Examining the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on life through interviews conducted by nursing students: a qualitative study.

This study was aimed to determine the effects of the pandemic on life. This is a qualitative descriptive study and data were collected through semi-structured interviews (n = 200). The data were obtained by retrospectively examining the interviews made by the students between January and May 2021. The researchers prepared 'Participant Information Form' and 'Semi-Structured Interview Form', which were utilised as data collection tools during the interviews. The qualitative data acquired from the semi-structured interview using descriptive analysis. In the interviews, nursing students are in the role of interviewers. Participants were determined from among the relatives of the students. The research was structured and reported in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research Checklist. The data acquired regarding the effects of the pandemic on life were conceptualised under three themes (nine sub-themes): the meaning of the pandemic(1), the effects of the pandemic on life(2), and coping with the pandemic(3). The study revealed that the pandemic included individual meanings at levels of emotions (fear, hopelessness, loneliness, despair, and uncertainty) and cognition - behaviour (danger, attention-caution, restriction and awareness).Pandemic resulted in changes in the life routines of the participants, changes in mental and social spheres, and various effects as the effect of the disease such as pain.Spiritual approaches (prayer and positive thinking), as well as social support and healthy lifestyle habits, were the methods used to cope with the pandemic. It is recommended that psychiatric nurses plan and implement individual/social interventions based on a psychosocial approach in order to cope with the short and long-term effects of the pandemic. Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-023-04522-3.

The problems and information needs of patients with bipolar disorder during the treatment process: A qualitative study in Turkey.

The objective of the present study was to determine the problems and information needs of patients with bipolar disorder during the treatment process. The present research is in the type of descriptive and qualitative study. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with 11 volunteer patients with bipolar disorder. The data collected from the interviews were evaluated using the descriptive analysis method. In the study, four categories (disease onset/diagnosis stage, adherence to treatment, interpersonal relationships, information needs) and nine main themes (symptoms, family support, factors that positively affect treatment adherence, factors that negatively affect treatment adherence, positive effects of treatment, negative effects of treatment, stigmatization, treatment, disease) were determined. Patients with bipolar disorder can be helped to cope with the problems they experience by providing information about the disease, adherence to treatment, the treatment process, and the effects of drugs.

The Effect of Solution Focused Group Psychoeducation Applied to Schizophrenia Patients on Self-Esteem, Perception of Subjective Recovery and Internalized Stigmatization.

The study examined the effect of Solution-Focused Group Psychoeducation on self-esteem, subjective perception of recovery, and internalized stigma among patients with schizophrenia 39 patients with schizophrenia were recruited based design of the randomized control-group with pretest and posttest. The patients completed the "Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES)", "Subjective Recovery Assessment Scale (SubRAS)", and "Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) Scale" in pretest and posttest. After the psychoeducation, ISMI scores decreased in the intervention group (p < 0.001) but increased in the control group (p = 0.599). The posttest RSES score was lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (p = 0.001). A statistically significant difference was found between the pretest and posttest SRAS scores of the intervention group when compared to the control group (p = 0.018). After the psychoeducation, intervention group' self-esteem and subjective perception of recovery increased, while the severity of internalized stigma decreased.

The effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy-based group counseling on depressive symptomatology, anxiety levels, automatic thoughts, and coping ways Turkish nursing students: A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based group counseling focused on depressive symptoms, anxiety levels, automatic thoughts, and coping ways among undergraduate nursing students with mild to moderate depressive symptoms. DESIGN AND METHODS: A randomized, nonblinded, controlled trial was conducted. The study was completed with a total of 63 participants (n = 31, intervention group; n = 32, control group). The effect of the intervention was evaluated with Beck depression inventory, Beck anxiety inventory, automatic thoughts questionnaire, and ways of coping questionnaire. The measurements were taken three times: pretest, posttest, and 2-months posttest. FINDINGS: CBT-based group counseling was found to reduce depressive symptoms, automatic thoughts, and ineffective coping with stress and to increase effective coping with stress. In both groups, 2-months posttest mean anxiety score was lower than the pre-test mean score. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: CBT-based group counseling reduced depressive symptoms, automatic thoughts, and emotion-focused/ineffective ways for coping with stress.

