Maternal-infant and paternal-infant attachment levels after successful infertility treatment and affecting factors: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the levels of maternal and paternal attachment and the factors that affect them in individuals who had a baby after infertility treatment. METHODS: This study followed a descriptive cross-sectional design in accordance with STROBE guidelines. The research was conducted in the infertility clinic of a university hospital and included 128 participants, consisting of 64 mothers and 64 fathers. Data were collected using the 'Personal Information Form-Mother', 'Personal Information Form-Father', 'Maternal Attachment Inventory (MAI)', and 'Postnatal Paternal-Infant Attachment Questionnaire (PPAQ)'. RESULTS: The study found that the mothers had an average MAI score of 102.35 ± 3.05, while the fathers had an average PPAQ score of 82.21 ± 4.27. A significant correlation was observed between the mothers' MAI score and the duration of their marriage. Similarly, a significant correlation was observed between the fathers' PPAQ score and the duration of their marriage, the duration of their infertility diagnosis, and the duration of their infertility treatment (p < 0.05). The correlation analysis between the MAI score and the mean score of the PPAQ's subscale of pleasure in interaction was weakly significant and positive (r = 0.26; p = 0.032). However, there was no significant relationship between the MAI score and the PPAQ score (r = 0.18; p = 0.146). CONCLUSIONS: The study findings indicate that parents who conceive through infertility treatment exhibit high levels of attachment to their babies. Healthcare professionals should assess the attachment levels of both mothers and fathers who have undergone infertility treatment and be mindful of the factors that influence it.

The effects of the breastfeeding problems management model on breastfeeding problems, breastfeeding motivation and breastfeeding success: A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: The majority of women experience breastfeeding problems and need professional support during the lactation period. We developed a Nurse-led Breastfeeding Problems Management Model to address this issue. The components of the model included meeting women face-to-face, giving education using a booklet, providing breastfeeding consultancy on the phone, and conducting home visits. This study aims to determine the effects of the Breastfeeding Problems Management Model (BPMM) on breastfeeding problems, motivation, and success. DESIGN AND METHODS: This randomized controlled trial included 50 women (25 intervention and 25 control). The intervention group received BPMM under the leadership of a nurse during the early postnatal period, before discharge, and in the 1st, 2nd, 6th, and 8th weeks of the postpartum period. The control group received routine care. The Breastfeeding Experience Scale (BES) was applied to both groups in the 1st, 2nd, 6th, and 8th weeks of the postpartum period. LATCH Assessment Tool was administered to both groups before discharge and in the 8th week of the postpartum period. The Breastfeeding Motivation Scale (BMS) was administered to both groups in the 8th week of the postpartum period. RESULTS: The LATCH post-test scores were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (intervention 9.72 ± 0.54, control 8.60 ± 1.25). In all postpartum weeks, BES scores were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group. Except for the introjected regulation-social approval and introjected regulation-social pressure sub-scale mean scores of the BMS, all the other sub-scales in the intervention group were significantly higher than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The BPMM was found to decrease and eliminate breastfeeding problems and increase breastfeeding motivation and breastfeeding success in women. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The BPMM leadership of a nurse should be considered as part of routine postpartum care for preventing and eliminating breastfeeding problems and increasing breastfeeding motivation and breastfeeding success. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: The study was registered at Clinical-Trials.gov (NCT05543902).

Examination of nursing diagnosis skills of students receiving online education: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: This study aims to examine the nursing diagnosis skills of students who took the case-based online nursing processes course during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The study followed a descriptive and cross-sectional design. The participants were first-year students (n = 148) enrolled in the nursing principles course in the spring semester of the 2020-2021 academic year in the nursing department of a university. The course on nursing processes was delivered online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of the course, students who volunteered to participate in the study developed nursing diagnoses for the cases assigned to them. The data were collected from the students using two forms and were evaluated using a form developed by the researchers. The data were analyzed with numeric and percentage calculations. FINDINGS: Although 56.8% of the students stated that they had difficulty making nursing diagnoses, 56.8% of them thought online education was not useful. The most commonly made diagnoses by the students who participated in the study included hyperthermia (66.2%), ineffective breathing pattern (54.7%), risk of falling (39.9%), fatigue (34.5%), and anxiety (33.8%). It was also found that students were able to identify objective data more easily as diagnosis criteria, whereas they were not able to identify abstract concepts. CONCLUSIONS: It was seen that the students who participated in the study had low levels of nursing diagnoses. Based on the findings, it is recommended that different teaching methods be employed in the online nursing processes course, and these methods be evaluated in terms of their effects on students' learning outcomes. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICES: The online nursing process course should be made more efficient. First-year nursing students are not yet ready to identify nursing diagnoses in terms of knowledge and skills.

