The Relationship of Preterm, Term, and Post-Term Births to Maternal Stress and Human Milk Cortisol Levels.

Introduction: Maternal stress can lead to changes in the composition of human breast milk. The present study evaluates cortisol levels in the breast milk of mothers after giving birth preterm, term, or post-term, and ascertains whether the levels are associated with maternal stress. Materials and Methods: Included in the study were mothers who gave birth vaginally after 32 weeks of gestation between January and April 2022. The breast milk was expressed with an electronic pump under the supervision of a nurse on day 7 following birth, and 2 mL samples of the milk were transferred into microtubes and stored at -80°C. Stress in the mothers was measured using the perceived stress scale developed by Cohen et al. The human breast milk cortisol levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunoassay in a single session. Results: A total of 90 mothers, including 30 with preterm births, 38 with term births, and 22 with post-term births, were included in the study. The median stress scale score was 28 (17-50) and the median breast milk cortisol level was 0.49 ng/mL (0.1-1.96 ng/mL). A significant positive correlation was noted between the stress scale scores and breast milk cortisol levels (r = 0.56, p < 0.01). The breast milk cortisol levels and maternal stress scale scores were significantly higher in the preterm birth group than in the term birth group (p = 0.011 and p = 0.013, respectively). Conclusion: Although there is an association between maternal stress and preterm labor and milk cortisol levels, we believe that more studies are needed to establish a causal link.

The caffeine consumption among Turkish pregnant women.

Background: Caffeine consumption during pregnancy has effect on newborn anthropometry therefore the amount of maternal caffeine consumption is important. Aim: This study aims to determine caffeine consumption during pregnancy and related factors. Subjects and Methods: This study was carried out in a maternity hospital located in Eastern Turkey from September 2018 to June 2019 with 300 healthy primiparous women and babies. Data were collected by the researchers with a socio-demographic questionnaire and caffeine consumption frequency semi-quantitative questionnaire using the face-to-face interview technique. Postpartum weight and height of the women and length, weight, and head circumference of the newborns were measured. Evaluation of the data was carried out with Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test and binary logistic regression analysis was used for relationship analysis. Results: The mean daily caffeine intake of the pregnant women was determined as 344.9 ± 181.4 mg/day and 4.9 ± 2.6 mg/kg/day. The babies' mean birth weight was 2943.1 ± 407.4 g, mean length was 50.1 ± 2.2 cm, and mean head circumference was 32.3 ± 1.6 cm. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between caffeine consumption of pregnant women and newborn birth weight and length (P = 0.049; P = 0.007, respectively). After age, economic and educational status, and pre- and post-pregnancy BMI were corrected according to weight increase during pregnancy and after binary logistic regression analysis was performed, it was determined that caffeine consumption did not have an effect on low birth weight (Total caffeine consumption (mg/day), P = 0.669 OR = 1.00, 95% Cl = 0.997-1.002; caffeine consumption (mg/kg), P = 0.549 OR = 0.956, 95% Cl = 0.824-1.109). Conclusion: Caffeine consumption of pregnant women is higher than the recommended levels. Therefore, pregnant women should be informed about caffeine sources and consumption amounts.

Problems, Stressors and Needs of Children and Adolescents with Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cancer diseases in children and adolescents are considered to be one of the most serious health problems in the world. It is estimated that about 151,435 cases are diagnosed in children annually. Children with cancer experience many comorbid symptoms related to diagnosis and treatment that can profoundly affect their lives. They experience physical and emotional suffering, which affects their well-being and physical fitness, influencing the prognosis and deteriorating their physical, mental and social functioning. Given the limited data, an attempt was made to assess the problems of the biopsychosocial sphere of need and stressors among children and adolescents treated for cancer. Accurate symptom assessment is essential to ensure high-quality care and effective treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The qualitative study was conducted in pediatric oncology of hospitals in Poland. Children diagnosed with cancer were invited to participate in the study to assess their problems, stressors and needs. RESULTS: The study included 520 people, where female sex constituted 48% and male 52%. The mean age of the children is 13.2 SD = 2.5. Negative experiences related to the disease are experienced by 82% of children. Among the surveyed children, the most experienced were anxiety (61%). The conducted research shows that as many as 69% of all respondents experienced states that indicate severe depression. The most common somatic problems reported by children were pain (58%). The most dominant areas of life that had a negative impact was body image (85%). CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents diagnosed with neoplastic disease experience many problems and stressors in every sphere of life, which undoubtedly affects a high level of unmet needs. The main category of needs concerning the challenges faced by children with cancer was psychological and care problems. In the youth group, the needs were mainly related to education and social support.

