The effect on pain and anxiety levels of using DistrACTION® Cards to distract children during a skin-prick test: a randomized controlled experimental study.

BACKGROUND: The effect of using DistrACTION® Cards (MMJ Labs, Atlanta, GA, USA) to distract children aged 6-10 during a skin-prick test on their levels of pain and anxiety was explored in this study. METHODS: The study was conducted as randomized, controlled, experimental research with a total of 104 children presenting at a hospital for a skin-prick test, 52 of whom comprised in the experimental and 52 in the control group. DistrACTION® Cards (MMJ Labs) were employed in the experimental group of children to distract their attention during a skin prick test by observer nurse. The observer nurse asked each child to look at the pictures on the cards and answer her questions. The pictures on the cards portray various details. The children's pain and anxiety levels were independently assessed on the basis of the feedback provided by the children, the observer nurse and the parents. The children's pain levels were assessed with the Wong-Baker Pain Scale (W-BPS) and their anxiety levels with the Children's Fear Scale (CFS). No intervention was carried out for the children in the control group. RESULTS: It was found that the children's pain scores during (distraction group [D]: 0.57±1.14; control group [C]: 3.15±3.07) and after the procedure (D: 0.05±0.23; C: 2.32±3.42) were significantly lower than those of the control group. It was seen that the anxiety scores of the experimental group during (D: 0.63±0.97; C: 2.69±1.26) and after the procedure (D: 0.11±0.37; C: 1.82±1.53) were significantly lower than those of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that the use of DistrACTION® Cards (MMJ Labs) during a skin prick test was effective in reducing children's pain and anxiety levels.

Meanings of the Feelings and Thoughts on Children's Hematology and Oncology Service Nurses' Experience: A Qualitative Study.

AIM: This study aimed to analyze the feelings and thoughts related to working in the pediatric hematology-oncology unit of the nurses who have worked in this unit in the past, related and the meanings they attribute to it. METHOD: In this qualitative study, 15 nurses between the age of 29 and 53 years, who had previously worked in the pediatric hematology-oncology unit and left the unit, were interviewed in depth. The interviews were held using a semi-structured interview form. Each interview lasted for 35 to 45 minutes. RESULTS: In the study, 5 main themes and sub-themes related to these were identified from the perspective of the nurses with working experience in the pediatric hematology-oncology unit in the past with regard to their feelings and thoughts about this experience. These included 1) feelings: (a) fear and anxiety, (b) desperation, mercy, and guilt, (c) exhaustion, and (d) longing; 2) coping; 3) professional attributions; 4) meanings related to life; and 5) unmet requirements and suggestions. CONCLUSION: Working in the pediatric hematology-oncology unit should be considered as a multi-dimensional condition that causes nurses to experience a wide variety of feelings and affects their perspectives on the profession and life. These findings can be used to strengthen the nurses working in hematology-oncology unit.

Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C)

Background/aim: The Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) is one of the most frequently used questionnaires for evaluating moderate to vigorous levels of physical activity in children. However, a Turkish version of the questionnaire was not available. This study aimed to create a Turkish version of the PAQ-C and examine its psychometric characteristics and factor structure. Materials and methods: The study was conducted with 784 primary school students (ages 9­14 years). The PAQ-C was examined for content and construct validity and analyzed in terms of reliability. Content validity was evaluated with the content validity index (CVI), construct validity, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (n = 388), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (n = 396). For reliability analysis, Cronbach's alpha and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated. The factor construct was assessed with corrected item total correlations (CITCs). Results: The CVI for the PAQ-C was 0.95. EFA revealed a two-factor construct of 'at school' and 'extracurricular'. CFA confirmed the two-factor construct. Factor loadings varied between 0.41 and 0.80. Cronbach's alpha was 0.77 and ICC was 0.91 for the test-retest for the entire sample. All CITCs were >0.20 Conclusion: The PAQ-C is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used for Turkish children

Reliability and validity of the Bristol Breastfeeding Assessment Tool in the Turkish population.

BACKGROUND: breast milk is a natural source of nourishment, with a high level of bioefficacy that is easily digestible, easy to deliver, providing all the fluids, energy and nutrients that are needed for the optimum growth and development of a newborn. OBJECTIVE: this research aims to conduct a reliability and validity study of the Bristol Breastfeeding Assessment Tool (BBAT) in the Turkish population. DESIGN: the research was conducted in methodological design. SETTING: the Child Health Follow-up Polyclinic of a university hospital in Istanbul. PARTICIPANTS: the participants were 217 breastfed infants and their mothers. FINDINGS: the internal consistency of the Turkish version of Breastfeeding Assessment Tool (Cronbach's alpha = 0.77) and the intraclass correlation level are high (ICC = 0.89). Breastfeeding Assessment Tool displayed a high correlation with LATCH (Latch Audible, Swallowing, Type of Nipple, Comfort of Breast/Nipple, H-Hold/Position) (Pearson r = 0.76; p = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Breastfeeding Assessment Tool was successfully adapted into Turkish as a reliable and valid breastfeeding assessment tool that can be quickly and easily administered, and it was shown that the instrument could be readily adapted into other languages as well. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: the Turkish version of Breastfeeding Assessment Tool is now available to Turkish midwives and nurses, who will be able to employ an instrument for breastfeeding assessment that has been proven effective. More studies are needed to demonstrate the efficacy of the instrument.