The relationship between fear of COVID-19 and depression, anxiety and stress in persons with disabilities: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 and the depression, anxiety and stress in persons with disabilities. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the data were collected using an online survey from 178 persons with disabilities using the Personal Information Form, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 34.08 ± 11.8 years. The disability types that participants had were related to vision (47.2 %), hearing (25.8 %), mobility (24.7 %), cognitive (8.4 %), and chronic disease (10.1 %). It has been determined that 73.6 % of the participants stated that their access to healthcare services was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The mean DASS-21 was 10.24 ± 8.25 and the mean FCV-19S was 17.71 ± 5.05. A positive correlation was found between DASS-21 and FCV-19S. CONCLUSION: The pandemic has created a need to provide appropriate interventions to improve the psychosocial health of persons with disabilities.

Validation of the tablet-based Turkish-PAINReportIt® for lung cancer patients after thoracotomy in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Digital pain assessment is advantageous and timely for healthcare priorities in Turkey. However, a multi-dimensional, tablet-based pain assessment tool is not available in the Turkish language. PURPOSE: To validate the Turkish-PAINReportIt® as a multi-dimensional measure of post-thoracotomy pain. METHODS: In the first of a two-phased study, 32 Turkish patients (mean age 47.8 ± 15.6 years, 72 % male) participated in individual cognitive interviews as they completed the tablet-based Turkish-PAINReportIt® once during the first four days post-thoracotomy, and 8 clinicians participated in a focus group discussion of implementation barriers. In the second phase, 80 Turkish patients (mean age 59.0 ± 12.7 years, 80 % male) completed the Turkish-PAINReportIt® preoperatively, on postoperative days 1-4, and at the two-week post-operative follow-up visit. RESULTS: Patients generally interpreted accurately the Turkish-PAINReportIt® instructions and items. We eliminated some items unnecessary for daily assessment based on focus-group suggestions. In the second study phase, pain scores (intensity, quality, pattern) were low pre-thoracotomy for lung cancer and high postoperatively high on day 1, decreasing on days 2, 3 and 4, and back down to pre-surgical levels at 2-weeks. Over time, pain intensity decreased from post-operative day 1 to post-operative day 4 (p < .001) and from post-operative day 1 to post-operative week 2 (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The formative research supported proof of concept and informed the longitudinal study. Findings showed strong validity of the Turkish-PAINReportIt® to detect reduced pain over time as healing occurs after thoracotomy.

Career future perceptions and attitudes towards migration of nursing students: A cross-sectional multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: It is important to understand the perceptions of career plans and attitudes towards migration of nursing students so that it can be possible to review the education programs in this direction and plan an effective health workforce. AIM: To determine nursing students' career future perceptions and attitudes towards migration. DESIGN: Descriptive and cross-sectional online survey. METHODS: The study was completed with 3053 students from 52 universities located in seven different regions of Turkey who agreed to participate in the study. The data were collected using the "Student Information Form", "Attitude Scale for Brain Drain (ASBD)" and "Career Futures Inventory (CFI)" with an online questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance and correlation were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Mean age of the students was 20.29 ± 2.28 and most were females. Students' mean total scores of ASBD, and CFI were 56.64 ± 12.22 and 91.32 ± 11.71 respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the total mean scores of ASBD and the region of the university where the students studied, gender, being multilingual, desire to work abroad after graduation and experience of participating in student exchange programs and between the total mean scores of CFI and experience of participating in an exchange program. There was a positive and statistically significant relationship between ASBD and CFI total mean scores (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Nursing students' attitudes towards migration and perceptions of career future were positive and there was a positive relationship between attitudes towards migration and perceptions of career future.

