Predictors of eHealth literacy levels among nursing students: A descriptive and correlational study.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to determine the eHealth literacy levels of nursing students and to predict the influencing factors of eHealth literacy. BACKGROUND: It is essential for nursing students, as the future workforce of the nursing profession, to have proficient ehealth literacy skills. DESIGN: This study was conducted as a descriptive and correlational study. METHODS: The sample consisted of 1059 nursing students at nursing departments of two state universities in Ankara, Turkey. The data were collected by a questionnaire and the eHealth Literacy Scale. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the data. RESULTS: The mean age of the students was 21.14 ± 1.62 years and 86.2% were female. The mean eHealth literacy score of the students was 29.28 ± 4.73. T Fourth year students had higher eHealth literacy scores than those in any other year of study (p < 0.001). Students who use the Internet frequently and always, those who search for health-related information on the Internet, those who find accessing health information on the Internet important, and those who find the Internet useful when making health-decisions had significantly high eHealth literacy scores (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed that the majority of the nursing students displayed a moderate eHealth literacy level. Academic level, frequency of Internet use, and search for health-related information on the Internet impacted the eHealth literacy of the students. Therefore, eHealth literacy concepts should be integrated into nursing curricula to improve nursing students' skills in using information technology and to increase their health literacy level.

Investigation of mothers' postpartum breastfeeding and comfort conditions.

Our study explores the relationship between comfort and breastfeeding scores among 410 postpartum participants in Ankara, Turkey. We collected data through Lactation Rating System and a Postpartum Comfort Questionnaire. In our study, mean Lactation Rating System score was 8.33 ± 1.67 and Postpartum Comfort Questionnaire score was 122.06 ± 0.31. We found that mothers' successful breastfeeding was high and their comfort level was medium. We concluded that mothers' comfort levels had an impact on successful breastfeeding.

Musculoskeletal Pain, Related Factors, and Posture Profiles Among Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study From Turkey.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate musculoskeletal pain due to mechanical reasons and related risk factors in adolescents and to define posture profiles of adolescents. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: The study was conducted with 2221 adolescents between February 2015 and May 2015. The questionnaire used to collect data consisted of three parts: (1) descriptive characteristics of the participants, (2) pain assessment of 14 parts of the body, and (3) Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument (BackPEI). RESULTS: The prevalence of low back pain among the participants was 73.3% (n = 1,343), while the prevalence of back pain was 68.4% (n = 1,254). The participants attributed their pain to their poor sitting postures at school (38.1%, n = 847) and carrying school backpacks (84.1%, n = 1,713). There was a statistically significant difference in the physical activities of adolescents and the BackPEI score (z = 4.40; p = .001). Posture factors of the BackPEI score increased while school desk comfort score increased (Spearman's rho = 0.148; p = .001), but it decreased while the school grades of the adolescents increased (Spearman's rho [ρ] = -0.161; p = .001). CONCLUSIONS: According to this study, body posture was related to musculoskeletal pain and was correlated with physical activities, school desk comfort, and school grades of the adolescents. It is suggested that correct posture and ergonomic positions should be taught to adolescents when using computers, carrying school backpacks, and sitting in school chairs to prevent musculoskeletal pain.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: Some studies have shown that the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is common in patients with chronic painful conditions, such as ankylosing spondylitis (AS). This study aimed to determine the prevalence and types of CAM usage in patients with AS and to evaluate the impact of treatment adherence and beliefs about medicines on CAM usage. METHODS: This study has a descriptive design. A total of 140 patients with AS were included. The treatment adherence of the patients was evaluated using the Morisky Green Levine Medication Adherence Scale. The Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ-T) was used to assess patients' beliefs about medicines. RESULTS: Previous or current CAM usage was stated by 40% of the patients. It has been found that CAM usage was significantly high (p<0.05) in patients who were married, older, and diagnosed at older ages. The difference between patients' beliefs about medicines and CAM usage was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The BMQ-T scores were significantly different in terms of the patients' treatment adherence (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that approximately half of the patients with AS were using 1 CAM method. Furthermore, medication adherence and patients' beliefs about medicines did not have any impact on CAM usage, but the patients' beliefs about medicines affected treatment adherence.

Knowledge, attitudes and prejudices of nursing students about the provision of transcultural nursing care to refugees: A comparative descriptive study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and prejudices of nursing students regarding the provision of transcultural nursing care to refugees. METHODS: The sample of this comparative descriptive study was composed of 317 volunteering nursing students living in Ankara, Turkey. Descriptive statistics were presented as number, percentage, and mean ± standard deviation. The relationships among dependent and independent variables were analyzed with Pearson chi-square test. p ≤ 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean age of the students was 21.19 ± 1.66 years; 88.6% were female. Only 30.0% (n = 95) of students (predominantly seniors) were educated on transcultural nursing. Statistically significant differences were found among grades of nursing students on the answers to the items, "Refugees are under coverage of general medical insurance system," "The concept of 'Health' differs from culture to culture," "Cultural features of the patient are important for caring nurse," "In order to provide care to only refugees and foreign patients, nurses from other cultures should be employed in hospitals," "Interpreters should be employed in hospitals 24 hours for services for refugees," and "According to my observations, refugees and their relatives admitted to the hospital are not respecting the healthcare workers and hospital rules." In addition, there was a statistically significant difference in students' comfort level with nursing care activities between those students who were literate in a foreign language and those who were not literate in a foreign language. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that attending lectures on transcultural nursing in a curriculum of seniors and being literate in a foreign language had a positive impact on the attitudes of students in terms of the provision of medical care to refugees. It is recommended that nursing programs integrate lectures on transcultural nursing into the curricula of all four grades of nursing education and encourage students in language learning to better serve our disadvantageous guests.