Predictive validity and cut-off point of the Turkish version of the Infant Colic Scale in the diagnosis of colic

Abstract Objective: To investigate the predictive validity and cut-off point of the Turkish version of the Infant Colic Scale (ICS) in the diagnosis of colic. Methods: This methodological study was carried out in a pediatric outpatient clinic of a university hospital in Turkey with infants aged 6-16 weeks (n = 133). The data were collected using the Mother-Infant Description Form, the ICS, and the Rome IV criteria form. The scale is a 6-point Likert-type scale consisting of 19 items in total. A low total mean score obtained from it indicates that the probability of colic increases, while a high mean score indicates that the probability of colic decreases. The Rome IV criteria were used as the gold standard. Results: The mean score obtained from the ICS was 59.4 ± 13.7. According to the Rome IV criteria, 26.3% of the infants had colic. The area under the ROC curve was 87.4% (95% CI = 0.815-0.934, SE = 0.30, p = 0.001), and the cut-off point for the best sensitivity value (88.6%) and the best specificity value (70.5%) of the ICS was determined to be 60.5. According to the cut-off point, the positive predictive value was 51%, and the negative predictive value was 94%. Conclusion: The predictive validity of the Turkish version of the ICS was found to be at a good level with high sensitivity and acceptable specificity for a cut-off point of 60.5. Healthcare professionals working in the child field can use the ICS to exclude colic in infants.

Predictive validity and cut-off point of the Turkish version of the Infant Colic Scale in the diagnosis of colic.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive validity and cut-off point of the Turkish version of the Infant Colic Scale (ICS) in the diagnosis of colic. METHODS: This methodological study was carried out in a pediatric outpatient clinic of a university hospital in Turkey with infants aged 6-16 weeks (n = 133). The data were collected using the Mother-Infant Description Form, the ICS, and the Rome IV criteria form. The scale is a 6-point Likert-type scale consisting of 19 items in total. A low total mean score obtained from it indicates that the probability of colic increases, while a high mean score indicates that the probability of colic decreases. The Rome IV criteria were used as the gold standard. RESULTS: The mean score obtained from the ICS was 59.4 ± 13.7. According to the Rome IV criteria, 26.3% of the infants had colic. The area under the ROC curve was 87.4% (95% CI = 0.815-0.934, SE = 0.30, p = 0.001), and the cut-off point for the best sensitivity value (88.6%) and the best specificity value (70.5%) of the ICS was determined to be 60.5. According to the cut-off point, the positive predictive value was 51%, and the negative predictive value was 94%. CONCLUSION: The predictive validity of the Turkish version of the ICS was found to be at a good level with high sensitivity and acceptable specificity for a cut-off point of 60.5. Healthcare professionals working in the child field can use the ICS to exclude colic in infants.

Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Patient Health Engagement Scale.

BACKGROUND: The Patient Health Engagement Scale was designed to assess the emotional and psychological attitudes of patients' engagement along their healthcare management journey. AIM: This study aimed to conduct psychometric testing of the Turkish version of the Patient Health Engagement Scale among patients with chronic diseases. DESIGN: A cross-sectional validation study was conducted and reported according to the STROBE checklist. METHODS: There were 520 patients who completed the scale between March 2017 and February 2018. The content, construct and concurrent validity were evaluated. The reliability of the scale was measured using internal consistency and construct reliability. Construct validity was examined using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. RESULTS: The scale's validity was enabled by the translation and back translation method. The content validity index of the scale was 0.88. Construct validity determined one factor. The total variance was calculated at 85.29%. The factor loads ranged between 0.86 and 0.95. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed goodness-of-fit indices in the excellent range according to the literature. The reliability of the scale was calculated at 0.95. CONCLUSION: The scale was found to be a valid and reliable measurement tool to be used in identifying the engagement with health levels of patients with chronic diseases.

The effect of an eye health promotion program on the health protective behaviors of primary school students.

INTRODUCTION: Undiagnosed and uncorrected refractive errors in childhood can negatively affect the development of vision and cause students to have low academic success and even quit school before graduation. This study aims to determine the effects of an eye health promotion program on the health protective behaviors of primary school students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This experimental study using a pretest-posttest design with a control group was conducted in three public primary schools in Aydin, a city in the Western Anatolia Region of Turkey, between April and November 2014. The eye health promotion program was provided by the researchers to the experimental Group 2 days in 4 weeks. The data were analyzed using the t-test, Chi-square analysis, the Mann-Whitney U-test, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and the McNemar test. RESULTS: The average age of the students was identified as 9.0 ± 3.64 years. The students wearing glasses all in the experimental group and 53.3% in the control group were found to always wear their glasses after the education program was completed (P < 0.05). These students, 97.9% in the experimental group and 58.1% in the control group underwent eye examinations from an ophthalmologist (P < 0.05). The eye health protective behaviors of the experimental group were found to have positively changed in the final follow-up, compared to the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The eye health promotion program was found to be effective in improving eye health protective behaviors within the experimental group.

