Assessment of the Difficulties Experienced by Individuals with Intestinal Stomas: A Qualitative Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the difficulties faced by individuals with intestinal stomas. METHODS: The authors used a qualitative descriptive phenomenologic design. The study population comprised individuals with intestinal stoma living in Eskisehir who were 18 years or older and did not have any mental, physical, and communication disorders. Criterion sampling and snowball sampling methods were used. Data were collected from June to September 2019 through a questionnaire of personal characteristics as well as a semistructured interview. Data on personal characteristics were analyzed in numbers and percentages, and qualitative data were analyzed using the MAXQDA 2020 program (VERBI Software, Berlin, Germany). RESULTS: The study data were evaluated under two headings: (1) themes created using the Roy's Adaptation Model and (2) other themes. In the themes created using the Roy's Adaptation Model, difficulties related to the physiologic adaptation mode and interdependence adaptation mode were observed, whereas among other themes, difficulties due to lack of information and economic worries were commonly reported. CONCLUSIONS: Most individuals experienced sleep pattern disturbances; faced issues in their relationships with family and friends due to physiologic and psychological distress; received no training for stoma care, diet, or sexual life; could not cope with issues related to the stoma; and faced financial difficulties in procuring stoma bags and care products.

The Null Effect of Chewing Gum During Hemodialysis on Dry Mouth.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to determine the effect of chewing gum during hemodialysis on dry mouth and its symptoms. BACKGROUND: The imposition of fluid restriction and the use of medications that reduce saliva production may lead to dry mouth. DESIGN: This study is a randomized, controlled, single-blind, crossover experimental study. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 61 hemodialysis patients recruited from 4 dialysis centers in southern Turkey. The data were collected using a Patient Identification Form, a Form for Assessing the Symptoms of Dry Mouth, and a Patient Follow-up Form. Saliva samples were obtained for analysis of flow rates. RESULTS: The salivary flow rates of the patients increased during the first hour on the day when gum was chewed, and this increase was statistically significant. However, no significant difference was found between the salivary flow rates at the 0- and 4-hour time points on the day when gum was chewed (P > .05). In addition, the salivary pH values were in the normal range on both days, although the pH values tended to be more acidic on the day when gum was not chewed. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, it was found that chewing gum for 15 minutes each hour during a hemodialysis session did not increase the saliva amount, maintain the pH value of the saliva within a normal range, or control dry mouth symptoms.

Interruption of the medication preparation process and an examination of factors causing interruptions.

AIM: This study was conducted in an attempt to examine the number and duration of interruptions during the medication preparation process and to identify the factors causing these interruptions. BACKGROUND: Interruptions during the medication preparation process can cause medication errors owing to nurses' lack of attention. METHOD: A descriptive study was conducted at the Internal Diseases and General Surgery services of a university hospital between 15 June 2012 and 30 July 2012. The data were collected using the 'Observation Form of Preparing Medication.' RESULT: A total of 122 observations were made in the study. It was found that there was an interruption during the process of preparing medication in 95.9% of observations. The average number (±SD) of interruptions was 5.8 ± 4. The individuals causing the interruption during medication preparation were primarily nurses working in the same service. Receiving from or giving materials to the treatment room were the main reasons for the interruptions. CONCLUSION: This study found a very high interruption rate during the process of preparing medications. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: As interruptions during medication preparation can cause medical errors, in-service teaching should be provided to raise awareness for this important issue. The findings of the study can be useful for enhancing the conditions of the physical environment, separating the treatment rooms and using the treatment rooms only for preparing medication.

Staff nurses' knowledge and perceived responsibilities for delivering care to patients with intestinal ostomies: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the opinions of nurses regarding their knowledge of and perceived responsibility for providing ostomy care. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The target population of this descriptive study was staff nurses working in an acute care hospital in Ankara, Turkey. METHODS: Data were collected by a questionnaire that included 2 sections. The first section queried descriptive information about the nurses, the perceived responsibility for providing ostomy care for patients. The second section included 54 items that focused on knowledge about stoma care. RESULTS: Evaluating the answers of the nurses to all statements in general (54 propositions), the median value of the "I do not know/false" answers (27.50) was observed to be close to the median value of the "true" answers (26.5). These results indicated that the staff nurses' knowledge of ostomy care was not at the desired level. Responses from section 2 indicated that nonspecialty practice staff did not consider stoma care as their responsibility. Factors that influenced knowledge of ostomy care were number of years working as a nurse, level of education, level of reviewing professional literature on ostomy care, and participation in scientific meetings on the subject. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings reveal that knowledge level of nonspecialty nurses about intestinal stoma care is inadequate, and most staff nurses did not consider themselves responsible for stoma care.

Depilatory cream vs. shaving: does it influence recurrences of genital warts?

Genital warts are common infections caused by human papilloma viruses (HPV). Although the diagnosis is straight forward and many different treatment choices are present, recurrences are almost inevitable. There are many factors influencing recurrences such as immunity, HPV types, sexual partnership, and hygiene. Hair removal methods may be an issue in recurrence. In this retrospective study, the recurrence rate of genital warts in 50 patients using depilatory creams or shaving as a regular hair removal method before and after treatment by electrocauterization were evaluated. Both methods showed no difference in recurrence rates. Therefore, no depilatory method can be advised as decreasing genital recurrence of genital warts.