Impact of fatalistic approaches in the health crisis: COVID-19 example.

BACKGROUND: When faced with a health crisis, most people tend to seek solutions through modern or traditional medicine. However, there is a group of people who tend to take a fatalistic approach to health crises and tend not to do what is necessary. When such approaches are exhibited in disadvantaged groups, there may be a chain reaction resulting in much more important problems. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine whether the fatalistic approach is realized during a health crisis period in people 65 years and older, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases, and healthcare workers who are considered disadvantaged. Researchers also examined whether there were sociodemographic characteristics that made a difference in these attitudes among those who were determined to have a fatalistic approach. METHODS: The research was conducted with a quantitative method. The sample calculation was performed and it was decided to reach 196 people. A self-report scale was used for fatalism. RESULTS: It was determined that the participants had a moderate level of fatalism. It was seen that there was a difference between the groups in terms of fatalistic behavior. It was observed that women, divorced people, people without alcohol and smoking habits, people who live alone, and people who think their health is poor tend to behave more fatalistic. CONCLUSION: The tendency to show fatalistic behavior was found to be higher in the group of 65 years and older. Sociodemographic characteristics are associated with fatalistic behavior.

State-Trait Anxiety Condition and Its Affecting Factors in Pregnant Women Linked to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: This study intends to address the COVID-19 pandemic process with specific regard to pregnant women, aiming to determine their state-trait anxiety levels. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study has a quantitative design. Ethical permissions were obtained, data were collected digitally, and power analysis was performed for sample size. The sample size was calculated as 656 pregnant women. In the collection of the data, the Personal Information Form, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used. RESULTS: In our study, the majority of pregnant women (86.3%) were concerned about the pandemic process, with more than half thinking that their pregnancy (62.9%) and delivery processes would be affected (66.2%). In the meantime, 60.2% of the pregnant women postponed their health checks and they indicated being most concerned about their babies (57.1%). In 51.2% of the pregnant women, the state anxiety levels were low, and 89.8% of the trait anxiety levels were moderate. CONCLUSIONS: In crisis periods like the pandemic, pregnant women are among the priority groups. Screening, prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of affective disorders in the prenatal period are important for maternal and fetal health.

Do Health-Care Students Know About Chemical Biological Radioactive Nuclear Weapons?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge of students receiving different levels of health-care education (doctors, nurses, paramedics) on chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear weapons (CBRNW). METHODS: This study was designed as a qualitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional research. The study reached 87.68% of the population. A survey form was created by the researcher in line with the literature. Ethical permission and verbal consents were obtained. The data were collected by face-to-face interviews. RESULTS: It was observed that there was no difference between the enrolled departments, that the participants had very low levels of knowledge on the subject despite considering it a likely threat for Turkey, and that they thought the public and the health-care professionals in this field had insufficient knowledge. Sex, age, and field education were the variables that created a difference. CONCLUSION: Training regarding CBRNW should be further questioned and individuals should receive ongoing training to increase and update their knowledge and skills.

The implementation of child rights in healthcare services.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalized children have the right to "partake in practices related to their treatment and care." Midwives and nurses have important roles and responsibilities regarding the protection and enforcement of these rights, such as providing information and advocating for children. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the attitudes of midwives and nurses toward their roles and responsibilities in the implementation of child rights in healthcare services and the factors affecting their attitudes. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 122 midwives and nurses in total. The data were collected through a questionnaire. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Written permission was obtained from an ethics committee in the center of the city where the research was conducted. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 36.70 ± 8.03 years; 58.9% of midwives and nurses stated that they understood the child's consent about the treatment by looking at the child's facial expression; 36% of midwives and nurses stated that children could not participate in decisions regarding their own health. It was observed that obtaining the child's consent in matters related to treatment does not make any difference between midwives and nurses. The rate of the midwives stating that they would report suspicious violence-neglect and abuse was found to be higher. CONCLUSION: The variables of the unit of employment, the state of having children, choosing the profession and practicing in it willingly, and getting training on children's rights make a difference in terms of children's rights in healthcare services. Midwives and nurses should be reminded of child rights in healthcare services through regular in-service training programs.

Nonmedical methods to relieve low back pain caused by lumbar disc herniation: a descriptive study in northeastern Turkey.

