The effect of mindfulness-based interventions on caregiver burden, quality of life and psychological distress in caregivers of adults with chronic diseases: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Chronic diseases requiring long-term treatment, care, and follow-up can negatively affect the health and well-being of caregivers. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are increasingly used as a mental health intervention to control the psychological problems experienced by caregivers and improve their quality of life. AIMS: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to provide evidence for a holistic evaluation and synthesis of the effects of MBIs applied to caregivers of adults with chronic disease on the burden, quality of life, and psychological distress. METHODS: Studies evaluating the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on caregivers of adults with chronic diseases and published through September 2023 were searched using PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCO. Methodological quality was assessed with the modified JADAD scale, and bias was assessed with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. Randomized controlled studies were included. The standardized mean difference with a 95% confidence interval was calculated. Heterogeneity was analyzed using the I2 test and Q statistic. Publication bias was assessed with the Egger regression test. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 12 studies. Pooled evidence found that MBIs resulted in significant improvements in stress, anxiety, depression, and caregiver burden in caregivers of adults with chronic illness but had no significant effects on quality of life, resilience, and mindfulness. The Egger's test showed no evidence of publication bias. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: MBIs can be considered as a helpful method to increase psychological well-being and reduce caregiver burden in caregivers of adults with chronic diseases. These findings may direct clinicians to conduct mindfulness-based interventions for caregivers of adults with chronic diseases.

The Effect of Touch Therapy on Symptoms and Psychosocial Variables in Individuals Diagnosed With Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Touch therapy is used in the control of physical and psychological symptoms in cancer patients. However, its effectiveness has not been well studied. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of touch therapy intervention on symptoms and psychosocial factors for patients with cancer. METHOD: Four electronic databases were used to identify all experimental studies that examine the effects of touch therapy on symptoms and psychosocial factors for patients with cancer. The standardized mean differences between groups in levels of symptoms and psychosocial factors for postintervention were computed for each study. RESULT: The pooled results suggest that touch therapy intervention effectively reduces pain, fatigue, anxiety, and negative mood among patients with cancer postintervention. However, touch therapy intervention did not affect the quality of life and stress. CONCLUSION: A significant effect of touch therapy was the reduction of physical and psychological symptoms in cancer patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Touch therapy could be safely integrated into the clinical practice of patients with cancer.

The Effect on the Care Behaviors of Nurses Working in Intensive Care Clinics of Moral Distress Experienced During End of Life Patient Care.

This research was conducted as a descriptive study in order to examine the effects of the moral problems experienced by nurses working in intensive care clinics on their end of life care behaviors. The data were collected using the Moral Distress Scale and Caring Behaviors Inventory. It was found that 74.5% of the nurses were women and their mean age was 32.60 ± 6.6 years. The frequency of moral distress in the nurses was 44.27 ± 16.25 and total score was 111.02 ± 63.85. There were significant differences in the scores of the concept the use of futile treatment by nurses, the decision not to begin life-support treatment being made only by physicians, and moral distress and discomfort felt by pediatric intensive care nurses (p < .05). A statistically significant relationship was found between total scores of discomfort on moral distress and assurance, knowledge and skills, connectedness, and being respectful on the end of life care behaviors (p < .05).

The effect of motivational interviewing on metabolic control and psychosocial variables in individuals diagnosed with diabetes: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to analyze the effects of motivational interviewing (MI) on metabolic and psychosocial variables among individuals with diabetes. METHODS: Four databases were searched between 2000 and 2021 years. Randomized controlled studies were included. The standardized mean differences were determined. The heterogeneity was analyzed using the I2 test. The methodological quality was evaluated independently by three researchers. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 16 studies. Glycated hemoglobin, postprandial plasma glucose (PG), systolic blood pressure (BP) significantly decreased after MI. There are no significant effects of MI on fasting PG, body mass index, diastolic BP, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride. MI had an overall significant impact on depression, emotional distress, and self-efficacy. Only four studies had 7 points based on the Modified Jadad Scale. The Egger's test showed no evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSION: MI effectively reduced glycated hemoglobin, postprandial plasma glucose, systolic blood pressure, depressive symptoms, emotional distress, and increased self-efficacy. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This meta-analysis showed that MI was effective at improving metabolic control and psychosocial variables. MI should be considered a complementary treatment for people diagnosed with diabetes. Future studies should be structured as long-term studies with higher methodological quality.

Psychological Distress and Its Association with Unmet Needs and Symptom Burden in Outpatient Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationships of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, symptom burden, and supportive care needs of patients with a prevalence of psychological distress in outpatients with cancer. DATA SOURCES: The study was carried out with 298 outpatient cancer patients at an oncology center in Turkey, and a descriptive correlational design was used. The data were collected through Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale (HADS), Nightingale Symptom Assessment Scale (N-SAS), and Supportive Care Needs Scale Short Form (SCNS-SF34). Descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression analyses were performed. CONCLUSION: The study determined that the anxiety and depression scores of a significant portion of cancer patients receiving outpatient treatment were clinically significant. It was observed that the physical and psychological symptom burden of the patients and the increase in unmet care needs related to psychological, physical, and activities of daily life contributed to the development of anxiety and depression. Of the sociodemographic and disease-related characteristics of the patients, female sex was found to be an important factor for both anxiety and depression, and advanced age was found to be an important factor for depression. These results indicate that cancer patients receiving outpatient treatment need intensive supportive psychosocial care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: It is recommended that patients' psychological distress levels and supportive care needs be included in the care process as a routine component of care, as in symptom assessment, and to develop a more sensitive and supportive care environment in meeting psychosocial care needs and accessing support.

