The Effect of Art Therapy on Pain, Emesis, Anxiety, and Quality of Life in Operated Breast Cancer Patients: Randomized Control Trials.

Background: Breast cancer symptoms related to the disease nature and treatments develop and the quality of life of patients is impacted. Art therapy improves the quality of life by increasing symptom control and treatment compliance. This study aimed to determine the effect of art therapy on pain, emesis, anxiety, and quality of life in operated breast cancer patients. Methods: This experimental research was carried out with a total of 60 patients, 30 in the intervention group (IG) and 30 in the control group (CG), who received treatment in the Oncology Center of Sivas Cumhuriyet University Practice and Research Hospital. A Personal Information Form, the Pain Intensity-Visual Analog Scale, the Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale-General (FACT-G) were used to collect research data. Within the scope of the research, IG received chemotherapy sessions for 10 weeks (five sessions) with 2-week intervals by an art specialist in marbling, accompanied by ney music. CG received no intervention. The obtained data were uploaded to the SPSS (22.0) program and statistical analysis was performed. Results: The decrease in the pain, nausea-vomiting, and anxiety levels of the patients in IG and the increase in their quality of life after the art therapy accompanied by ney music were statistically significant compared with the first follow-up (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant change in the quality of life of the patients in the CG, whereas their pain, nausea-vomiting, and anxiety scores increased. According to the comparison between IG and CG, there was a significant difference in favor of IG in terms of pain severity, quality of life, emesis, and anxiety levels (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The art of marbling with ney was effective in operated breast cancer patients experiencing pain, emesis, and anxiety and improved their quality of life. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT05666583.

The Effects of Self-Acupressure on Pain, Fatigue, and Sleep Quality in Colon and Pancreatic Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic and colon cancer are among important gastrointestinal cancer diseases. Pain, fatigue, and insomnia are among the most common symptoms in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Self-acupressure may improve patients' pain, fatigue, sleep quality, quality of life, and functional well-being. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of self-acupressure application on pain, fatigue, and sleep quality in colon and pancreatic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. METHODS: This randomized controlled study was conducted with 60 patients in treatment for pancreatic or colon cancer, 30 in the intervention and 30 in the control group, between June and October 2021. Participants in the intervention group were asked to complete 16 acupressure sessions for 4 weeks, 2 days a week in the morning and afternoon for a total of 18 minutes, depending on the preparation and pressure time on 4 pressure points. Control group participants did not receive any interventions during the study. The data were collected by using a personal information form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Piper Fatigue Scale, and the visual analog scale. RESULTS: After self-acupressure, the visual analog scale, Piper Fatigue Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores of the intervention group decreased when compared with the control group scores; the difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Self-acupressure was effective in reducing the pain, fatigue, and sleep disorder scores of patients with colon or pancreatic cancer receiving chemotherapy. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: In nursing practice, self-acupressure, an applicable, accessible, and inexpensive method in the management of cancer-related symptoms, can be supported and maintained during a 4-week period.

Turkish Validity and Reliability Study of Humanistic Practice Ability of Nursing Scale.

Background: Nurses should have humanistic qualities to identify what the patient needs with an effective care plan and meet these needs. The aim of this study is to conduct the Turkish validity and reliability study of the Humanistic Practice Ability of Nursing Scale. Methods: This methodological study was carried out with 300 nurses online (e-mail, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram) between April 02, 2021, and May 15, 2021. A questionnaire prepared via docs.google.com/forms was sent to the nurses. The scale was translated into Turkish, and then, the content and construct validity of its Turkish version was obtained through exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The reliability of the scale was tested by performing item analysis and internal consistency analysis. Results: The analysis revealed that the content validity index of the scale was 0.96. In the exploratory factor analysis performed within the scope of the Turkish adaptation of the scale, the rate of the total variance explained was 59.63%. Factor loadings of all the items ranged between 0.47 and 0.79. While Cronbach's Alpha value was 0.93 for the overall Humanistic Practice Ability of Nursing Scale, it ranged from 0.71 to 0.89 for its subscales. The exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis revealed no necessity of making any revision or modification in the scale. Therefore, the 29-item and five-dimension structure of the Humanistic Practice Ability of Nursing Scale was used in its Turkish version. Goodness-of-fit index values were obtained after the CFA was performed. Conclusion: The Turkish version of the Humanistic Practice Ability of Nursing Scale can be used as a valid and reliable measurement tool to assess nurses' humanistic practice ability.

Evaluation of care burden and preparedness of caregivers who provide care to palliative care patients.

OBJECTIVE: Caregivers have a great role in palliative care. Considering the difficult process of palliative care, the caregiver undertakes an extra burden with the responsibility of the patient. This study was carried out to evaluate the care burden and preparedness of caregivers who provide care for palliative care patients. METHOD: This study was conducted in the palliative care unit of a state hospital in Turkey between January and May 2019. No sample was selected in the study, and the study was carried out with individuals who were hospitalized in the palliative care unit and who volunteered to participate in the study between the specified dates. The data were collected with Patient Relative Questionnaire Form, Burden Interview, and Preparedness for Caregiving Scale. RESULTS: The average Burden Interview score was found as 33.6, SD 13.03 in the study. Patient relatives perceived the patients they cared for as a burden at moderate levels. The Preparedness for Caregiving score average was found as 18.55, SD 6.83. It was found that patient relatives were moderately prepared to undertake the role of caregiver. It was found that care burden decreased as preparedness for caregiving increased and burden increased as preparedness for caregiving decreased (p = 0.001). SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: As a result of the study, it was found that caregivers of palliative patients had the moderate levels of care burden and preparedness for caregiving. It was found that as the preparedness levels of caregivers increased, their burdens decreased. Accordingly, it is important that nurses will plan nursing interventions by considering the factors that affect the care burden and preparedness of caregivers.

Have we been able to improve the conscientious intelligence levels of nursing students sufficiently?

PURPOSE: This study was aimed at comparing the conscientious intelligence levels of nursing students and determining the factors affecting their conscientious intelligence. DESIGN AND METHODS: Two hundred and forty nursing students were involved in the study. FINDINGS: There were no statistically significant differences between the first and fourth-year students in terms of the mean scores they obtained from the compassion, responsibility toward the creator, conscious awareness, and social sensitivity sub-dimensions. Of the students, those who chose the profession willingly, those who were women and those who did not perceive nursing as a profession just to earn money obtained higher mean scores in the Conscientious Intelligence Scale. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The results of the study revealed that Nurse Academics should make more attempts to improve students' conscientious intelligence.