Perception and readiness for inter-professional education of health discipline students: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Interprofessional education (IPE) is a concept focusing on the improvement of a good teamwork environment bringing professionals from diffferent professions together to obtain high-quality health care and improve health outcomes. Determining health discipline students' IPE perceptions and readiness is important to develop, implement and maintain effective IPE programs. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine perception and readiness for interprofessional education of health discipline students. DESIGN: This study utilized a descriptive and cross-sectional design. SETTINGS: A public university in Turkey. The study was conducted with students enrolled in Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical Faculty, Faculty of Dentistry, or Vocational School of Health Services. PARTICIPANTS: The participants included 646 health discipline students who were enrolled in nursing, midwifery, medical, dentistry, medical imaging technology, first and emergency aid, and elderly care departments. METHODS: Data were collected through the "Data Collection Form", the "Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS-TR)" and the "Readiness for Inter-professional Learning Scale (RIPLS)". RESULTS: The participants' IEPS-TR and RIPLS total mean scores were found 65.81 ± 19.86 and 67.90 ± 13.53, respectively. The IEPS-TR and RIPLS mean scores and the variables such as choosing the department willingly and being satisfied with the department indicated a statistically significant correlation (p < 0.05). In addition, RIPLS mean scores and the variables such as age, and willingness to take classes with other healthcare students indicated a statistically significant correlation (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant correlation was found between the IEPS-TR and RIPLS total mean scores and department-related variables (p > 0.05). The participants' IEPS-TR and RIPLS mean scores demonstrated a positive and significant relationship (r = 0.314, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that health discipline students had a high level of perception of interdisciplinary education and were ready for interprofessional education. The study also demonstrated that students' perception of interdisciplinary education increased with the increase in their readiness for this education.

Surgical handwashing practices of operating room staff: An observational study.

OBJECTIVE: This descriptive and cross-sectional study aims to assess the surgical handwashing practices of operating room staff. DESIGN: Single-blind study. METHODS: The study was conducted with 66 staff (surgeons and operating room nurses) employed in the surgery department of a university hospital in Turkey. Data were collected using a Staff Information Form prepared in light of the literature to collect the participants' sociodemographic data and the Surgical Hand Washing Procedure Checklist developed according to the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and Association of Surgical Technologists (AST). The staff assigned to operating rooms were identified, and then, their surgical handwashing practices were observed by one of the researchers. FINDINGS: Of the participants, 77.3% were dressed suitable to the operating room field, 56.1% appropriately wet both of their hands and forearms, and 72.7% used a sufficient amount of antiseptic solution (3-5 ml) in their palms. More than half of them (51.5%) inappropriately performed the procedure of surgical handwashing (applying an antiseptic solution to hands and arms with circular motions, starting from the fingertips up to 3-5 cm above their elbows for a minute), and 47% incorrectly performed the procedure of rinsing hands and arms while keeping the hands above the elbows under running water and passing arms through the water in one direction during this process. CONCLUSION: In the study, it was determined that none of the team members completed the preparation, application and drying steps of the surgical handwashing procedure. Therefore, it is necessary to make arrangements that will facilitate the handwashing procedures of the personnel. Personnel-related problems, such as the duration of washing and drying methods, are possible to be avoided with periodic in-service training and with posters demonstrating the washing stages, which might lead to behavioural changes.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Affecting Factors in Pregnant Women in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) causes adverse obstetric outcomes in pregnants. COVID-19 pandemic can cause PTSD symptoms in pregnant women. This descriptive study aims to determine the post-traumatic stress disorder and affecting factors in pregnant women in the COVID-19 pandemic. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 445 pregnant women completed "Data Collection Form" and "DSM-5 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5)". RESULTS: The mean total PCL-5 score of the pregnant women was found to be 57.27±17.90. There was a significant difference between PCL-5 and gestational week, parity, the idea that the COVID-19 outbreak would cause a problem in childbirth, the presence of a COVID-19 in one of the family members/a loved one, the status of following COVID-19 - related developments (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is important for health professionals to evaluate the psychological effects of the pandemic in pregnants during antenatal period.

