The Effect of Music on Anxiety, Pain Levels, and Physiological Parameters in Women Undergoing Brachytherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of music on anxiety, pain, and physiologic parameters in women undergoing brachytherapy. DATA SOURCES: The study was conducted with a randomized controlled design between June and December 2022. Music intervention was practiced to the patients in the experimental group (n = 30), while no practice was given to the control group (n = 25). In the study, the data were collected using the Descriptive Information Form, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, visual analog scale, and vital signs (temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, SpO2) recording form. Intergroup and intragroup averages were evaluated by the mixed-design analysis of variance. Variables with pre-post intervention designs were evaluated with the one-way analysis of covariance. There was no significant difference in physiological parameters between the groups (P > . 05). Although the mean anxiety scores decreased in the music group and increased in the control group, there was no statistically significant difference (P > .05). A significant difference was found in the pain levels of the patients in repeated measurements made in intragroup evaluations (P < .001). The depression mean of the music intervention group was significantly lower than the control group (P ≤ .05). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the music played during the brachytherapy process had positive effects on feeling less pain and management of depressive symptoms but did not affect anxiety and physiological parameters. Since each patient is different, the effects of music therapy can vary individually. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses should apply different strategies to investigate session frequencies and durations for different patient groups and treatment stages in cancer care.

The impact of health literacy levels on women's fear of contracting Covid-19 and their attitudes toward holistic complementary and alternative medicine: Mediation analysis results.

Researchers aim to examine mediating variable role of health literacy in the relationship between fear of contracting Covid-19 in women and use of holistic complementary alternative medicine. The study was conducted as descriptive cross-sectional. The researchers collected study data by conducting an online questionnaire from 285 women between April 01 and June 30, 2021. In our study, a significant relationship was found between education level and health literacy, having a chronic illness, not being able to find a permanent job and fear of Covid-19 (p < 0.05). Positive correlation exists between fear of contracting Covid-19 and Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practice (correlation between HCAM Practice ß=.21). When health literacy variable is included, the level of relationship decreases (ß=.18). The researchers determined that as the level of health literacy increased, the women resorted to HCAM practices less despite their fear of contracting Covid-19.

The impact of video-assisted education on quality of life of women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy treatment.

BACKGROUND: The education given in cancer process will contribute to better cope with the problems that may be experienced and to improve self-management skills, thus to the improvement in the quality of life. AIM/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the effect of video-assisted education on the quality of life of women with breast cancer who received chemotherapy treatment for the first time. DESIGN: The control group pre-test/post-test study design was used. METHODS: The study was conducted with women who applied to Outpatient Chemotherapy Unit of a university hospital in Turkey between September 2016 and March 2017 and who received chemotherapy for the first time. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires namely EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 were used to obtain the data. RESULTS: In the education group patients in the fourth cycle of chemotherapy; a decrease in general well-being and a significant increase in dyspnoea, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite were observed. In control group patients in the fourth cycle of chemotherapy, a decrease in general well-being, physical and role functions and a significant increase in nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Breast symptoms and arm symptoms in the educational group patients decreased from the 1st to the 4th cycle. CONCLUSIONS: It has been determined that the application of visual material in patients with breast cancer in the education and counselling process is effective in improving the quality of life.

Effect of Scenario-Based Simulation Training on the Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Clinical Practicum.

BACKGROUND: Simulation practices in obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) nursing are used in education, practice, assessment, and the investigation of interventional and behavioral skills related to both routine and emergency conditions. PURPOSE: This study was conducted in an OB-GYN nursing course to determine the effect of simulation practices on clinical practice satisfaction, clinical stress, and self-confidence in nursing students. METHODS: A cluster randomized controlled experimental trial was conducted on 122 students (experimental group, n = 58; control group, n = 64). After theoretical training, all of the students applied six scenarios in the OB-GYN nursing simulation laboratory. The students in the experimental group began clinical practice after simulation training, whereas their peers in the control group began clinical practice without prior simulation training. Data in this study were collected using a personal information form, the Pagana Clinical Stress Questionnaire, a self-confidence scale, and a satisfaction subscale from the Clinical Learning Environment Scale on, respectively, the first day and final day of clinical practice. RESULTS: At the end of the clinical practice, average clinical stress in the control group was higher than that in the experimental group (p = .001). No intergroup difference was found in self-confidence levels (p > .05). For the control group, at posttest, the average satisfaction with the clinical learning environment was higher (p = .046) and the average satisfaction with the clinical learning environment was lower (p = .05). In contrast, no mean pretest-posttest differences were found in clinical stress and self-confidence levels in the experimental group (p > .05). In the control group, no mean pretest-posttest difference was found for the clinical learning environment (p > .05), whereas mean clinical stress (p < .001) and self-confidence (p = .012) levels were higher at posttest (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The findings of this study indicate that simulation training interventions reduce clinical satisfaction and stress in students but do not influence self-confidence. Nursing educators may provide scenario-based simulation training to students taking OB-GYN courses to enhance their preparedness for clinical practice.

Impact of kangaroo care after caesarean section on paternal-infant attachment and involvement at 12 months: A longitudinal study in Turkey.

The mother's first meeting with the baby after the caesarean section is usually delayed due to the reasons arising from the mother and the baby in Turkey. Although there are many benefits of kangaroo care (KC) intervention between the mother and the newborn, there is a limited number of studies on the KC intervention between the newborn and the father after caesarean section in international literature, and there are none in Turkey. This study was carried out to determine the effect of fathers and infants who participated in KC, immediately after birth by caesarean section, on paternal-infant attachment and the fathers' involvement in infant care in the 12th month. The study was conducted as a longitudinal study with a control group. Initially, the sample consisted of 60 fathers. However, the study was completed with 48 fathers. KC intervention was practised to the couple of the father and the infant in the experimental group, while no practice was given to the control group. Fathers in the experimental group were told that they should continue to practice KC intervention at least two times a week until their baby will be 1-year-old. The data collection forms were given to fathers face-to-face in the first interview, and then through phone calls and emails after 12 months. The status of the fathers in the experimental group fathers' involvement in infant care of the baby (p = .005) was significantly higher than the control group. The mean score for the Postnatal Paternal-Infant Attachment Questionnaire (PPAQ), in fathers who participated in KC intervention, was higher than that of fathers who did not participate in the KC intervention (p < .005). The results of this study demonstrated that the paternal-infant attachment and the fathers' participation in infant care were more positive in fathers and babies who performed the KC intervention.

The effect of sexual health courses on the level of nursing students' sexual/reproductive health knowledge and sexual myths beliefs in Turkey: A pretest-posttest control group design.

PURPOSE: Identified the effect of sexual health courses on the level of sexual health knowledge and sexual myths beliefs among Turkish university students. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study used a pretest-posttest control group quasi-experimental research design. Data were collected from 130 students using questionnaire form, sexual health knowledge test (SHKT), and sexual myths form (SMF). FINDINGS: There was a significant negative relationship between the pretest scores of students that they obtained from SHKT and SMF (P %3C .01) and their posttest scores from the same test and form (P %3C .05). PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Intervention programs that reduce false beliefs, taboos, and prejudices of students sexual myth beliefs.