Effects of Creating Awareness Through Photographs and Posters on Skin Self-Examination in Nursing Students.

Nurses can have an influence on primary and secondary prevention of skin cancer. Therefore, it is important to help them acquire knowledge and skills necessary to modify behavior in relation to skin cancers. The aim of this study was to examine effects of creating awareness through photographs and posters on knowledge and skills of skin self-examination in nursing students. The study had a quasi-experimental design with a pretest and a posttest in a single group. The study population included 249 last-year nursing students in Turkey. Non-probability sampling was used to reach the population. The study sample was composed of 201 students volunteering to participate in the study, and the response rate was 81 %. Of the students, 85.1 % (n = 171) were female and the mean age of the students was 22.18 ± 0.78 years. Of the students, 94.5 % did not know the asymmetry, border, color, diameter, evolution (ABCDE) criteria on the pretest, but this rate decreased to 20.9 % on the posttest. The mean score for knowledge of symptoms of skin cancer was 10.95 ± 1.37 on the pretest and 11.48 ± 0.90 on the posttest. There was a significant linear increase in the scores for knowledge of the symptoms (F = 7.874, p < 0.001) after the intervention with photographs and posters. The students were observed to learn the ABCDE criteria and had increased knowledge of skin cancer symptoms after the intervention using photographs and posters. Photographs and posters are effective tools which can be used to increase awareness of skin self-examination.

A Nurse-Led School-Based Sun Protection Programme in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a nurse-led school-based sun protection programme in Turkey. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was performed at two public schools between February and October 2014. Children with written consent from their parents were screened by nurses for skin type, and 80 children at moderate to high risk for skin cancer were included in the study. The sample was randomized by age, gender and skin type. Stratified and block randomizations were used. The participants were separated into an intervention group (n=40) and control group (n=40). Data were collected using a personal information form and two scales for sun protection behaviour and self-efficacy. RESULTS: In the intervention group, the pretest mean score for sun protection behaviour was 19.25±5.44 and increased significantly in the posttest assessment (33.05±4.23, p<0.001). Self-efficacy scores also increased significantly after the intervention (pretest 20.50±6.68, post-test 35.85±4.70, p<0.001). However, there were no significant increases in mean sun protection behaviour or self-efficacy scores in the control group (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: A nurse-led school-based sun protection programme effectively promoted children's self-efficacy and sun protection behaviour.

The effect of the support program on the resilience of female family caregivers of stroke patients: Randomized controlled trial.

AIM: The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of a support program on the resilience of female family caregivers of stroke patients. METHODS: This is a randomized controlled trial. The sample consisted 70 female family caregivers (34 experimental, 36 control group). Data were collected three times (pretest-posttest, follow-up test). Data were collected using the demographical data form, the Family Index of Regenerativity and Adaptation-General. RESULTS: A significant difference was determined between the experimental and control group's follow-up test scores for relative and friend support, social support and family-coping coherence. A significant difference was determined between the experimental group's mean pretest, posttest and follow-up test scores in terms of family strain, relative and friend support, social support, family coping-coherence, family hardiness and family distress. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the Support Program contributes to the improvement of the components of resilience of family caregivers of stroke patients.

Training program to raise consciousness among adolescents for protection against skin cancer through performance of skin self examination.