The Effect of Nail Polish and Henna on the Measures of Pulse Oximeters in Healthy Persons.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine the effects of nail polish and henna on pulse oximetry measurements in healthy individuals. METHODS: The study was designed as quasi-experimental and cross-sectional study. The population consisted of 682 women studying in a university's nursing department in the Mediterranean region during the academic year of 2016 to 2017. The sample consisted of 103 female students who agreed to participate in the study and met the inclusion criteria. The data were collected using a personal information form prepared in light of the literature. A single layer of nail polish of the same brand was applied; white on the thumb, red on the ring finger, and black on the little finger of the left hand, while henna was applied on the index finger of the left hand of the students. The middle finger was considered as the control group. A portable Nellcor (N-65) pulse oximeter was used for oxygen saturation measurements. The data were analyzed using means, SD, and paired-samples t test. FINDINGS: There was no statistically significant difference between oxygen saturation measurements of fingers with henna and red nail polish and the control finger (P > .05). However, oxygen saturation levels of fingers with black and white nail polish were lower than the control group's levels, and the difference was statistically significant (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that white and black nail polish had an impact on oxygen saturation measurements, whereas henna and red nail polish had no effect on the measurements. Based on these findings, nurses may be advised to remove patients' nail polish before measuring oxygen saturation using the finger. In addition, conducting new studies investigating the effects of nail polish, henna, and false nails, which are increasingly used today, on SpO2 values, is suggested.

Knowledge about childhood autism among nurses in Turkey: A cross-sectional descriptive study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge that nurses possess about childhood autism. DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 278 nurses. A personal information form, which was created by the present researchers, and Knowledge about Childhood Autism among Health Workers questionnaire were used to collect data. FINDINGS: The mean knowledge level was 12.29 ± 3.19. There was a significant difference in total scale scores as a function of participation in a training program on childhood autism and acquaintance with a person with autism. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Nurses play an important role in the early diagnosis of childhood autism. Therefore, they should be educated about childhood autism.

Determination of Attitude and Stress Levels of Midwives, Nurses and Physicians Working in Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics Regarding COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the attitude and stress levels of midwives, nurses and physicians working in gynecology and obstetrics clinics towards the COVID-19 pandemic. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 134 healthcare workers in obstetrics and gynecology clinics. The Personal Information Form, the Attitude form for the COVID-19 pandemic and the Perceived Stress Scale were used for collecting the data. RESULTS: It was found that the total average score of the healthcare workers' attitude scale was 55.61±5.97. The total score average of healthcare workers on the perceived stress scale was found to be 28.28±7.43. CONCLUSION: It was determined that the attitudes of healthcare professionals towards the COVID-19 pandemic and the perceived stress for the COVID-19 pandemic were at moderate levels.

Perceptions of interdisciplinary education and readiness for inter-professional education of nursing students: A sample of three different cities in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, interprofessional education has been described as an opportunity for all healthcare professionals to enhance nursing quality by learning together and about one another. Determining perceptions and readiness of nurses regarding interprofessional education is important for effective education planning. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to determine readiness for interprofessional learning and perceptions of interdisciplinary education of nursing students. DESIGN: Descriptive and cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: Nursing departments of public universities, in three different cities in Turkey. METHODS: This study was conducted with 738 third- and fourth-year nursing students. The data of the study was collected using "Student Information Form", "Readiness for Inter-professional Learning Scale (RIPLS)", and "Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS)". The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Student's t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and correlation. RESULTS: Mean age of the students was 21.56 ±â€¯1.48, and the majority (72.9%) were women. Of the students, 58.9% chose their profession willingly, 56% chose the department as their first choice, 41.2% wanted to receive education with other healthcare students, and 84% reported having prior teamwork experience. Students' mean total scores of RIPLS and IEPS were respectively 69.78 ±â€¯11.32 and 69.19 ±â€¯16.62. There was a statistically significant difference between RIPLS mean scores and choosing the occupation willingly, order of choice, being satisfied with the choice of department, and willingness to study with other healthcare students, and between IEPS mean scores and choosing the occupation willingly, order of choice and being satisfied with the department choice (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Nursing students in three different cities had good readiness levels for interprofessional education and perception levels of interdisciplinary education, and differed according to certain demographical qualities. In addition, there was a positive relationship between readiness of inter-professional education, and perceptions of the students.

