Nursing and midwifery college students' expectations of their educators and perceived stressors during their education: a pilot study in Turkey.

Nursing and midwifery education is known to be negatively affected by several factors. Nevertheless, the present learning environments for students can be effectively altered to optimize their learning and practical training and decrease their stress levels. In order to minimize the stressors and to encourage the qualities needed of a competent educator, it would be important to first determine students' perceived stressors and the expectations they have of their educators. The main purpose of the study was to define the expectations that nursing and midwifery college students have of their educators as well as the stressors they perceive during their education. The present descriptive study was carried out with 474 students; there were 345 nursing students and 129 midwifery students at a college in northeastern Turkey. Data were obtained with a questionnaire and assessed with X(2) analyses. The findings of the study demonstrated that a majority of the students had some expectations of the educators and perceived stressors during their education. The students' most common expectations of the educators included their desire to be understood during their clinical education. In addition, students wanted the educators to make more use of visual materials during the theoretical part of their courses. The study also determined that the students felt very stressed when they were questioned by the educator on both clinical and theoretical aspects of their coursework.

Attitudes and health beliefs associated with breast cancer screening behaviors among Turkish women.

PROBLEM: This research was undertaken to determine the attitudes and health beliefs of a sample of Turkish women about breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination, and mammography. DESIGN: Data were collected by means of a researcher-designed questionnaire and the Champion Health Belief Model Scale. A total of 1,342 women participated in this study. RESULTS: It was found that 10.1% of the women practiced BSE once a month, 19.8% of the women had had a clinical breast examination, and 15.0% had had a mammogram. Age and marital status were significant variables that influenced whether the women used only one or multiple methods for early detection of breast cancer. Participants who had higher levels of confidence for BSE and lower perceptions of barriers to BSE were more likely to perform BSE. Participants who perceived higher levels of confidence to perform BSE were more likely to be using all three early detection methods. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Interventions and strategies that help women develop confidence in their abilities to perform early breast cancer detection methods are likely to encourage them to engage in regular screening for breast cancer.

Evaluation of the breast cancer train the trainer program for nurses in Turkey.

The Breast Cancer Train the Trainer (TTT) program was designed to increase breast cancer awareness, improve knowledge about breast cancer among nurses, and provide quality care for breast cancer patients by trained nurses. A total of three programs were held and 82 nurses from different regions of Turkey attended this training. The educational activities employed several teaching and learning strategies. After completion, we determined that the participating nurses' knowledge on breast cancer had increased significantly, and they were satisfied with the training received. The Breast Cancer TTT program is a unique educational endeavor for nurses in Turkey, and our results showed that the training achieved its goal. Trained nurses in Breast Cancer TTT programs can help educate women about the importance of breast health and the measures they need to take to protect themselves against breast cancer. At the same time, nurses can also increase and enhance the quality of life in patients with breast cancer. This is an example of a program that can easily be spread throughout the world as it was done from England and Australia to Turkey.

The effects of peer education on university students' knowledge of breast self-examination and health beliefs.

This study was carried out to determine the effects of peer education on breast self-examination (BSE) knowledge and health beliefs. 180 female university students were trained in BSE by the nursing students. Students instructed in groups by their peers showed a much higher degree of BSE knowledge. It was also found that perceived confidence of the students educated both individually and in groups increased afterward. Study results further revealed that the methods used for peer instruction do not affect students' sub-dimensions of health beliefs differently after the education.

The effect of home healthcare on quality of life in patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer.

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of home healthcare on the quality of life (QOL) in patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer. A total of 42 patients, who met eligibility criteria, were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to either a control group or an experimental group. Control group patients received "usual care" defined as pain control and management through the pain clinic. Experimental group patients received pain control through the clinic plus three home visits. During the home visits, their nursing care was guided by an evidence-based protocol developed by the research team. Data were collected on pain, performance, symptoms, and QOL by using previously developed and validated instruments.Significant differences were found between the two groups on physiological function, psychological concerns, and total stress. In the experimental group, there was a significant decrease in pain and increase in performance from baseline to the final data collection period. For the control group, a significant decrease in QOL over the study period was observed. There were no significant differences between the two groups on pain, performance, QOL, and QOL subscales at the final visit.

A different approach to breast self-examination education: daughters educating mothers creates positive results in Turkey.

Breast cancer is a common cancer among women, and early detection is important for breast cancer mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of daughters teaching their mothers about breast self-examination (BSE) and its health beliefs. In the study's first stage, 168 university students were trained by the School of Health students about BSE through group training methods. Then, these trained university students were asked to train their mothers about BSE. Data were collected before the training and then again after the training (1 month later). The study instruments included questionnaire forms and the Champion Health Belief Model Scale. The results were analyzed using paired- and unpaired-sample t test, analysis of variance, bivariate correlation analysis, and stepwise multiple regression analysis. The results show that women's knowledge level increased 2-fold after training, and the knowledge level difference between pretraining and post-training was significant (P = .000). The mothers' background information (hear-read) and BSE practice (P = .006 and .006, respectively) before the training process were found to be significant predictors of sociodemographic and other variables influencing the mothers' knowledge levels. The training increased the perceived benefit (P = .032) and confidence (P = .000) significantly. It was found that there was a negative but significant correlation between perceived barriers and BSE knowledge after the education (P = .019). It was found that mothers' knowledge level about BSE was higher after the education. Furthermore, perceived barriers decreased while other subscales increased. Education from daughter to mother can be used as a BSE training approach to increase women's knowledge about BSE.

Comparison of three educational interventions on breast self-examination knowledge and health beliefs.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of various training methods for breast self-examination (BSE) knowledge, practice, and health beliefs. METHODS: The quasi-experimental investigation was carried out in an area where two community health care centers are located, in the city of Trabzon, Turkey. Divided randomly into three groups, 1,342 women were instructed in BSE using individual or group training or by way of pamphlets. Data were gathered in four stages: during the pretraining and one month, six months and twelve months after training. RESULTS: All of the training methods used in the study produced a significant increase in the participants' BSE knowledge, but individually trained women scored higher than did the others. Regardless of the training method, BSE instruction improved the women's perceived confidence and benefits, while their perceived barriers declined. The variables influencing BSE practice were found to be BSE practice at the pretraining period, perceived confidence in and benefits from BSE six months after BSE instruction, and health motivation one year after training. No significant difference was found in women's BSE performance scores one year after training. CONCLUSION: This study in which three training methods were used enabled us to assess the effectiveness of instruction on BSE performance and competence. In addition, it provided us with valuable information on how training methods can influence health beliefs related to BSE.