BACKGROUND: Overexposure to sunlight in childhood and the adolescent period and associated sunburns significantly increase the risk of skin cancer in adulthood. In Turkey, the incidence of skin cancer in the general population is 0.8%. The incidence is 0.6% and the mortality rate is 0.4% for men, while these rates are 1.0% and 0.7%, respectively, for women. If skin cancer is found early, its treatment is facilitated. Therefore, personal skin examination is important for early diagnosis. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to determine the effects of training for raising consciousness among adolescents to protect against skin cancer by influencing skin self examination behavior. METHOD: This quasi experimental intervention study was conducted between February and April 2012 in Izmir. The study population consisted of students attending 6th, 7th and 8th classes of a primary school (n:302). No sampling was performed. Data were collected with a form developed by the researchers based on the literature. The first part of form is aimed to determine demographic characteristics of adolescents (3 questions) and their risk status of skin cancer (6 questions). The second part was prepared for skin cancer risks of adolescents (8 questions) and indications of skin cancer (12 questions). The last part was intended to determine their knowledge about skin self examination (4 questions) and behavioral stages of skin self examination (1 question). Data collection was achieved with a questionnaire form in three phases. In the 1st phase, data about demographic characteristics of students, risk status of skin cancer, knowledge level of skin cancer and behavior stages were collected. In the 2nd phase, skin self examination training based on the transtheoretical model was performed within the same day just after obtaining preliminary data. In the 3rd phase, adolescents were followed up three times to establish the efficacy of the training (on the 15th day after training program and at end of the 1st and 2nd months). Follow-up data were evaluated by questioning skin self examination performing behavior stages through electronic mail. RESULTS: Half of the adolescents (50.5%) are male, and 58.4% of them are 13 years old with a mean age of 12 ± 1.15 years. About 29.4% of adolescents had brown hair color, 37.9% had brown/ hazel eye color, 29.4% had white skin, and 47.2% had fewer than 10 moles in their body. The pretest mean score on knowledge level about risks of skin cancer was found to be 4.19 ± 1.96, while the post-test mean score was 6.79 ± 1.67 (min:0, max:8).The pretest mean score about indications of skin cancer was 7.45 ± 3.76, while the post-test mean score was 10.7 ± 2.60 (min:0, max:12). The increases were statistically significant (p<0.05). The behavior "I do not perform skin self examination regularly in every month and I do not think to perform it in the next 6 months" was reduced from 52.8 to 35.5% after training. CONCLUSION: The training program organized to raise consciousness among adolescents for protection against skin cancer increased the knowledge level about risks and indications of skin cancer and it also improved the behavior of performing skin self examination.

Turkish nurses' perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care.

AIM: To explore Turkish nurses' perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care and to investigate the relationship between their perceptions and their demographic/independent variables. BACKGROUND: Nurses' perception of spirituality can directly affect how they behave, deal with their patients and communicate with them in regard to the provision of spiritual care. DESIGN: Survey. METHODS: This study employed a convenience sample of 348 staff nurses from the public hospitals in the west of Turkey. The data were collected with two tools; a 'sociodemographic data form' and the 'Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale' (SSCRS). The response rate was 92% (n = 319). RESULTS: The mean age of the nurses was 31·70 (SD 6·34) years and 22·9% of them had a Bachelor's degree. Among the nurses, 54·98% had ≥ 11 years of clinical experience. The mean score for the SSCRS was 3·21 (SD 0·63) which indicated that nurses' perceptions concerning spirituality and spiritual care were 'uncertain' or 'less clearly' defined. Significant differences were found between nurses' perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care and their ages (p < 0·05), marital status (p < 0·05) and education levels (p < 0·01). CONCLUSION: The research findings suggest that Turkish nurses' perceptions were indecisive and inconclusive. Nurses' educational level, belief in the evil eye and department of employment appeared to have a positive impact on their perception of spirituality and spiritual care. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: These findings will enable nurses to consider the importance of spirituality and spiritual care. Grasping these concepts will enable nurses to become more sensitive in their daily practices of spiritual care.

Visual inspection with acetic acid in cervical cancer screening.

BACKGROUND: Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) is an attractive screening method for early-phase cervical cancer in underdeveloped countries. OBJECTIVE: This study addressed the validity of VIA in cervical cancer screening by comparing results with colposcopy findings. METHODS: Of 350 women screened at the Ege University clinic using the Papanicolaou test, colposcopy and VIA were used additionally to screen 50 of these women. Colposcopy, VIA, and Papanicolaou test results were compared. A sociodemographic data questionnaire and a VIA questionnaire were used. RESULTS: When VIA findings were compared with Papanicolaou test findings, the sensitivity of VIA was 82.14%, specificity was 50.00%, positive predictive value (PPV) was 67.64%, and negative predictive value (NPV) was 68.75%. When the method of VIA was compared with colposcopy, VIA had a sensitivity of 85.29%, specificity of 68.75%, PPV of 85.29%, and NPV of 68.75%. CONCLUSIONS: In the screening of cervical cancer, the sensitivity of VIA was high, whereas the corresponding specificity was only at an acceptable level. The PPV and NPV of VIA were found to be high. In other words, the validity of VIA during early-phase screening is high in terms of sensitivity and acceptable for specificity and predictive values. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Visual inspection with acetic acid is an acceptable screening method for cervical cancer and seems to be an efficient and cost-effective method to detect high-level dysplasia.

