Determination of Diabetes Health Literacy Levels of Patients Followed Up With Diabetic Foot Diagnosis: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study.

The number of studies on the diabetes health literacy of patients with diabetic foot is very limited. The aim of this study was to determine the diabetes health literacy levels of patients with diabetic foot. The data in this cross-sectional, descriptive study were collected using a sociodemographic data collection form and the Health Literacy Scale (HLS). Data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows Version 25.0 software. The HLS total score was 35.96 ± 10.70, and the Functional, Interactive and Critical subscale scores were 11.90 ± 5.04, 13.10 ± 4.80, and 10.96 ± 4.19, respectively. The diabetic health literacy level of the patients was seen to be affected by general education level, the status of having received education about diabetes, and family history of diabetes (P < .05). The diabetes health literacy level of patients with diabetic foot can be said to be low. This demonstrates the necessity of determining and increasing the health literacy levels of patients diagnosed with diabetes before the development of diabetic foot.

Rare causes of acute abdomen and review of literature: Primary/secondary omental torsion, isolated segmental omental necrosis, and epiploic appendagitis.

BACKGROUND: Primary/secondary omental torsion (POT/SOT), isolated segmental omental necrosis (ISON), and primary epiploic appendagitis (PEA) are rare causes of acute abdominal pain that often lead to misdiagnosis. Although the differential diagnosis may vary according to the localization and severity of the pain, and associated symptoms such as nausea-vomiting and fever, depending on the disease and site of involvement, the character of the pain is generally similar and in a continuous form. Depending on pain localization, it can mimic different clinical pictures such as acute appendicitis, acute diverticulitis, ovarian pathologies, urinary tract stones and acute cholecystitis, and patients are often diagnosed after surgical exploration. With the increased availability of computed tomography and awareness of these diseases, more patients can be diagnosed in the preoperative process and unnecessary operations can be avoided. In particular, PEA is a self-limiting local inflammatory disease and can often be managed conservatively. For all diagnoses, the surgical treatment option is local excision of the relevant epiploic appendix or omental segment, preferably laparoscopically. The most common surgical indication is diagnostic confusion and the second is persistent pain. METHODS: The data of patients followed up and treated for a diagnosis of POT, SOT, ISON or PEA between 2006 and 2021 were recorded in a specially prepared database. The demographic characteristics of the patients, and the data regarding the diagnosis and treatment process were evaluated retrospectively and discussed in the light of the relevant literature. RESULTS: The reason for hospitalization and treatment in 12 of the 42 patients included in the study was necrosis of a part of the omentum. Of these patients, 4 were followed up and treated with a diagnosis of POT, 3 with SOT, 5 with ISON and 30 with a diagnosis of PEA. Thirty-three of the patients were diagnosed preoperatively, and 9 intraoperatively, 22 patients were operated on, and 20 patients with PEA were treated conservatively. After surgical or medical treatment, all the patients were discharged without complications. In the comparisons between the patients, no significant difference was observed in terms of clinical and laboratory findings. CONCLUSION: POT, SOT, ISON and PEA should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with acute abdominal findings. In patients with PEA diagnosed in the preoperative period, a conservative approach should be considered first. In patients with a diagnosis of POT, SOT, and ISON, a surgical or conservative approach should be evaluated according to the patient's clinical condition.

Fear of cancer recurrence and coping attitudes of breast cancer survivors.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the fear of cancer recurrence levels and coping orientation of breast cancer survivors. METHODS: This descriptive exploratory study was conducted using a web-based online survey. This article is written using the STROBE checklist. The study was completed with 204 women participants. Data were collected using the 'Demographic and Clinical Information Form', 'Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI)' and 'Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory-Revised (COPE-R)'. RESULTS: FCRI total score average within the scope of the study was calculated as 42.00 ± 18.88. Women's COPE-R total score average is 80.62 ± 13.20. There was a positive correlation between FCRI total score and COPE-R (r = 0.183, p = 0.009). According to the results of multiple linear regression analysis, age, education level, CAM usage, getting psychological support and COPE-R subscales (accommodation, avoidance, self-punishment) were associated with FCRI total score. CONCLUSIONS: The fear of cancer recurrence experienced by breast cancer survivors was associated with their coping orientation. Determining the fear of cancer recurrence level and coping orientation of breast cancer survivors by healthcare professionals will guide the reduction of women's fear of cancer recurrence and further the development of adaptive coping orientation.

Effect of Spray Use on Mouth Dryness and Thirst of Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of spray use on mouth dryness and thirst of patients undergoing major abdominal surgery during the postoperative period DESIGN: This research was conducted as a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: One hundred thirty patients undergoing abdominal surgery were assessed for eligibility; the sample consisted of N = 104. Subjects were randomized into one of three groups. Subjects in the control group were administered a small amount of water at room temperature using a syringe (clinic routine application, approximately 1-2 mL). Subjects in the second group were administered cold water spray orally (0.4 mL per application). Subjects in the third group were administered cold saline (0.9% NaCl) spray orally (0.4 mL per application). Applications were performed twice every hour. Subjects' postoperative thirst severity, mouth dryness severity, oral health condition, and pH values of saliva were evaluated after 8, 20, 24, 36 and 40 hours. Subject satisfaction was evaluated at the end of the second postoperative day. FINDINGS: In our study, no significant difference was found between the three groups in terms of age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade (ASA), preoperative thirst and mouth dryness, and preoperative oral health condition (P > .05). A significant difference was found between the groups in terms of subjects' thirst and mouth dryness severity scores after 8, 20, 24, 36, and 40 hours (P < .05). The intervention group that received cold water spray demonstrated statistically significant differences when compared to the control and saline moistening groups. No significant difference was found between subjects' oral health condition and pH scores after 4, 8, 20, 24, 36, and 40 hours (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study show that cold water spray was more effective on the thirst and mouth dryness scores of subjects undergoing major abdominal surgery compared to cold normal saline spray and water applied using a syringe, although it was not an effective factor on oral health condition and pH values of saliva.

The effects of two different electrical stimulation methods on the pain intensity of the patients who had undergone abdominal surgery with a midline incision: Randomized controlled clinical trial.

Aims-Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES) on pain and analgesic drug consumption in patients who had undergone abdominal surgery. Background: Evidence for the effects of and TAES on pain and analgesic consumption on patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Design: This research was conducted as a randomized controlled trial. Methods: This research sample consisted of 48 patients who underwent abdominal surgery with a midline incision. The patients were randomized into three groups, the first intervention group, which used TENS, the second intervention group, which used TAES (ST25, P6, ST36, LI4) and the control group, which did not. Results: Pain scores and analgesic consumption of both intervention groups were significantly lower than the control group. Conclusion: The research's findings reveal that the two electrical stimulation methods have similar effects on pain scores and analgesic consumption in patients.