Experiences of nurses caring for patients with COVID-19 in Turkey: A phenomenological enquiry.

AIMS: This study aims to reveal the experiences of nurses who care for COVID-19 patients during this process. BACKGROUND: Nurses actively carry out their duties with regard to infection control and critical patient care in the frontlines since the pandemic. METHODS: A phenomenological qualitative design was followed throughout the study. The study involved 19 nurses. The data were analysed through Colaizzi's seven-step method. RESULTS: Five themes were identified after the interviews; first meeting and getting caught unprepared, social isolation and loneliness, dilemma and conflict in professional roles, nursing: power born from difficulties and organisational expectations. Also, eleven sub-themes were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed the main findings regarding the experiences of the nurses in crisis instances. Although nurses felt stronger professionally, they needed the cooperation and psychosocial support of the community and health care team members. Nurses had expectations for the development of personal and social rights. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: It is thought that these results can act as a guide to understand the problems and needs of nurses as health care providers and to engender solutions so that a safe and reliable health care system that can effectively respond to future global disasters can be established.

Perspective Of Elderly People Using Integrative Health Practices: A Qualitative Study.

INTRODUCTION: Integrative health practices are extensively used in addition to pharmacologic treatments by elderly individuals who has chronic diseases to relieve or overcome symptoms. METHODS: This qualitative study was performed on 12 elderly individuals with the aim of determining the reasons for the use of integrative health practices and identifying their thoughts regarding these practices. Face to face interview method was used for data collection. Data were collected with information forms that include informations about elderly individuals and semistuctured interview forms. All interviews with elderly individuals are made with in-depth interview method. The data was evaluated using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: As a result of in-depth interviews, three main themes and eight sub-themes were identified, with the main themes being the feelings before using integrative health practices, the sources of information, and the experiences after use. The majority of the individuals reported that they used integrative health practices due to feelings of helplessness/hopelessness, depression and fear; that their sources of information were not professional sources; and that, in the end, the majority of them experienced negative emotions. It can hence be recommended that healthcare personnel should carefully evaluate the elderly. CONCLUSION: In this study; It is determined that elderly individuals were using integrative metods in addition to pharmacologic methods for symptom management. It can hence be recommended that healthcare personnel should carefully evaluate the elderly in geriatric assessment.

Effect of yoga-based physical activity on perceived stress, anxiety, and quality of life in young adults.

PURPOSE: This study, conducted at a public university in Turkey, sought to determine the effects of yoga-based physical activity on perceived stress, anxiety, and quality of life in young adults. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was planned as a semiexperimental nonrandomized study with a control group. FINDINGS: Yoga-based physical activity decreased the perceived stress and state anxiety levels, but had no effect on trait anxiety levels and quality of life. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: It is recommended that yoga-based treatment can be included in nursing interventions for reducing stress and anxiety levels in young adults.

Effect of aromatherapy via inhalation on the sleep quality and fatigue level in people undergoing hemodialysis.

The most common problems in hemodialysis patients are sleep disorders and fatigue. This randomized-controlled experimental study was conducted to determine the effect of aromatherapy applied by inhalation on sleep quality and fatigue level in hemodialysis patients. The study was completed in five hemodialysis centers settled in two provinces with 27 intervention group patients and 35 controls, being totally 62 patients, recruited with simple randomization. Ethical approval, informed consent from the individuals and institutional permission were obtained. Data were collected with a questionnaire form and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for fatigue, Piper fatigue scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and follow-up forms for the patient and the researcher. Aromatherapy inhalation (sweet orange and lavender oil) was performed before going to bed every day for one month to the intervention group patients. No other application has been made to the control group patients except for standard hemodialysis treatment. All of the forms were performed at baseline and at follow-up at the end of the four weeks (baseline and last follow-up), VAS and Piper fatigue scale were performed during follow-ups at the end of every week (the first, second and third follow-ups). Data were statistically analyzed with Independent Samples t-test, one way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, chi-square test, Friedman and Mann Whitney U tests and Bonferroni test. p<0.05 was set as statistically significant in comparisons. Mean total and sub-dimension scores of VAS, Piper fatigue scale and PSQI (except for daytime sleepiness dysfunction sub-dimension) of the intervention and control groups at baseline were not significantly different (p>0.05). It was found that mean total and sub-dimension scores of VAS, Piper fatigue scale and PSQI of the intervention group significantly decreased in other follow-ups compared to the control group (p<0.05). Consequently, it was determined that aromatherapy applied by inhalation improved sleep quality, decreased fatigue level and severity in hemodialysis patients. Accordingly, aromatherapy prepared with sweet orange and lavender oil may be recommended to increase sleep quality and to decrease fatigue level of the hemodialysis patients.