Barriers to research utilisation among nurses in Turkey.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to identify barriers to research utilisation in practice among nurses in Turkey. BACKGROUND: It is clear from the nursing literature that there are several factors that can impede the use of research in practice. It is important that these are identified and addressed. DESIGN: Survey. METHOD: This descriptive study was carried out with 216 nurses from government and private hospitals in Izmir between January-April 2007. The data collection instrument used for the study consisted of the Barriers to Research Utilization Scale and a self-administered questionnaire form that contained demographic data, educational background and nurses' involvement in research activities. RESULTS: More than half of the nurses did not receive research education before graduation, and 85.2% did not receive an in-service education. Only 58.3% of nurses give great importance to research, and 24.5% are interested in research. Involvement in research activities is inadequate. Five out of the top 10 barriers were related to 'setting', three to 'nurse' and two to 'presentation'. Educational level, undergraduate research education and involvement in research activities were predictor factors of perceived barriers to research utilisation. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying the barriers to research utilisation is the first step in overcoming the barriers. It is hoped that research capability in the health care field in Turkey can be enhanced. Creating an organisational climate that values research use and supports nurses to participate in such activities is crucial. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The study findings provide key factors and the top barriers to research utilisation to nurse administrators in developing strategies to increase the utilisation of research findings in clinical practices.

Beliefs of Turkish female teaching staff regarding mammography scanning.

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, there has hitherto been no research to determine the beliefs of female teaching staff, who are highly educated and form a special risk group regarding breast cancer, towards mammography scanning in Turkey. Definitive research was planned to determine the beliefs of the female teaching staff working in a university. METHODS: Data were collected by researchers via face-to-face interview using a sociodemographic questionnaire and " Health Belief Model ". RESULTS: The point average of the teaching staff in the mammography benefits sub-scale is 19.6 ± 3.87, their average item score is 3.91. The point average of the teaching staff in the mammography obstacles sub-scale is 21.17 ± 6.87, their average item score is 1.92. CONCLUSIONS: They agree on the benefits of the mammography, but they do not agree on the obstacles to mammography.

Barriers to Research Utilization Scale: psychometric properties of the Turkish version.

AIM: This paper is report of a study designed to assess the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Barriers to Research Utilization Scale. BACKGROUND: The original Barriers to Research Utilization Scale was developed by Funk et al. in the United States of America. Many researchers in various countries have used this scale to identify barriers to research utilization. METHODS: A methodological study was carried out at four hospitals. The sample consisted of 300 nurses. Data were collected in 2005 using a socio-demographic form (12 questions) and the Turkish version of the Barriers to Research Utilization Scale. A Likert-type scale composed of four sub-factors and 29 items was used. Means and standard deviations were calculated for interval level data. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. FINDINGS: Language equivalence and content validity were assessed by eight experts. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the Turkish version was made up of four subscales. Internal consistency reliability coefficient was 0.92 for the total scale and ranged from 0.73 to 0.80 for the subscales. Total-item correlation coefficients ranged from 0.37 to 0.60. CONCLUSION: The Turkish version of the scale is similar in structure to the original English language scale.

Effectiveness of premarital sexual counselling program on sexual satisfaction of recently married couples.

BACKGROUND: Through its ability to address and remove fear and misunderstanding and the resulting sexual reluctance and related problems, pre-marital sexual education and counselling can contribute to sexual satisfaction. METHODS: This quasi-experimental research conducted in a pre-test-post-test control group design aimed to examine the effectiveness of nursing interventions on a premarital counselling program and its impacts on the sexual satisfaction of couples (36 couples in the experimental group and 35 couples in the control group). RESULTS: Although no difference was detected between the experimental and control groups in terms of the level of knowledge on pre-test point averages, the difference between them in terms of post-test knowledge gain averages was statistically significant. Approval rates for sexual myths in the pre-test were 27.87% in the experimental group and 37.03% in the control group; in the post-test they were 23.51% and 36.66% respectively. In the experimental group, 80.6% of the women and 63.9% of the men, and in the control group, 77.1% of the women and 71.4% of the men were established as having a problem-free sexual life. CONCLUSIONS: It was also discovered that levels of sexual satisfaction were shown to be higher among women and men in the experimental group who had attended premarital sexual counselling education than the women and men in the control group. A recommendation to encourage engaged couples to attend premarital sexual counselling is made based on the findings. It is thought that an intervention plan prepared within the framework of the Information, Motivation, Behavioural Skills theoretical model will help nurses guide recently-married couples to greater sexual satisfaction.