Effect of treatment adherence training given to patients with bipolar disorder on treatment adherence, social functioning and quality of life: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: and purpose: Treatment non-adherence is quite common among patients with bipolar disorder, negatively affects the social functioning of patients and reduces the quality of life. This pilot study aims to measure the effect of treatment adherence training given to patients with bipolar disorder on treatment adherence, social functioning and quality of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The pilot study was conducted with 40 bipolar disorder patients, 19 in the intervention group and 21 in the control group, using a quasi-experimental research design. The data were collected using the Participant Information Form, Medication Adherence Rating Scale, Social Functioning Scale and Short Form of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire. Treatment adherence training was given once a week individually for a total of five sessions. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the demographic characteristics and pre-test scale scores of the patients in the intervention and control groups before the treatment adherence training (p > 0.05). The mean treatment adherence, social functioning and quality of life scores of the patients in the intervention group were higher in the post-test and follow-up test compared to the patients in the control group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The intervention had a positive effect on treatment adherence, social functioning and quality of life of patients. Considering the promising results of this pilot study, treatment adherence training should be studied further in the patients with biplor disorder.

Effect of Group Psychoeducation on Treatment Adherence, Quality of Life and Well-Being of Patients Diagnosed with Schizophrenia.

Psychoeducation offers a holistic approach that focuses on the philosophy of health, cooperation, coping and empowerment, but it is known that experimental studies used in psychoeducation in schizophrenia are insufficient. The study was conducted with 42 schizophrenia patients using a quasi-experimental research design. Patients were evaluated using a pretest, post-test, follow-up test, "Medication Adherence Rating Scale", "Quality of Life Scale for Schizophrenia" and "Flourishing Scale". There was a significant difference between the experimental group and the control group in terms of pretest and post-test, pretest and follow-up test scores (p < 0.05). The post-test and follow-up test scores of the patients in the experimental group were determined to increase their quality of life and well-being score (p < 0.05). This study is an important contribution to the literature due to its assessment of the relationship between psychoeducation and change in treatment adherence, quality of life and levels of well-being.

Family Functioning, Perceived Social Support, and Adaptation to a Stoma: A Descriptive, Cross-sectional Survey.

The creation of a stoma is a life-saving surgical procedure that requires major adjustments. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationships among family functioning, perceived social support, and adaptation to living with a stoma. METHOD: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2013 and June 2015 among consecutive patients who visited the stomatherapy unit of a university hospital in Ankara, Turkey, for regular follow-up visits. Eligibility criteria stipulated participants must be at least 18 years of age, literate, live with family, have their stoma for at least 2 months, and be willing to participate. Instruments included a demographic and stoma-related information form, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS; subscale range 4-28, total score range 12-84; higher scores indicate better perceived support), the McMaster Family Assessment Scale (FAS; range 1.32-3.15; higher scores indicate deteriorating family function), and the Ostomy Adjustment Inventory Scale-23 (OAI-23; range 19-85; higher scores indicate increasing adaptation). Data were entered into statistical software for analysis that included descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U and Spearman correlation tests. RESULTS: Among the 75 participants (mean age 55.4 ± 12.96 years; average stoma duration 3.77 ± 4.97 years), 41 (54.7%) were male, 59 (78.7%) were married, and mean duration of living with a stoma was 3.77 ± 4.97 years. The average MSPSS score was 61.0 5 ± 15.00, the average FAS score was 1.98 ± 0.38, and the average OAI-23 score was 49.39 ± 14.62, all within the "moderate" range for their measures. Stoma complications, time since surgery, stoma self-care, marital status, whether the surgery was planned or an emergency, and employment status significantly affected MSPSS, FAS, and OAI-23 scores. As the FAS scores increased, the MSPSS (r = -.399; P = .001), and OAI-23 (r = -.300; P = .009) scores decreased. CONCLUSION: The results suggest wound, ostomy, continence nurses should assess and encourage familial and social support. Prospective studies examining the effect of familial and social support on stoma adjustment are warranted.

