Cultural Validation of the Turkish Version of the Infertility Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (TISE-SF).

PURPOSE: To translate and test the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Infertility Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (TISE-SF). METHODS: The convenience sample consisted of 120 infertile women. A psychometric research design was used with content and construct validity and reliability. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha of .78 showed moderate reliability, whereas item-total correlations ranged from .30 to .54. Factor analysis extracted a single component, explaining 40.3% of the variance. Kendall W showed agreement with each expert regarding the appropriateness of the items, confirming the content validity of the translated TISE-SF. CONCLUSION: The results supported the construct validity and reliability of the TISE-SF for measuring infertility self-efficacy in a population of Turkish women. IMPLICATIONS: Evaluating infertile women's perception of self-efficacy with the TISE-SF may be useful in clinical studies in Turkey. TISE-SF can be used by professionals as a counseling tool to help guide women in managing their treatments at infertility centers.

Trends in hypothesis testing and related variables in nursing research: a retrospective exploratory study.

AIM: To compare the inclusion and the influences of selected variables on hypothesis testing during the 1980s and 1990s. BACKGROUND: In spite of the emphasis on conducting inquiry consistent with the tenets of logical positivism, there have been no studies investigating the frequency and patterns of hypothesis testing in nursing research DATA SOURCES: The sample was obtained from the journal Nursing Research which was the research journal with the highest circulation during the study period under study. All quantitative studies published during the two decades including briefs and historical studies were included in the analyses REVIEW METHODS: A retrospective design was used to select the sample. Five years from the 1980s and 1990s each were randomly selected from the journal, Nursing Research. Of the 582 studies, 517 met inclusion criteria. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest that there has been a decline in the use of hypothesis testing in the last decades of the 20th century. Further research is needed to identify the factors that influence the conduction of research with hypothesis testing. CONCLUSION: Hypothesis testing in nursing research showed a steady decline from the 1980s to 1990s. Research purposes of explanation, and prediction/ control increased the likelihood of hypothesis testing. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Hypothesis testing strengthens the quality of the quantitative studies, increases the generality of findings and provides dependable knowledge. This is particularly true for quantitative studies that aim to explore, explain and predict/control phenomena and/or test theories. The findings also have implications for doctoral programmes, research preparation of nurse-investigators, and theory testing.

Treatment-related fatigue and exercise in patients with cancer: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to determine if patients receiving treatment for cancer experienced less treatment-related fatigue if they participated in a regular committed exercise regimen, compared to those who did not exercise regularly. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the relationship between treatment-related fatigue and exercise during chemotherapy and/or radiation? METHOD: A systematic review of 19 English-language studies from the United States, Europe, and Australia, conducted between January 2000 and October 2006, investigating the effect of exercise on chemotherapy and/or radiation-related fatigue was completed. Included in the review were randomized controlled trials, pilot studies, and secondary analysis of previously reported studies such as systematic reviews. Ten studies that fit the preestablished criteria were retained for the review. The Priority Symptom Management (PRISM) system developed by the Oncology Nursing Society was used for leveling evidence. FINDINGS: Eight of the ten studies showed regular committed exercise resulted in less fatigue among the experimental group participating in exercise programs. A limitation common to the studies included in this review was the lack of a universal definition for fatigue, and therefore, the lack of a universal measuring instrument to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence to include an individualized exercise program for patients on chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Studies showed no adverse effects of exercise such as increased fatigue or falls.

Anemia in older adults.

Anemia in the older adult is associated with changes in quality of life, decreased cognition and functional ability, and an increased risk for falls, infections, morbidity, and mortality The prevalence, etiology, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of anemia in older adults are reviewed. Collaborative interventions that assist the older adult, the family, and health care professionals in its management are identified.

Pathophysiology of anemia and nursing care implications.

Anemia is a decrease in erythrocyte mass or amount of hemoglobin from impaired production of erythrocytes, blood loss, or increased erythocyte destruction. The pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and selected pathologies of anemia and their implications for nursing practice are reviewed.

Magnet Recognition Program 2005: an update.

