The Relationship Between Digital Game Addiction and Levels of Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents Receiving Cancer Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents diagnosed with cancer are vulnerable to symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between digital game addiction and levels of anxiety and depression in adolescents receiving cancer treatment. METHODS: This analytical cross-sectional study was carried out with 120 adolescents aged 12-17 years who were receiving cancer treatment. Data were collected using the Digital Game Addiction Scale (DGAS-7) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Data were analyzed using independent-samples t test, 1-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, and simple linear regression. RESULTS: The mean age of the adolescents participating in the study was 15.21 ± 1.64 years. The mean DGAS-7 score was 15.19 ± 5.58, whereas the mean HADS Anxiety subscale score was 8.54 ± 4.33, and the mean HADS Depression subscale score was 7.72 ± 3.96. A positive, statistically significant relationship was found between the DGAS-7 mean score and the HADS Anxiety and Depression subscale mean scores (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: As the addiction levels increased in adolescents diagnosed with cancer, their anxiety and depression levels also increased. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Health professionals should be mindful that in adolescents diagnosed and treated for cancer, digital game addiction and levels of anxiety and depression may mutually reinforce each other.

Home experiences of parents of children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A qualitative study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to describe the home experiences of parents of children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was conducted using a descriptive qualitative research design. The study sample consisted of 12 parents with a child treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at a university hospital in Turkey. Semi-structured individual interviews and researcher observations were used for data collection. The interview transcripts of the study were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: Five main themes were obtained, each of which had associated sub-themes: difficulties faced in home experiences, changes in family life, feelings about home experiences, parents' ways of coping with difficulties, and parents' suggestions. CONCLUSIONS: Parents faced various difficulties in their own home experiences, and they felt fear, anxiety and stress during this period. Following the child's HSCT, there were changes in health, physical, psychological and social aspects of family life. Some parents used distraction techniques, and the support of their spouses and health professionals to cope with difficulties. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: For pediatric nurses to comprehensively assess and support the home care needs of the child and parents, they should understand the difficulties parents face in home experiences, as well as their feelings, changes in their lives, suggestions regarding home experiences, and ways of coping. Regular health screening and psychosocial support can be provided for parents of children after HSCT, and regular training can be given for parents' management of care-related problems and increasing their self-efficacy for this management.

Investigation of coronavirus anxiety and caregiving burden among the parents of children with cancer during the COVID-19 outbreak: A descriptive and cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the coronavirus anxiety and caregiving burden of parents of children with cancer during the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS: This descriptive and cross-sectional study, including 136 parents of children with cancer, was administered through an online survey at a university hospital from 1 to 31 January 2021. Participants completed a questionnaire form, the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale. RESULTS: This study identified a significant difference in the caregiving burden scores of parents according to whether their relatives had been diagnosed with COVID-19, whether they were exposed to coronavirus in their environment and whether their children had other illnesses. A significant difference in the coronavirus anxiety scores of parents was observed according to their child's sex and the time elapsed since their child's cancer diagnosis. No correlation was identified between the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale scores and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale scores. CONCLUSION: Oncology nurses and other health professionals should be aware of and consider the factors that influence the caregiving burden and coronavirus-related anxiety experienced by parents of children with cancer during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The effect of using a kaleidoscope during central venous catheter dressing changes on pain and anxiety in children with cancer: A randomised controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Many medical interventions, including the dressing changes of central venous catheters, a common procedure used for children with cancer, cause pain and anxiety in children. This can adversely affect their care and recovery. This study aims to evaluate the effect of using a kaleidoscope on reducing pain and anxiety in children with cancer during central venous catheter dressing changes. METHODS: This was a parallel randomised controlled trial with 60 children aged 6-12 diagnosed with cancer who were placed either in a kaleidoscope group (n = 30) or a control group (n = 30). Each child's anxiety was evaluated by the child using the Children's Fear Scale before, during, and after a central venous catheter dressing change, and each child's pain during and after the procedure was evaluated by the child using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WB-FACES). Each child's heart rate and oxygen saturation were measured with a pulse oximeter device before, during, and after central venous catheter dressing changes. RESULTS: Pain and anxiety scores were significantly lower in the kaleidoscope group than in the control group during and after central venous catheter dressing changes (both p < 0.001). During the procedure, the oxygen saturation values were higher (p <0 .05), and the heart rate was lower (p < 0.001) in the kaleidoscope group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Distraction with a kaleidoscope was an effective method for pain and anxiety relief during central venous catheter dressing changes in children. CLINICALTRIALS: gov NCT04924023.

Effects of mother-sung lullabies on vaccination-induced infant pain and maternal anxiety: A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of mother-sung lullabies during vaccination on vaccine-induced pain in infants and anxiety in mothers. DESIGN AND METHODS: Our team conducted a randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups between March 4, 2020 and August 28, 2020, at two family health centers in Turkey. This study included 60 healthy-term infants (lullaby group: 30, control group: 30) aged two months, who received the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, and their mothers. We used the Information Form, the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale, the Intervention Follow-Up Form (including heart rate, oxygen saturation, and crying duration), and the State Anxiety Inventory as data collection tools. RESULTS: Infants in the lullaby group had significantly decreased pain responses than those in the control group (p < .05). Further, singing a lullaby resulted in significantly reduced maternal anxiety in the lullaby group compared to the control group (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The lullaby singing method was effective for reducing infants' pain response and mothers' anxiety during vaccination. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The lullaby method can be used to reduce pain during potentially painful procedures performed in infants and reduce anxiety in mothers. The study is registered under the ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04692584.