Effect of psychological care given to the women who underwent hysterectomy before and after the surgery on depressive symptoms, anxiety and the body image levels.

This study was conducted for the purpose of evaluating the effect of the psychological care given to women before and after hysterectomy surgery on depression levels, anxiety and body image. This experimental study was conducted in the gynecological oncology surgery clinic of Samsun Education and Research Hospital in Turkey between the dates of January 2018 and June 2018. Those who meet the sample selection criterion and agreed to participation to the study among the women who were admitted to the clinic for hysterectomy were assigned randomly to the experimental and control groups. 42 women in total including 21 women in each of experimental and control groups formed the sample of the study. The effect of the psychological care was evaluated through Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Body Catherix Scale (BCS). The evaluation measurements were conducted as pre-test, post-test and follow-up (2-months post-test). The BDI and STAI scores of the women who receive psychological care have decreased and their BPS scores have increased. On the contrary, BDI and STAI scores of the women who receive psychological care in the experimental group have increased and their BCS scores have decreased. These findings show that psychological care has positive effects on depressive symptoms, anxiety and the body image in the women who underwent hysterectomy.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Having a hysterectomy impacts a woman's life in a significant manner. As such, deciding to undergo a hysterectomy is a difficult process for women, especially from a psychological perspective. Following a hysterectomy, women commonly experience changes in body perception, such as perceiving the body as different, feeling disabled, feeling hollow, believing they are different than other women and feeling that their body is attracting notice. The literature reports that women perceive themselves as different, alienated, impaired and changed after a hysterectomy and that they have difficulty making contact with the environment; furthermore, the more changes in body perception increase, the more depression increases.What the results of this study add? This study revealed that psychological care given to women before and after undergoing a hysterectomy decreases anxiety and increases positive body perception. For this reason, psychological care for women undergoing hysterectomies should be part of routine nursing care and should be started upon the hospitalisation of the patient.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The findings of this study indicate that after a hysterectomy, women experience not only physiological disease symptoms but also psychological problems. Therefore, women who have undergone or will undergo a hysterectomy also have psychological needs. Further study is suggested to determine what can be done with a professional team to meet the demands for psychological care.

The effect of a self-awareness and communication techniques course on the communication skills and ways of coping with stress of nursing students: An interventional study in Ankara, Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a self-awareness and communication techniques course on nursing students' communication skills and their ways of coping with stress.. METHODS: The interventional study was conducted at Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey, from February to May, 2016, and comprised second-year students in an undergraduate programme. Data was collected using the Student Information Form, Communication Skills Inventory, and Ways of Coping with Stress Inventory. The intervention course consisted of a 14-week curriculum and used rich educational methods. SPSS 20 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the123 subjects, 99(80.5%) were females. The overall mean age was 20.00}1.00 years (range: 19-25 years). Overall, 65(52.8%) subjects said they did not choose the profession of nursing voluntarily, while 81(65.9%) were satisfied with their choice. The post-intervention scores were significantly different than the baseline scores (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The course was successful in increasing the students' communication skills as well as their skills for actively coping with stress.

The Relationship Between Expressed Emotion and the Probability of Suicide Among Turkish Psychiatric Outpatients: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Survey.

The purpose of this study is to examine expressed emotion and the relationship between expressed emotion and suicide probability in psychiatric outpatients (N = 350). Patients who did not receive support from anyone scored higher on the Level of Expressed Emotion (LEE) Scale than those who were supported by family, friends, or their physician provider. Scores by patients, who selected their spouse as a key person, scored higher on the LEE than those who chose one of their children. Spouses on the LEE were often depicted as being more intrusive, reactive, and intolerant when compared with their children. The probability of suicide increased as the LEE scores on expressed emotion increased.

