The relation between pain perceived by the patients hospitalized in the algology clinic and their sleep and quality of life.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of perceived pain on quality of sleep and life in patients hospitalized in a pain clinic. METHODS: Population of the present descriptive study composed of patients (>18 years old) treated as inpatients in the algology clinic of a university located at the city center of Sivas, who consented to participate in the study (122 patients). Data were collected through Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Short Form 36. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis test and Pearson correlation test. Statistical significance level was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: A moderate negative correlation was found between VAS and three dimensions of SF-36, namely Physical Functioning, Role-Physical and Role-Emotional. VAS was weakly and negatively correlated to Vitality and Mental Health. There was a good linear correlation between VAS and quality of life (QoL), pain score while there was a moderate linear correlation between VAS and the total sleep score. It was found that quality of life was not statistically significantly correlated to General Health and Social Functioning. CONCLUSION: There is a relationship between pain, sleep quality and quality of life. Quality of sleep and life was found to decrease as the level of pain increased, and quality of life was affected negatively when the quality of sleep was poor. Applications towards resolving pain would have a positive effect on the quality of sleep and life.

Skin cancer knowledge and sun protection behavior among nursing students.

AIM: The objective of this study was to determine skin cancer knowledge and sun protection behavior among nursing students. METHODS: A total of 1178 nursing students in the Aegean Region of Turkey took part in this descriptive study. A score for knowledge on protection against skin cancer and a score for protective behavior against skin cancer were calculated. RESULTS: In this study, first year students sunbathed more in the middle of the day than fourth year students, and their knowledge of skin cancer was lower. No statistical difference was determined for protective behavior between the two groups. The knowledge levels and protective behavior of first year students were alarmingly low, but the average scores for knowledge and behavior of the fourth year university students were higher. The knowledge levels of the fourth year students were average but their protective behavior was insufficient. It was found that the knowledge levels and the levels of protective behavior of light-skinned students were higher. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the knowledge levels and protective behavior of first year nursing students against the harmful effects of the sun and for protection against skin cancer were alarmingly low. It also showed that the knowledge levels of the fourth year nursing students were average, but that their protective behavior was very insufficient. These findings suggest that it is of extreme importance to acquire knowledge and behavior for protection against skin cancers in the education of nursing students.

Drug-using behaviors of the elderly living in nursing homes and community-dwellings in Manisa, Turkey.

AIM: The study aimed to investigate drug-taking behaviors of the elderly living in a nursing home or community dwelling and to determine the factors affecting their behaviors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on the elderly living at homes (n=106) or in nursing homes (n=220) in the city center of Manisa located in the Aegean region of Turkey. The study data were collected between February 2011 and May 2011. For data collection, three survey forms were used: the socio-demographic questionnaire, the standardized mini mental test and the questionnaire which enquires drug-using behavior. The data were evaluated with SPSS for 15.00 Windows statistical package program. Data descriptive statistics were evaluated with the chi-square test, Student's t-test and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the whole group was 73.4±6.3 (65-94). In the study group, the mean numbers of chronic diseases and medications used were 1.2±0.9 (0-5) and 2.6±1.8 (0-10), respectively. According to the survey results, those living in nursing homes, males and those with education higher than primary school education displayed better drug-taking behaviors than those living at home, females and those with less than primary school education, respectively. CONCLUSION: The appropriate use of medicine is a major problem in old age. Living at home or in a nursing home, gender and education are important factors affecting the correct use of medicine in old age.

Asthma and quality of life in adolescents in Manisa, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asthma and the association between asthma and quality of life in sixth, seventh, and eighth graders in the city of Manisa. METHOD: The population of this cross-sectional study includes the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades of primary schools located in the city of Manisa (n = 59, 135). The study sample included 763 students from nine schools with different socioeconomic features selected by the Directorate of National Education. Data were collected under the supervision of the researcher with a socio-demographic questionnaire, International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire and Kiddo-KINDL, a quality of life scale. Descriptive statistics, Student's t-test and chi2-test were used for the evaluation of the data. RESULTS: In total, 83 children (10.9%) were diagnosed with asthma by doctors and 82 children (10.7%) had wheezing or asthmatic attacks in the past 12 months. The children with life-long asthma had significantly lower scores for quality of life than those without asthma (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of asthma is different in different geographical regions in Turkey. Our results are similar to the results of Western society and asthma has a negative effect on the quality of life of children.