements of the students in both groups were compared, the rate of hearing korotkoff sounds and measuring blood pressure correctly was higher in the students in the intervention group and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The korotkoff sounds presented with audio-visual video increased the skill levels of the students and reduced the anxiety level. In this direction; it is recommended to use audio-visual video containing korotkoff sounds for students to gain blood pressure measurement skills.

Do different wiping techniques in phlebotomy have an effect on vessel visibility, procedural success, and phlebotomy-related complications?

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different wiping techniques used in phlebotomy on vein visibility, procedural success, and phlebotomy-related complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-center, comparative, randomized study was conducted with 90 patients in the internal medicine clinic of a tertiary hospital. During the phlebotomy procedure, the phlebotomy site was wiped with circular technique in the Group-I, vertical technique in the Group-II, and vertical + circular technique in the Group-III. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the three groups in terms of vein visibility after wiping of the phlebotomy site (p < 0.05). The time spent for blood sampling was shorter in the Groups I and II (p > 0.05). In the 3-day follow-up after the blood sample was taken, the ecchymosis and hematoma rates of the groups were similar (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Vertical wiping and vertical + circular wiping techniques used in the cleaning of the phlebotomy site increased the visibility of the vein compared to only circular wiping. The time spent for blood sampling was shorter in the vertical wiping and vertical + circular wiping groups.

The Effect of Pain Experienced During the COVID-19 Infection on the Fear of Pain and Quality of Life.

AIMS: This study was conducted to determine the effect of pain experienced during the COVID-19 infection on the fear of pain and quality of life of individuals. BACKGROUND: Pain is a complex, multidimensional, neurophysiological and psychosocial experience known only to the person experiencing pain. Although there are studies showing that individuals with COVID-19 experience pain, there are no studies that evaluate the relationship between fear of pain and quality of life of people after COVID-19 infection. DESIGN: The study was carried out as descriptive, comparative and correlational design. METHODS: Snowball sampling method was used in the research and the data were collected online. A total of 404 individuals participated in the study. The data were collected using the Descriptive Characteristics Questionnaire, Numeric Rating Scale, Fear of Pain Questionnaire-III and The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire. RESULTS: It was determined that 87.1% of the individuals experienced pain during COVID-19 and the mean intensity of this pain was 6.16 ± 2.75. In addition, 37.1% of the individuals experienced pain for a while after COVID-19 and the mean intensity of this pain was 3.81 ± 3.00. The individuals who experienced pain during COVID-19 had higher fear of pain and lower quality of life than those who did not experience pain. There was a significant correlation between the severity of pain experienced during COVID-19 with the fear of pain and the quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of the study, it can be said that individuals who experienced intense pain during COVID-19 infection have higher fear of pain and lower quality of life. In addition, as the fear of pain increases, the quality of life of individuals decreases.

The Experiences of Individuals Experiencing Pain During COVID-19 Infection: A Phenomenological Study.

AIM: This research was conducted to determine the pain experience of individuals who experience pain during COVID-19 infection. METHOD: The research was carried out with the phenomenological qualitative design, and was completed with 15 participants. The data of the study were collected with the descriptive characteristics form, a semi-structured interview form about pain experienced during COVID-19 infection and Numeric Rating Scale. Descriptive and content analysis methods were used in the evaluation of qualitative data. RESULTS: The data of the research were examined in 6 themes: 1) "pain from the perspective of participants"; 2) "characteristics of pain experienced during COVID-19 infection"; 3) "the effect of pain experienced during COVID-19 infection on daily life"; 4) "management of pain experienced during COVID-19 infection"; 5) "fear of re-experiencing the pain experienced during COVID-19 infection"; and 6) "metaphors for pain experienced during COVID-19 infection". CONCLUSIONS: Participants generally defined pain as a feeling that hurts and causes people to suffer. The participants used many methods to relieve the intense pain they experienced. However, nearly half of the participants stated that their pain did not completely disappear despite the many methods they used. The approximately two-thirds of the participants were afraid of re-experiencing this pain. For effective pain management, it is important to define the pain behaviors of the patients correctly, to determine the opinions of the patients about the pain, and to evaluate the effects of the pain experienced.

The effect of progressive muscle relaxation and nature sounds on blood pressure measurement skills, anxiety levels, and vital signs in nursing students.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and nature sounds (NS) on students' blood pressure measurement skills, anxiety levels, and vital signs. DESIGN AND METHODS: This randomized controlled study conducted at the nursing department of a university in February 2020. During skill training, one group was given PMR and one group was given PMR + NS. The routine teaching procedure was applied to the control group. FINDINGS: The PMR (37.80 ± 10.1) and PMR + NS (31.19 ± 6.15) groups had lower mean postintervention anxiety scores compared with the control group (40.86 ± 9.13). The PMR + NS group had higher mean postintervention knowledge test score than other. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: PMR + NS and PMR helped reduce nursing students' anxiety levels and pulse rates. PMR + NS helped increase their blood pressure knowledge test scores.