Determining the healthy lifestyle behaviors and e-health literacy levels in adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the healthy lifestyle behaviors and e-health literacy levels of adolescents. METHOD: A descriptive research design was used in this study. It was conducted with a total of 390 students in the Faculty of Health Sciences. The data were collected using a personal information form, the Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale II and the e-Health Literacy Scale for Adolescents. For data analysis, descriptive analyses, t-test, variance, Kruskal-Wallis, the Mann-Whitney U and Pearson Correlation tests were used. Necessary approvals were obtained to conduct this study. RESULTS: The present study found that the e-Health Literacy Scale mean score of adolescents was 27.51 and their HLBS-II mean score was 129.01. A positive significant relationship was found between the e-health literacy and healthy lifestyle behavior in adolescents. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the importance of e-health literacy in developing nursing procedures designed to increase the healthy lifestyle behaviors of adolescents.

Effect of progressive relaxation exercises on primary dysmenorrhea in Turkish students: A randomized prospective controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: A randomized prospective controlled study was conducted concerning the effects of progressive relaxation exercises on the reduction of pain in primary dysmenorrhea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research control group (CG) consisted of 60 students while the experimental group (EG) consisted of 64 students. The progressive relaxation exercises were self-administered via compact disc (CD) by participants for two menstrual cycles. A descriptive information form, a visual analog scale (VAS) and a dysmenorrhea monitoring form (DMF) were used for data collection. RESULTS: The difference between the average first and final post-exercise measurements of the VAS scores of students in the experimental group was statistically significant (p < 0.001), whereas the difference in the control group was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Progressive relaxation exercises are an effective method for reducing dysmenorrhea when they are performed on a regular basis.

Determining the healthy lifestyle behaviors and e-health literacy levels in adolescents / Determinando os comportamentos de estilo de vida saudáveis e os níveis de letramento e-Saúde em adolescentes / La determinación de los hábitos de vida y el nivel de alfabetización e-Salud en adolescentes

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of this study is to determine the healthy lifestyle behaviors and e-health literacy levels of adolescents. Method A descriptive research design was used in this study. It was conducted with a total of 390 students in the Faculty of Health Sciences. The data were collected using a personal information form, the Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale II and the e-Health Literacy Scale for Adolescents. For data analysis, descriptive analyses, t-test, variance, Kruskal-Wallis, the Mann-Whitney U and Pearson Correlation tests were used. Necessary approvals were obtained to conduct this study. Results The present study found that the e-Health Literacy Scale mean score of adolescents was 27.51 and their HLBS-II mean score was 129.01. A positive significant relationship was found between the e-health literacy and healthy lifestyle behavior in adolescents. Conclusion This study emphasizes the importance of e-health literacy in developing nursing procedures designed to increase the healthy lifestyle behaviors of adolescents.

RESUMO Objetivo O objetivo deste estudo é determinar os comportamentos de estilo de vida saudáveis e os níveis de letramento e-Saúde de adolescentes. Método Um desenho de pesquisa descritivo foi utilizado neste estudo. Foi realizado com um total de 390 alunos da Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde. Os dados foram coletados por meio de um formulário de informações pessoais, a Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale II e a e-Health Literacy Scale for Adolescents. Para a análise dos dados, foram utilizadas análises descritivas, teste t, variância, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U e testes de correlação de Pearson. As aprovações necessárias foram obtidas para conduzir este estudo. Resultados O presente estudo constatou que o escore médio dos adolescentes da e-Health Literacy Scale foi de 27,51 e o escore médio da HLBS-II foram de 129,01. Uma relação positiva significativa foi encontrada entre o letramento e-Saúde e o comportamento de estilo de vida saudável em adolescentes. Conclusão Este estudo enfatiza a importância do letramento em e-Saúde no desenvolvimento de procedimentos de enfermagem que visam aumentar os comportamentos de estilo de vida saudáveis dos adolescentes.

RESUMEN Objetivo El objetivo de este estudio es determinar los hábitos de vida saludables y los niveles de alfabetización e-Salud en los adolescentes. Método En este estudio se utilizó un diseño de investigación descriptivo. Se realizó con un total de 390 estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Los datos se recopilaron mediante un formulario de información personal, la Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale II y la e-Health Literacy Scale for Adolescents. Para el análisis de datos se utilizaron análisis descriptivos, t-test, varianza, Kruskal-Wallis, la U de Mann-Whitney y las pruebas de Correlación de Pearson. Se obtuvieron las aprobaciones necesarias para realizar este estudio. Resultados El presente estudio encontró que la puntuación media de la e-Health Literacy Scale de los adolescentes fue de 27,51 y la puntuación media de la HLBS-II fue de 129,01. Se encontró una relación positiva significativa entre la alfabetización en e-Salud y el comportamiento de estilo de vida saludable en los adolescentes. Conclusión Este estudio enfatiza la importancia de la alfabetización en e-Salud en el desarrollo de procedimientos de enfermería diseñados para aumentar los comportamientos de estilo de vida saludable de los adolescentes.