Low back pain due to the effects of lumbar disc herniation is a common complaint of patients who often subsequently seek help from medical professionals. It is also a significant health problem which is quite difficult to treat. This descriptive study was conducted to determine nonmedical methods used by patients with lumbar disc herniation to relieve low back pain; the patients' intensity of low back pain when they were admitted to the hospital was also explored. Ninety-two patients with lumbar disc herniation participated in this study, which was carried out at a university hospital in northeastern Turkey. Data were collected using a patient information form and the visual analog scale (VAS). When the patients were admitted to hospital, their mean VAS score was 6.56 ± 2.45. The study results showed that as a first choice nearly all of the patients (94.6%) with lumbar disc herniation preferred consulting with their physicians before to obtain relief for low back pain. However, in addition to seeing their physician, more than one-half of these patients (57.6%) also used nonmedical methods. The primary nonmedical methods were hot/cold compresses, wrapping various substances on the back, and herbal preparations. An increase in pain was noted by 17.0% of patients after using nonmedical methods. Findings indicated that more than two-thirds of patients experienced either no change or an increase in pain after using nonmedical methods to find relief.

Attitudes and health beliefs associated with breast cancer screening behaviors among Turkish women.

PROBLEM: This research was undertaken to determine the attitudes and health beliefs of a sample of Turkish women about breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination, and mammography. DESIGN: Data were collected by means of a researcher-designed questionnaire and the Champion Health Belief Model Scale. A total of 1,342 women participated in this study. RESULTS: It was found that 10.1% of the women practiced BSE once a month, 19.8% of the women had had a clinical breast examination, and 15.0% had had a mammogram. Age and marital status were significant variables that influenced whether the women used only one or multiple methods for early detection of breast cancer. Participants who had higher levels of confidence for BSE and lower perceptions of barriers to BSE were more likely to perform BSE. Participants who perceived higher levels of confidence to perform BSE were more likely to be using all three early detection methods. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Interventions and strategies that help women develop confidence in their abilities to perform early breast cancer detection methods are likely to encourage them to engage in regular screening for breast cancer.

The effects of peer education on university students' knowledge of breast self-examination and health beliefs.

This study was carried out to determine the effects of peer education on breast self-examination (BSE) knowledge and health beliefs. 180 female university students were trained in BSE by the nursing students. Students instructed in groups by their peers showed a much higher degree of BSE knowledge. It was also found that perceived confidence of the students educated both individually and in groups increased afterward. Study results further revealed that the methods used for peer instruction do not affect students' sub-dimensions of health beliefs differently after the education.

A different approach to breast self-examination education: daughters educating mothers creates positive results in Turkey.

Breast cancer is a common cancer among women, and early detection is important for breast cancer mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of daughters teaching their mothers about breast self-examination (BSE) and its health beliefs. In the study's first stage, 168 university students were trained by the School of Health students about BSE through group training methods. Then, these trained university students were asked to train their mothers about BSE. Data were collected before the training and then again after the training (1 month later). The study instruments included questionnaire forms and the Champion Health Belief Model Scale. The results were analyzed using paired- and unpaired-sample t test, analysis of variance, bivariate correlation analysis, and stepwise multiple regression analysis. The results show that women's knowledge level increased 2-fold after training, and the knowledge level difference between pretraining and post-training was significant (P = .000). The mothers' background information (hear-read) and BSE practice (P = .006 and .006, respectively) before the training process were found to be significant predictors of sociodemographic and other variables influencing the mothers' knowledge levels. The training increased the perceived benefit (P = .032) and confidence (P = .000) significantly. It was found that there was a negative but significant correlation between perceived barriers and BSE knowledge after the education (P = .019). It was found that mothers' knowledge level about BSE was higher after the education. Furthermore, perceived barriers decreased while other subscales increased. Education from daughter to mother can be used as a BSE training approach to increase women's knowledge about BSE.

Comparison of three educational interventions on breast self-examination knowledge and health beliefs.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of various training methods for breast self-examination (BSE) knowledge, practice, and health beliefs. METHODS: The quasi-experimental investigation was carried out in an area where two community health care centers are located, in the city of Trabzon, Turkey. Divided randomly into three groups, 1,342 women were instructed in BSE using individual or group training or by way of pamphlets. Data were gathered in four stages: during the pretraining and one month, six months and twelve months after training. RESULTS: All of the training methods used in the study produced a significant increase in the participants' BSE knowledge, but individually trained women scored higher than did the others. Regardless of the training method, BSE instruction improved the women's perceived confidence and benefits, while their perceived barriers declined. The variables influencing BSE practice were found to be BSE practice at the pretraining period, perceived confidence in and benefits from BSE six months after BSE instruction, and health motivation one year after training. No significant difference was found in women's BSE performance scores one year after training. CONCLUSION: This study in which three training methods were used enabled us to assess the effectiveness of instruction on BSE performance and competence. In addition, it provided us with valuable information on how training methods can influence health beliefs related to BSE.