The use of complementary and alternative medicine among lymphoma and cancer patients with a solid tumor: Oncology clinics at Northern and Southern Turkey.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and to examine the differences between patients who used CAM and those who did not among those who were being treated in oncology clinics in the northern and southern regions of Turkey. In order to collect the relevant data, 288 outpatients receiving chemotherapy were selected to participate in the study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research was designed as a descriptive, relational and cross-sectional study. Data was collected by the researchers using a form which had already been developed in the literature. RESULTS: As a result of our study, we found that 33.2% of the patients had stage 4 cancer and 22.9% of them had respiratory system cancer. The most commonly used form of CAM was herbal preparations, which were used by 48.4% and around 31 species of herbs were employed. 59.1% of the patients used CAM to support their conventional treatment. The prevalence of the CAM usage was determined as 32.3%. CONCLUSION: Even though a wide range of different forms of CAM are currently used by oncology patients in the northern and southern regions of Turkey, further cooperation with health professionals is needed to obtain better information about both CAM usage and medical treatment. Better informing patients about how best to use CAM in conjunction with medical treatment is also crucial.

Attitudes, beliefs and comfort levels of midwifery students regarding sexual counselling in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: this aim of this study was to determine midwifery students' attitudes and beliefs regarding sexual counselling, the factors preventing effective sexual counselling and comfort levels towards sexual counselling. PARTICIPANTS: the study was conducted with 650 students studying in the midwifery departments of eight universities in Turkey (response rate 59.1%). DESIGN: the data were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire in early 2016, which collected sociodemographic characteristics and comfort levels, and used the Sexuality Attitudes and Beliefs Survey. FINDINGS: just over half (52.4%) of the students had been confronted in clinical practice with caring for a woman who reported having sexual problems and 74.9% reported that the women they were caring for requested sexual counselling from them. Just under a half (48.8%), stated that midwives talk about these issues during care and a similar proportion (48.3%) reported that issues about sexual counselling were part of their midwifery education. Just over half (53.5%) of the midwifery students stated that sexuality is a very special subject to discuss with women but that insufficient time created a barrier to being able to discuss sexual problems. The students did not feel comfortable counselling all women, including homosexual women or sex workers who may be potentially carrying HIV. CONCLUSIONS: even though the attitudes of midwifery students toward sexual counselling were good, students were not always comfortable to provide counselling, especially to particular groups of women. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: attitudes, beliefs and comfort levels of midwifery students about sexuality and sexual counselling can be improved. Students are an important group to target as they are specialised in women's health, Different groups should be supported through training concerning sexual counselling.

Psychometric properties of the self-efficacy for clinical evaluation scale in Turkish nursing students.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To examine psychometric properties of the Self-Efficacy for Clinical Evaluation Scale (SECS) in a nursing student sample. BACKGROUND: Self-efficacy is a good choice to be used in order to make a prediction of nursing students' performance in clinical practice. The SECS, consisting of perceived self-efficacy and importance subscales, seems to be suitable to evaluate self-efficacy regarding care skills for patients with chronic diseases. However, there is not a valid tool to evaluate the perception of self-efficacy for Turkish nursing students. DESIGN: Cross-sectional methodological design. METHODS: The sample included 400 Turkish nursing students who attended practicum at a hospital. Content of the SECS was evaluated by content validity index (CVI). Reliability was evaluated with internal consistency, item-total correlation and test-retest reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and convergent and divergent validity were used to test the validity. RESULTS: The CVI results were satisfactory. We found satisfactory evidence for internal consistency and item-total correlations. Intraclass correlation coefficients showed stability of subscales. The CFA replicated two-factor structure for the SECS. This was reflected in all fit indices. All factor loadings were positive and were above the perfect level. The convergent validity was supported by the correlation between SECS and General Self-Efficacy Scale. The divergent validity findings demonstrated that SECS differentiated between students with various levels of general point average, which is an indicator of academic success. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, SECS is a reliable and valid tool used in clinical nursing education settings. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Measuring students' self-efficacy in a clinical environment can provide an insight for students into what they have learned. Nurse educators can also use the SECS to spot nursing students with weaknesses in care activities and create educational strategies to help them to enhance their academic performance. Using the SECS can yield an insight both for students and for nursing educators.

