Turkish nurses' perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care.

AIM: To explore Turkish nurses' perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care and to investigate the relationship between their perceptions and their demographic/independent variables. BACKGROUND: Nurses' perception of spirituality can directly affect how they behave, deal with their patients and communicate with them in regard to the provision of spiritual care. DESIGN: Survey. METHODS: This study employed a convenience sample of 348 staff nurses from the public hospitals in the west of Turkey. The data were collected with two tools; a 'sociodemographic data form' and the 'Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale' (SSCRS). The response rate was 92% (n = 319). RESULTS: The mean age of the nurses was 31·70 (SD 6·34) years and 22·9% of them had a Bachelor's degree. Among the nurses, 54·98% had ≥ 11 years of clinical experience. The mean score for the SSCRS was 3·21 (SD 0·63) which indicated that nurses' perceptions concerning spirituality and spiritual care were 'uncertain' or 'less clearly' defined. Significant differences were found between nurses' perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care and their ages (p < 0·05), marital status (p < 0·05) and education levels (p < 0·01). CONCLUSION: The research findings suggest that Turkish nurses' perceptions were indecisive and inconclusive. Nurses' educational level, belief in the evil eye and department of employment appeared to have a positive impact on their perception of spirituality and spiritual care. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: These findings will enable nurses to consider the importance of spirituality and spiritual care. Grasping these concepts will enable nurses to become more sensitive in their daily practices of spiritual care.

Sun protection behavior and individual risk factors of Turkish Primary School Students associated with skin cancer: a questionnaire-based study.

AIM: To determine the Turkish primary school students' sun protection behaviors and their individual risk factors associated with skin cancer. METHODS: The sample of this descriptive study consisted of 6th-8th graders (11-14 age group) from a primary school in the western part of Turkey. A self-report questionnaire was administered. The response rate was 86.0 %. RESULTS: The mean age of students was 12.8 years (SD =0.73). It was determined that the male students in the age group of 13-14 had more risks associated with skin cancer when compared to the female students in the same age group. In terms of the knowledge of the most dangerous hours of the sun and how to protect from their harmful effects, no significant difference was evident between females and males or across age groups. The average score of the students' frequency of use of sun protection methods is 3.40 ± 0.67 out of 5. The most frequent methods used for sun protection were found to be seeking shade during periods of peak ultraviolet radiation and wearing light-colored clothing. The average frequency score for sun-protective behavior of the 11-12 age group was significantly high (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It was determined that the students did not practise sun protection behavior frequently enough.

Reliability and validity of the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index in Turkey.

The purpose of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of 101 older adults living at a residential home in the Izmir municipality of Turkey. The Turkish version of the GOHAI showed acceptable reliability and validity. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.75, and item-scale (Pearson's) correlations varied between 0.30 and 0.67. Low GOHAI scores were associated with perceived poor oral health (p < 0.01) and dissatisfaction with oral health status (p < 0.05). Factor analyses of the index indicated a two-factor solution. It was concluded that the Turkish version of the GOHAI is a reliable and valid measure for use with Turkish adults age 65 and older.

The oral hygiene and denture status among residential home residents.

The aim of this study was to investigate the oral hygiene practices and denture status of elderly people living in a residential home. One hundred one elderly people living in Gurcesme Zubeyde Hanim Residential Home, Izmir-52 women (mean age 75.5 +/- 7.8) and 49 men (mean age 75.3 +/- 8.8)-participated in an interview. Their oral hygiene practices, self-perceived oral health, denture status, and needs of denture were noted down. Self-perceived oral health was very bad in 9.9%, bad in 47.5%, good in 33.7%, and very good in 8.9%. From 69 people who reported maintaining oral hygiene, the incidence of oral hygiene practice was 36.2% once a day, 31.9% three times a day, 21.8% once a week, and 10.1% seldom. The majority, 60 people (59.4%), were dentate. Among the dentate, 47 people (78.3%) had full denture, 4 (6.6%) removable partial denture, 2 (3.3%) fixed/removable partial denture, 5 (8.3%) full/removable partial denture, and 2 (3.3%) one or more fixed partial dentures. By gender, 57.6% female and 61.2% male subjects were dentate. The relationship between having a social security and having a denture was significant (p = 0.02); having a denture and needing a denture was also significantly related (p = 0.00). The high prevalence of needs for denture pointed to the requirement for frequent dental check ups. The most important need within the residents of the residential home was daily oral hygiene. Nurses trained on this subject are required.