An analysis of the anxiety and hopelessness levels of women during IVF-ET treatment.

PURPOSE: This study determined the anxiety and hopelessness levels of women during in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted with 50 infertile women. The Personal Information Form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) were used to collect data. FINDINGS: A statistically significant difference between the BHS total score before oocyte pick-up and after embryo transfer was found (P < .05). However, no statistically significant relationship was found between state anxiety in the same process (P > .05). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This study showed that women had high levels of hopelessness and as a woman's state anxiety level increased, her level of hope decreased.

Effects of prenatal education on complaints during pregnancy and on quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: The study was conducted to determine the effects of prenatal education on quality of life and complaints during pregnancy. METHODS: This study is a quasi-experimental research with a control group. Personal Information Form and Scale of Complaints during Pregnancy and their Effects on Quality of Life (SCPEQL) were used to collect the data. Thirty participants were included in both the control and the intervention groups (N = 60). RESULTS: The mean scores of SCPEQL of the intervention group was 46.2 ± 21.1 and the mean scores of SCPEQL of the control group was 99.8 ± 21.6 in 2nd trimester. In the 3rd trimester, the mean score of SCPEQL of the intervention group was 43.5 ± 16.4, and the mean score of SCPEQL of the control group was 108.0 ± 16.8. The difference between the groups was statistically significant in 2nd and 3rd trimesters (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Findings of the study suggest that providing prenatal education reduces complaints and increases quality of life of pregnant women. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Assessing complaints during pregnancy by nurses is a part of the prenatal care. Therefore, nurses should evaluate pregnancy-related complaints. Quality of life should be increased by giving effective education about complaints during pregnancy.

Effect of parity on healthy promotion lifestyle behavior in women.

BACKGROUND: Health-promoting lifestyle behaviors are not only for the prevention of a disease or discomfort, but are also behaviors that aim to improve the individual's general health and well-being. Nurses have an important position in the development of healthy lifestyle behaviors in women. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of parity on health-promoting lifestyle behaviors in women. METHOD/DESIGN: This descriptive and cross-sectional survey was performed in Adana, Turkey. This study was conducted with 352 women. The questionnaire consisted of two parts; the first part consisted of questions that assessed the socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics, and the second part employed the "Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile Scale" (HPLP). Data analysis included percentage, arithmetic average, and ANOVA tests. RESULTS: The results revealed that 24.1% of the women had no parity, 13.6% had one parity, 30.7% had two parities, 14.6% had three parities, and 17% had four and above parities. The mean total HPLP was 126.66±18.12 (interpersonal support subscale, 24.46±4.02; nutrition subscale, 21.59±3.92; self-actualization subscale, 24.42±4.30; stress management subscale, 18.73±3.81; health responsibility subscale, 21.75±4.31; and exercise subscale, 15.71±4.22). CONCLUSIONS: The health behavior of women was moderate. A statistically significant correlation was found between the number of parities and the Health Responsibility, Nutrition, Interpersonal Support, which is the subscale of the HPLP Scale.

Traditional Practices of Turkish infertile women: an example from a rural county.

Infertility is not only a health problem, but is also a central existential intrapersonal and relational conflict. Infertility treatments are invasive, expensive, time-consuming, emotionally draining. All over the world there are numerous traditional methods used in the treatment of infertility. This investigation was carried out to determine the traditional practices of infertile women in a rural county in Eastern Turkey. This is a descriptive study carried out in 105 primary infertile women. Data were collected between September 2007 and April 2008 by using a questionnaire. Data analysis included descriptive statistics. 55% of the women were in the 25-34 year age range. It was observed that only 17% of the women applied to a gynecologist without using any traditional applications while 83% of the women applied for traditional applications. The most prevalent traditional practices were consulting traditional healers, visiting mausoleums where religious leaders were buried, using traditional drugs, use of written fertility amulets. Various traditional practices against infertility are prevalent rural counties. Some of these practices may be potentially harmful for women. Health professionals should be aware that infertile women may sometimes follow questionable traditional practices and advices.

