Evaluation of the relationship between health literacy and self-efficacy: A sample of hemodialysis patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate self-efficacy and health literacy of patients undergoing hemodialysis, to investigate the relationship between health literacy and self-efficacy, and to determine the factors affecting self-efficacy. METHODS: The study was conducted in Eskisehir and Gumushane state hospitals affiliated to the Public Hospitals Association with the participation of 198 patients receiving hemodialysis treatment for chronic renal failure. The inclusion criteria were as follows: being ⩾18 years old, receiving hemodialysis, and agreeing to participate in the study. The study data were collected using face-to-face interview technique, and they were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 59.73 ± 16.32 years. Of the patients, 46% were primary school graduates, and 63.6% reported having other chronic diseases. The mean health literacy and self-efficacy scores were found to be 79.43 ± 26.09 and 23.98 ± 7.42, respectively. The results showed that the self-efficacy scores of the patients increased as the general health literacy scores increased, with a strong linear correlation between these variables (r = 0.712; p ˂ 0.001). Patients with advanced age, low educational level, and widowed patients had lower self-efficacy and health literacy scores than others (respectively eta2 = 0.263, 0.116, 0.268, 0.141). CONCLUSION: High score of health literacy positively affects the self-efficacy score of hemodialysis patients.

Determining the musculoskeletal problems of academicians who transitioned to distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders are a significant public health issue that negatively affects individuals and society both socially and economically, and increases the cost of care and cure. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the musculoskeletal problems and risk factors of academicians who transitioned to provide distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The population of this descriptive cross-sectional study included academicians who worked in two public universities in Turkey. Ethical committee approval and institutional permissions were obtained between 1 and 28 February 2021. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Work Environment Evaluation Questionnaire, and the Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity Assessment Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the number, percentage, independent group t-test, ANOVA test, and linear regression analysis (forward method). The analysis was interpreted at the 95% confidence level and 0.05 error margin. RESULTS: Of the academicians, 78% were women, 54.6% were married, 80.6% did not regularly exercise, and 73.5% had more workload during the distance education period. Academicians mostly experienced discomfort about their eyes, necks, and waists, and an increase at a significant level was detected in their musculoskeletal system problems during the distance education period. Increasing workload, duration of mobile phone use, active time, having an ergonomic chair, and gender predicted the musculoskeletal system pain intensity by 20%. CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal system problems are a significant public health issue. Academicians should be informed and consulted for the protection of musculoskeletal system health during the distance education period.

Factors affecting nurses' professional commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: This study aims to investigate the factors affecting nurses' professional commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic. BACKGROUND: Commitment to a profession requires doing the best for that profession. In the case of the nursing profession, professional commitment gains greater importance in times of crisis, like the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 389 nurses in the Turkish state hospital. Institutional permissions, ethical approval and written consents from the participants were obtained before carrying out the study. RESULTS: The participants' mean Perceived Organizational Obstruction Scale score was 20.07 ± 8.06 (min = 5.0, max = 35.0), and their mean Nursing Professional Commitment Scale score was 71.20 ± 11.94 (min = 30.0, max = 103.0). Socio-demographic variables and perception of organisational obstruction predicted 36.7% of the variance in the professional commitment (p < .001). CONCLUSION: A road map based on the study results was developed for hospitals and nurse managers to maintain and increase nurses' professional commitment. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The results of this study may help institutions and nurse managers understand the factors affecting professional commitment during the pandemic as a whole, as well as determine primary strategies based on the importance of these factors.