Perceptions of adult intensive care unit patients regarding nursing presence and their intensive care experiences: A descriptive-correlational study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the relationship between perceptions of nursing presence and intensive care experiences in adult intensive care unit patients'. BACKGROUND: Intensive care units (ICUs) are settings where patients have many negative emotions and experiences, which affect both treatment and post-discharge outcomes. The holistic presence of nurses may help patients turn their negative emotions and experiences into positive ones. DESIGN: A descriptive-correlational design was used and reported according to the STROBE checklist. METHODS: The sample consisted of 182 participants. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), the Intensive Care Experience Scale (ICES), and the Presence of Nursing Scale (PONS). RESULTS: A strong positive correlation existed between total ICES and PONS scores (r = 0.889, p < 0.001). There was a strong positive correlation between PONS total score and ICES subscales (awareness of surroundings (r = 0.751, p < 0.001), frightening experiences (r = 0.770, p < 0.001), recall of experience (r = 0.774, p < 0.001), and satisfaction with care (r = 0.746, p < 0.001)). Males (ß = -0.139, p < 0.05), and patients who were university and higher education graduate (ß = 0.137, p < 0.05) had higher positive ICU experiences. It was also found length of ICU stay was correlated with ICU experiences and nursing presence. CONCLUSIONS: The more positively the patients perceive nurses, the better ICU experiences they have. Gender and education level were found determinants of adult ICU patients' experiences. ICU length of stay predicted what kind of experience patients have and how much they feel the presence of nurses. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nurses should make their presence felt completely and holistically by using their communication skills for patients have more positive intensive care experiences. Nurses should consider variables which affects patients' ICU experiences and nursing presence.

Evaluation of the quality and content of YouTube videos as an educational resource in developing patients' inhaler use skills.

BACKGROUND: YouTube has educational videos on inhalers. However, their content and quality are not adequately known. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the quality and content of educational YouTube videos on inhalers. METHODS: This descriptive study analyzed 178 YouTube videos on inhalers between May and July 2022. Two researchers independently evaluated the videos. The Global Quality Score (GQS), Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) Benchmark Criteria, and Inhaler Application Checklist (IAC) were used to assess the quality and content of the videos. Spearman's correlation, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, ANOVA, and Post hoc analysis Bonferroni test were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The videos had a mean GQS score of 3.70 ± 1.24, and JAMA score of 2.22 ± 0.60. A negative correlation was between the quality score of the videos and views, likes, comments, duration, and likes/views (respectively; r = -0.237 p < 0.005, r = -0.217 p < 0.003, r = -0.220 p < 0.005, r = -0.147, p < 0.005). The videos narrated by nurses and doctors had significantly higher mean JAMA and GQS scores than others (p = 0.001). The videos missed some procedural steps [gargling (29.1%), adding no more than five ml of medication and device cleaning (41.9%), and exhaling through the nose (37.5%)]. Videos uploaded by individual missed significantly more procedural steps than professional organizations (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: YouTube videos about inhaler techniques have a moderate level of quality. Videos uploaded by doctors and nurses as content narrators were of higher quality. The videos missed some procedural steps. Individual video uploaders had higher missed procedural steps. Counseling should be provided to patients regarding the reliability of online information.

Internet Use, eHealth Literacy, and Influencing Factors in Turkish Cancer Patients: A Descriptive and Correlational Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the Internet use, eHealth literacy levels, and influencing factors in Turkish cancer patients. DATA SOURCES: A descriptive and correlational study was conducted in a single cancer center with 296 patients. Data were collected using a personal information form, an Internet Usage Form, and the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Mann‒Whitney U test, Kruskal‒Wallis test, and multiple linear regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The participants received health-related information from the Internet (36.8%) with a mean total eHEALS score of 22.92 ± 9.67. In the multiple linear regression analysis, the descriptive characteristics of the participants were negatively affected by age (ß = -0.143) and education level (ß = 0.204). The use of the Internet to obtain information about cancer (ß = 0.455) positively affected the level of eHealth literacy. The eHealth literacy of patients is at a level that needs to be improved and there are factors affecting it. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses should increase patients' eHealth literacy and guide them on how to access accurate information about cancer on the Internet. While doing this, it should be planned to consider the age, education level, and Internet use of the patients.