Can different geographic conditions affect the formation of striae gravidarum? A multicentric study.

AIM: Striae gravidarum (SG) is a most common physiological skin change that many pregnant women experience during pregnancy. We investigated the effects of geographic conditions and altitude on the formation of SG. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 508 nulliparous women with singleton gestation were included in the study from three different geographic locations. The first city is located in the mountainous area at an altitude of approximately 1900 m (approximately 6233 ft). The second city is located on a plain in the middle of the country at an altitude of 900 m (approximately 2952 ft). The third city is located by the seaside (altitude 26 m, 85 ft). Twelve variables were recorded for each woman in the prepartum period, and striae were scored using the numerical scoring system of Atwal et al. RESULTS: We found that striae formation was significantly more common in higher areas. According to the regression analyses, when the third region, located at sea level, was taken as a reference point, the appearance of SG was 2.1- and 1.8-fold more common in the first region (altitude 1900 m) and the second region (altitude 900 m), respectively (P = 0.020). CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to evaluate the effect of environmental factors on SG formation. Moreover, our study group is one of the largest in the published work. Environmental factors can affect the formation of striae gravidarum. Further studies with different ethnic groups are needed.

Social support and quality of life in Turkish patients with gynecologic cancer.

The aim of this study was to determine the level of social support and quality of life in Turkish patients with gynecologic cancer using a cross-sectional survey design. A total of 108 patients admitted to the gynecologic oncology clinic at a university hospital from September 2011 to January 2012 were included. Data were collected using patient information forms, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and The Quality of Life-Cancer Survivors Instrument (QOL-CS). Average age was 54.5±10.8 years and it was determined that 65.7% of patients had ovarian cancer and 19.4% had cervical cancer. The total QOL-CS mean score was 5.59±1.10. Average score of total MSPSS was found to be 69.7±14.64. Comparing socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of patients and average scores of QOL-CS and MSPSS, it was found that there was not a statisticaly significant corelation (p>0.05). Statistically significant relation was found between the average scores of QOL-CS and MSPSS. These results showed that quality of life was moderate and perceived social support was high in Turkish patients with gynecologic cancer.

Incidence of pregnancy-related discomforts and management approaches to relieve them among pregnant women.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of pregnancy-related physical symptoms in healthy pregnant women and their management strategies. BACKGROUND: In normal progression of pregnancy, many symptoms were experienced. Pregnancy-related physical symptoms may have a negative effect on pregnant women's quality of life. However, pregnant women avoid taking medications from the fear that the medication they use may have a harmful effect on the foetus. Therefore, they practise nonpharmacological methods to help them manage their pregnancy-related physical symptoms. DESIGN: This study used a comparative and descriptive design. METHODS: The study population comprised of pregnant women who were visiting for routine check-up and/or examination in the obstetrics gynaecology outpatient clinics of three hospitals in Erzurum, Turkey. The data were collected via a questionnaire including socio-demographic items and questions to identify the pregnancy-related physical symptoms that they experienced and their management strategies. RESULTS: The top three most reported complaints were nausea-vomiting (87·8%), fatigue (77·9%) and breast pain-tenderness (76·2%) during the first trimester, whereas polyuria (79·9%, 88·4%), fatigue (75·6%, 88·4%) and heart burn (71·3%, 81·8%) during the second and third trimesters. Depending on the symptoms, the pregnant women either did nothing or took correct, incorrect or empirical actions to manage their problems. Data revealed that the major source of knowledge was based on their previous experience and that of close relatives. As their education level increased, the percentage of women taking scientifically proven action to correct the problem increased. CONCLUSIONS: Various physical symptoms were experienced by women in each trimester of pregnancy. The majority of the women did not do anything to alleviate their physical symptoms. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Midwives and nurses should question the strategies used by pregnant women. In this way, the inappropriate and incorrect practices can be determined, and education on the appropriate practices can be provided.