The effect of cognitive behavioral techniques using virtual reality on birth pain: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of cognitive behavioral techniques using virtual reality on birth pain. DESING: This study was planned as a double blind randomized controlled experimental study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: It was conducted with 273 pregnant women who were randomized between July 2016 and June 2019 at maternity hospital located in eastern Anatolia, Turkey. METHODS: The study included 5 groups. (A: videos of newborn photographs with classical music, B: the video of the newborn photograph album, C: an introductory film of Turkey, D: only classical music, E: routine hospital care). The data were collected by using the "Personal Information Form", "Visual Analogue Scale", "Verbal Rating Scale" and "Virtual Reality". FINDINGS: Groups show homogeneity in terms of demographic and obstetric variables. It was found that mean Visual Analogue Scale posttest mean score of the group A was 4.98 ± 1.69; group B 4.96 ± 1.72; group C 5.96 ± 2.05; group D 5.60 ± 1.63 and group E 6.38 ± 1.86. Mean Verbal Rating Scale posttest score was found that group A was 2.64 ± 0.73, group B 2.70 ± 0.87, group C 3.18 ± 1.14, group D was 2.80 ± 0.86 and group E was 3.96 ± 1.01. It was obtained that the groups' mean Visual Analogue Scale and Verbal Rating Scale posttest mean scores was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study, all cognitive techniques applied with virtual reality reduced labor pain during the active phase of labor. Especially the video of newborn photographs with classical music and newborn photograph album have been found more effective than other interventions evaluated in reducing labor pain. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Midwives can use these techniques to reduce birth pain.

Oral Glucose and Listening to Lullaby to Decrease Pain in Preterm Infants Supported with NCPAP: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Preterm infants spend the early days of their lives in neonatal intensive care units, where they undergo many minor painful procedures. There are many nonpharmacologic methods that can effectively reduce the pain response of neonates who undergo routine procedures. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate whether oral glucose and listening to lullabies could bring pain relief during the removal and reinsertion of the tracheal tube and also oronasopharyngeal suctioning in premature infants to whom nasal continuous positive airway pressure was applied. DESIGN: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: This study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit in the tertiary setting between November 2012 and September 2013. PARTICIPANTS/SUBJECTS: A total of 106 preterm infants were divided into three groups, including 37 infants in the control group, 35 infants in the lullaby group, and 34 infants in the glucose group. METHODS: All preterm infants were randomly assigned to either the intervention groups or the control group. Pain responses were assessed using the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale and the Premature Infant Pain Profile. RESULTS: An assessment of the pain severity of the preterm infants after the intervention indicated that the preterm infants in the lullaby and glucose groups had lower pain, whereas the preterm infants in the control group experienced more pain (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that pain could be reduced significantly in preterm infants after the suggested intervention, although further studies are required to identify the benefits of lullabies or glucose in infants during other painful procedures.

Effect of abdomen massage for prevention of feeding intolerance in preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of abdominal massage on feeding tolerance in stable preterm infants fed minimal enteral nutrition. METHODS: The study was conducted on a control-grouped pre-test, post-test quasi-experimental design at the neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital in Turkey between March and July 2012. Abdominal massage was applied to the massage group subjects for 15 minutes, 2 times daily, before the subject was fed starting in the 5-day study period. RESULTS: The study was conducted with 27 subjects, 14 in the massage group and 13 in the control group. When frequency of defecation measurements were analysed, the difference between the first day and last day of the study was not statistically significant in the massage group. However, when daily weight gain, frequency of vomiting, abdominal circumference and gastric residual volume excess measurements were analysed, the differences between the first day and last day of the study were statistically significant in the massage group. CONCLUSIONS: In accordance with the results of the study, we suggest that nurses should apply abdominal massage twice a day as an intervention helping to prevent gastric residual volume excess and abdominal distension in enterally fed preterm infants.

Effect of aromatherapy massage on dysmenorrhea in Turkish students.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aromatherapy massage on dysmenorrhea. The study used a quasiexperimental design with the subjects as their own control. Every participant applied both aromatherapy massage with lavender oil and placebo massage with odorless liquid petrolatum [soft paraffin]. The population comprised 438 midwifery and nursing students. The 150 students who had declared that they had suffered from dysmenorrhea used a visual analog scale to indicate their level of pain. Higher scores reflected a greater severity of dysmenorrhea. Forty-four students volunteered to participate in the study. When the lavender massage and the placebo massage were compared, the visual analog scale score of the lavender massage was found to decrease at a statistically significant rate. This study showed that massage was effective in reducing dysmenorrhea. In addition, this study showed that the effect of aromatherapy massage on pain was higher than that of placebo massage.

Midwifery education in Turkey.

Midwives are the most important health workers for the protection and improvement of maternal and infant health. A well organized health system and qualified midwife education programs developed in accordance with contemporary requirements are required to ensure the competence of midwives in their practice.