The first clinical practice experiences of psychiatric nursing students: A phenomenological study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate student nurses clinical experiences during their first clinical contacts with psychiatric patients by using a qualitative phenomenological approach. DESIGN: A phenomenological approach was used. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data focusing on the reality of student nurses' experience. SETTINGS: This study was conducted at a university in the capital city of Turkey. PARTICIPANTS: The participants were undergraduate nursing students. A purposive sampling of 15 students who had completed their first psychiatric clinical practicum was used in this study. METHODS: The data were collected by using unstructured interviews. The data were analysed by using Colaizzi's seven-step phenomenological method. RESULTS: Four themes were identified: theoretical information insufficient to break the stigma; breaking down the mental illness stigma; communication: the medication of mental illness; and personal development. CONCLUSION: At the end of clinical practice, stigma towards mental illness was reduced with empathy through the development of therapeutic relationships. The students stated that communication had a very important place in the treatment of mental illnesses and that psychiatric clinical practice helped them develop interpersonal relations. The results of this study can provide guidance for educators on the planning and development of clinical education.

Anxiety, Depression Levels and Quality of Life in Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a major public health problem in many parts of the world. Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are responsible for 20% of all cancer-related deaths. In Turkey, stomach cancers account for 8.9%, colon cancer for 6.9%, and pancreatic cancer for 5.9%. This study examined the anxiety-depression levels and the quality of life of patients with GI cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive study was carried out on 335 adult patients who had gastrointestinal cancer and who were hospitalized in medical oncology clinics. Data were collected by using hospital anxiety and depression scale, EORTC QLQ C-30 and a patient information form. RESULTS: Patients who were male and secondary school graduates/graduates/postgraduates experienced more functional difficulties. Patients with poor economic status experienced more symptoms. Patient general well- being decreased with increase disease duration. The level of functional difficulties decreased with an increasing number of hospital stays. Anxiety scores increased with decreasing age. Both anxiety and depression scores increased with increasing disease duration. Patients who were female, single/widowed/divorced, and literate/ elementary school graduates had higher anxiety and depression scores. Life quality decreased with increasing anxiety and depression. CONCLUSIONS: Patients should be supported to prevent anxiety and depression, and should be followed up with this in mind.

Effect of mentoring program on ways of coping with stress and locus of control for nursing students.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a 14-week mentoring program for first year nursing students and their ways of coping with stress and locus of control. METHODS: The study was designed as a quasi-experimental study. Sixty-six first year students (mentees) and 66 fourth year students (mentors) were eligible to be in the mentoring program. Mentors and mentees contacted each other weekly, as required, to provide information and support. In order to determine the efficiency of the mentoring program, a Locus of Control Scale, the Ways of Coping Inventory and Mentoring Assessment Form were filled out by mentees. RESULTS: In this study the mentoring program increased students' internal locus of control and active coping with stress. The increase in internal locus of control showed parallelism with students' behaviors of seeking social support. CONCLUSION: It is recommended that in nursing schools, the mentoring program be used as an additional program.

Evaluation of quality of life and anxiety and depression levels in patients receiving chemotherapy for colorectal cancer: impact of patient education before treatment initiation.

BACKGROUND: As a consequence of the improved survival due to the availability of several treatment option cost-effectiveness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) issues have gained increasing attention in colorectal cancer (CRC). In the present study, we aimed to evaluate quality of life, level of anxiety and depression before and after a 6-month follow-up period in chemotherapy receiving patients with CRC. METHODS: The study was conducted in 50 patients with colon or rectal cancer. All patients were informed and educated about their disease and treatment before getting the treatment and were followed for 6 months, during which they received chemotherapy. A "Questionnaire Form" to collect patient demographic characteristics; the "EORTC QLQ-C30 Scale" and "EQ-5D Scale" to evaluate patient's quality of life; and the "Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) Scale" to evaluate the level of anxiety and depression status of patients, were used as data collecting tools. RESULTS: Quality of life scores in all functional fields were high in the sixth course when compared to the first according to EORTC QLQ-C30 Scale, reaching to statistically significant level in emotional function score compared to the initial ones (P<0.05). Moreover quality of life score measured in the sixth month with EQ-5D was statistically significantly higher than the initial. CONCLUSIONS: These data, shows that with proper patient management, quality of life score, and the anxiety and depression levels improve during the course of treatment.