The relationship between family support and the level of self care in type 2 diabetes patients.

AIMS: The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between family support and self-care in patients with type 2 diabetes in Middle Anatolia Region of Turkey. METHODS: This descriptive relation-seeker-type study conducted with 284 patients who met inclusion criteria between February and May 2020 in the internal medicine and endocrinology clinics and polyclinics of a university hospital. Data were collected using, a demographic questionnaire, Hensarling's Diabetes Family Support Scale (HDFSS), and Diabetes Self-Care Scale (DSCS). RESULTS: Participants had a mean DSCS and HDFSS score of 83.20 ± 18.63 and 82.44 ± 28.04, respectively. There was a strong correlation between DSCS and HDFSS scores (r:.621) (p < 0.001). Participants' DSCS totals score was strongly correlated with their HDFSS "empathetic support" (p = 0.001, r = 0.625), "encouragement" (p = 0.001, r = 0.558), "facilitative support" (p = 0.001, r = 0.558), and "participative support" scores (p = 0.001, r = 0.555). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with more family support have higher levels of self-care. The results underline the significance of focusing on the relationship between self-care and family support in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Relationship Between Frailty and Fatigue in Older Cancer Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Older patients with cancer present many symptoms during treatment. One of those symptoms is fatigue, which may be caused by factors unrelated to cancer. One of those factors is frailty increased with age. Frailty and fatigue affect older patients with cancer physically, psychosocially, emotionally, and spiritually. This study investigated the relationship between frailty and fatigue in older patients with cancer. DATA SOURCES: This descriptive study was conducted between July 15, 2019, and February 15, 2020, in the medical oncology polyclinic and the medical oncology outpatient treatment unit of a university hospital. The sample consisted of voluntary 288 patients who met inclusion criteria. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS), and the Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFS). CONCLUSION: The mean age of participants was 71.71 ± 5.29 years. Participants had a mean EFS score of 6 ± 3.21. Of participants, 36.1% were not frail, while 20.1% were vulnerable, 19.1% moderately frail, 17.7% mildly frail, and 6.9% severely frail. Participants had a mean CFS score of 21.41 ± 12.25. There was a positive correlation between EFS and CFS scores (P = .000, r = 0.734). Of participants, 63.8% were frail with physical and cognitive fatigue. The higher the frailty, the higher the fatigue. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Elderly patients with cancer appear to be fragile, with frailty causing fatigue and many other conditions. It is important to determine the frailty and fatigue of elderly patients with cancer. It is essential understand the relationship between the frailty and fatigue for effective and correct management of nursing care.

Comparison of Routine and Computer-Guided Glucose Management for Glycemic Control in Critically Ill Patients.

BACKGROUND: Glycemic control is crucial for reducing morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. A standardized approach to glycemic control using a computer-guided protocol may help maintain blood glucose level within a target range and prevent human-induced medical errors. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of a computer-guided glucose management protocol for glycemic control in intensive care patients. METHODS: This controlled, open-label implementation study involved 66 intensive care patients: 33 in the intervention group and 33 in the control group. The blood glucose level target range was established as 120 to 180 mg/dL. The control group received the clinic's routine glycemic monitoring approach, and the intervention group received monitoring using newly developed glycemic control software. At the end of the study, nurse perceptions and satisfaction were determined using a questionnaire. RESULTS: The rates of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia were lower and the blood glucose level was more successfully maintained in the target range in the intervention group than in the control group (P < .001). The time to achieve the target range was shorter and less insulin was used in the intervention group than in the control group (P < .05). Nurses reported higher levels of satisfaction with the computerized protocol, which they found to be more effective and reliable than routine clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: The computerized protocol was more effective than routine clinical practice in achieving glycemic control. It was also associated with higher nurse satisfaction levels.