The Magnet Recognition Program has been revised to simplify instructions, eliminate redundancy, and reduce the documentation burden for applicants. One of the major changes is that required documentation is now categorized by the 14 Forces of Magnetism to match the Scope and Standards for Nurse Administrators (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2004) through the use of a crosswalk matrix. However, in general, the original concepts that characterized Magnet recognition remain intact.

Magnet designation: A communiqué to the profession and the public about nursing excellence.

Achieving Magnet designation by health care institutions is gaining momentum, both nationally and internationally. The impetus behind the Magnet movement is its sole focus on nursing care services. Hence, imbedded in the Magnet designation is the concept of the recognition of nursing services reaching a high level of excellence. Research conducted during the last 2 decades provides evidence that Magnet recognition has been a successful organizational reform that holds promise to shape patient care quality in all types of health care institutions.

Achieving Magnet recognition: the process.

Awareness of the Magnet Recognition Program is increasing as health care organizations struggle with the challenges of recruiting and retaining professional nurses and benchmarking nursing-sensitive patient outcomes. Steps in the Magnet process include application, written documentation and evaluation, site visit, decision, and award. These steps are outlined in this article to inform and assist staff nurses in health care organizations that may consider seeking this designation. The more staff nurses know about the elements and process of the Magnet program, the more they can contribute to achieving this prestigious award for quality nursing care.

The stress response, psychoneuroimmunology, and stress among ICU patients.

Multiple stressors, physical and psychological, may beset intensive care unit patients. This article opens with a description of the stress cascade and its connection with immunity. Examples of intensive care unit stressors follow, along with various proposed interventions to reduce psychological stress among intensive care unit patients. Although researchers have yet to establish that such interventions will positively impact immune function, they are an essential component of compassionate and holistic care.

Systemic lupus erythematosus in the intensive care unit.

The prototype autoimmune disorder SLE is a highly variable disease characterized by episodic exacerbations, some of which are severe enough to require admission to the ICU. Infection, disease activity, and cardiovascular complications are among the major reasons for admission. Drugs, particularly the immunosuppressants used to treat SLE, often cause as much injury to the immune system as the disease itself, and intensive treatments are often required to combat the side effects of these drugs. Studies indicate that sex, age, and race affect both morbidity and mortality in SLE. Despite well-documented patterns of morbidity and mortality and episodic exacerbations requiring admission to the ICU, the specific nursing care needs of patients with SLE admitted to the ICU have not been investigated.

Fibromyalgia: evolving concepts and management in primary care settings.

During the last 10 years, fibromyalgia (FM) research shifted focus from psychological and behavioral issues to sleep, nociception, and neuroendocrinology. Although there are still no definitive markers of the disease, a barrage of studies in physiological, psychological, and behavioral sciences have now dispelled the belief that FM is solely psychosomatic. Studies in the late 1990s as well as in the early part of the current decade reaffirm earlier research that sleep abnormalities and alterations in nociception may partly be responsible for FM. While sleep research shows that FM patients typically are deficient in stage IV (restorative) sleep, most current studies in nociception now affirm that patients with FM exhibit low serum serotonin in combination with increased substance P levels in the cerebrospinal fluid. Although there is still no cure, treatment aimed at promoting sleep, interrupting nociception, and actively involving patient and family in FM management can bring lifetime control for the disease.

A decade of international activities by US nurse faculty: a descriptive analysis.

BACKGROUND: In this era of increasing international awareness, few studies have revealed the contributions of US nurse faculty abroad. PURPOSE: Our purpose was to assess the scholarly activities, defined as teaching, research, consultation, and service, of US nurse faculty abroad from 1985 to 1995. METHOD: As part of a larger study (J Nurs Scholarsh 2000;32:415-20), nurse scholars were asked to describe their international work from 1985 to 1995. Nursing faculty (N = 2254) from all (N = 62) nursing doctoral programs active in 1995 were mailed an investigator-developed questionnaire via their institution. FINDING: From 1010 responses, 247 scholars described 805 visits to 109 countries. US nurse faculty assisted in the introduction and continuation of university-based nursing education worldwide. Research activities were either site-specific to the country or related to general issues. Geographic regions differed in the number of visits they received and the type of scholarly activity undertaken. CONCLUSIONS: US nurse faculty were involved in diverse and widespread international nursing activities.