Factors affecting health status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The aim of this study is to determine the correlation between the quality of life (QOL) and subjective dyspnoea, subjective fatigue, sleep quality, and the forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV(1)) % predicted value and collective contribution of these variables on QOL. The study was conducted with 102 patients. Pulmonary function tests (FEV(1) % predicted value, FEV(1) /forced vital capacity), subjective dyspnoea, subjective fatigue, sleep quality were assessed. There were negative correlations between QOL total score and pulmonary function tests, positive correlations between QOL total score and subjective dyspnoea score, subjective fatigue and sleep quality total scores. In addition, subjective dyspnoea, subjective fatigue and sleep quality total scores and FEV(1) % predicted value accounted for 68.1% of the variance on QOL. As a conclusion of these findings, it has been recommended that these variables should be considered when planning an approach towards improving the QOL in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

The relation of the subjective dyspnoea perception with objective dyspnoea indicators, quality of life and functional capacity in patients with COPD.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to determine the relationship between the subjective dyspnoea perception and objective dyspnoea indicators, quality of life and functional capacity. BACKGROUND: Even though dyspnoea severity is generally assessed through objective parameters such as respiratory functions and arterial blood gases, studies indicate that subjectively perceived dyspnoea is not always consistent with objective dyspnoea indicators. For that reason, it is necessary to assess the changes caused by dyspnoea on quality of life and on functional capacity in addition to objective dyspnoea indicators to assess subjective dyspnoea in the most accurate way in patients with COPD. DESIGN: A correlational study. METHODS: The subjective dyspnoea was evaluated via the Basal Dyspnea Index and Visual Analog Scale, whereas objective dyspnoea was evaluated through respiratory function tests and arterial blood gases, which are physiological measurements. The quality of life was assessed with SF-36 and St. George's Respiratory Diseases Questionnaire. Functional capacity was evaluated with the six-minute walking distance test. RESULTS: Basal Dyspnea Index score was associated with respiratory functions (FEV1 , FVC, FEV1 /FVC), arterial blood gases (SaO2 , PaO2 , pH), the quality of life and functional capacity, while Visual Analog Scale score was not associated with these measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Subjective dyspnoea severity assessed by Basal Dyspnea Index is related to the objective dyspnoea indicators, quality of life and functional capacity. In the assessment of dyspnoea, Basal Dyspnea Index is an appropriate measure, whereas Visual Analog Scale is not. In the light of these results, we recommend that Basal Dyspnea Index should be used in the assessment of dyspnoea in patients with COPD. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: We conclude that dyspnoea will be evaluated in the most accurate and short way with the Basal Dyspnea Index. In addition, the effects of dyspnoea on quality of life and functional capacity will be predicted by Basal Dyspnea Index.

Dietary habits contributing to the cancer prevention among health college students in Turkey.

This descriptive study was made to evaluate the dietary habits contributing to cancer prevention of 319 health college students. Data collection form included questions about demographic characteristics and 33 statements which evaluate dietary habits contributing to cancer prevention. Among the students, 56.1% consumed fast food outside the home/dormitory twice a week or more and 47% never exercised. Moreover, 63.9% of the students reported that their dietary habits changed negatively and 69% stated that their fruit and vegetable consumption decreased after starting the health college. The students mostly paid attention to preserving food and water consumption while they paid least attention to maintaining healthy weight and whole grain consumption. Female students, those who paid attention to the amount and calorie of the food they consumed, students who did not consume fast food, and students who exercised twice a week or three times a week had better dietary habits contributing to cancer prevention (p<0.05). According to these results we recommend that interventions which will reduce fast food consumption and increase fruit and vegetable consumption and exercising in university students should be implemented. For this purpose, appropriate conditions for preparing and preserving healthy food should be provided as well as increasing the frequency of vegetable containing meals and providing fruits and salads in every meal at school cafeterias.

The complementary and alternative medicine use among asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients in the southern region of Turkey.

The aim of this descriptive study was to investigate the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) applications and factors associated and its use among asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients in the southern region of Turkey. The study sample consisted of 197 patients. A percentage of 86.3 of asthma and COPD patients used at least one type of CAM. The most commonly used CAM methods are deep inhalation (51.8%), herb or herbal tea (46.7%), praying (41.1%) and applying vapour (36%). Patients generally use CAM methods for breathing comfortably, improving respiration, reducing dyspnoea, and relaxing. Patients frequently use CAM methods together with medical treatments, and they benefit from these methods without getting any harm. The rate of CAM usage is higher among patients who have a longer period of asthma and COPD and more than five symptoms of asthma and COPD. In conclusion, CAM is used commonly by asthma and COPD patients. The CAM usage rate is higher among patients who have a longer period of asthma and COPD and more than five symptoms of asthma and COPD.

The effectiveness of nurse-led, home-based pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD in Turkey.

The goal of this study was to determine the effectiveness of nurse-led, home-based pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with stage 3 or 4 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to the Global Initiative for COPD (GOLD) staging system. The study consisted of 32 patients--a nurse-led, home-based pulmonary rehabilitation group (16) and a control group (16). In the rehabilitation program, patients received education about their diseases and performed breathing exercises and lower- and upper-extremity aerobic exercises at their homes during the 3-month period of the study. There was meaningful improvement in the rehabilitation group in terms of pulmonary function tests (FEV1 % predicted value), artery blood gases (PaCO2), quality of life, dyspnea, and functional capacity. On the other hand, no meaningful change was observed in the control group. The study showed that the nurse-led, home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program had positive effects on the patients with COPD.