ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine nursing students' awareness of global climate change. DESIGN: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 302 undergraduate nursing students from a foundation university in Northern Cyprus during the spring semester of the 2021-2022 academic year. A descriptive information form and the Awareness Scale of University Students about Global Climate Change (ASUSGCC) were used for data collection. RESULTS: The mean ASUSGCC score was 3.54 ± 0.64, and the participants received the lowest and highest scores from the awareness of the causes of global climate change (3.54 ± 0.64) and awareness of the effects of global climate change on the natural and human environment (4.03 ± 0.70) subscales, respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed between the Global Climate Change scores and the year of education, with fourth-year students obtaining significantly higher scores (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The study found that nursing students have a moderate level of awareness of global climate change. To raise the level of awareness among these undergraduates, who will be future healthcare professionals, we recommend including climate change awareness in the national nursing curricula.
ABSTRACT
Determining the care burden of elderly caregivers in the early period allows for early intervention to protect them from the negative physical, social, and psychological effects of care. This mixed-method study aimed to determine the burden levels of caregivers of elderly individuals and evaluate their opinions on the difficulties they experienced while caregiving. This study was conducted with caregivers of 89 elderly people who were determined to need care by visiting the homes of elderly people aged 65 years and over living in Famagusta. While the KATZ index of independence in activities of daily living and the Zarit Burden Interview tool were used to collect quantitative data, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 28 selected participants to collect qualitative data. The mean age of the caregivers was 52â ±â 12 years; they were mostly female spouses/children/relatives, and 29.2% had moderate-to-severe care burden perceptions. The perception of caregiver burden levels increased as the level of dependency of elderly individuals and the duration of caregiving increased. Considering that caregiving burden affects every aspect of caregivers' lives, it should be assessed regularly. To reduce care burden, it is recommended to expand home care services and short-term care facilities, use health technologies for continuous distance education and counseling in elderly care, and financially support caregivers who cannot work due to the responsibilities of providing elderly care.
Subject(s)
Caregivers , Home Care Services , Child , Female , Humans , Aged , Adult , Middle Aged , Male , Caregivers/psychology , Caregiver Burden , Activities of Daily Living , Spouses/psychology , Cost of IllnessABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Currently, environmental problems have reached alarming levels, constituting a serious problem for public health. This study was conducted in order to evaluate the environmental awareness and sensitivity of nursing students. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted on 286 nursing students of a foundation university in Northern Cyprus in the fall term of the 2016-2017 academic year. Data were collected by using the personal information form and Environmental Awareness and Sensitivity Scale. Participants had moderate levels of environmental awareness and sensitivity. Nonsmoking nursing students had higher environmental awareness. Besides, participants who attended lectures on the environment, stayed in dormitories, participated in the activities of environmental organizations, and warned people who polluted the environment had higher environmental awareness and sensitivity. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the number of lectures and social activities on the environment could be increased in order to promote the environmental awareness of nursing students.
