Effects of open-label sesame oil applied to cardiac surgery patients in preventing amiodarone-induced phlebitis: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Amiodarone is a prophylactic rhythm-regulating drug used to prevent arrhythmia; However, especially during infusion, it has the potential to cause a number of complications, especially phlebitis. AIM: The aim of the study is to determine the effects of sesame oil, which has the potential to prevent phlebitis that may occur during amiodarone infusion administered to patients after cardiac surgery. DESIGN: This prospective, two-arm (1:1), block randomized controlled interventional study. METHODS: This study was conducted with 44 patients treated in the coronary intensive care unit of a university hospital, who received parenteral infusion of amiodarone. Sesame oil was applied superficially by applying 10 drops to a 10 cm perimeter of the cannula for 10 min. This application was repeated every 8 h during the 24-h amiodarone infusion. No intervention was made to the patients in the control group. However, standard nursing care measures and a standard transparent dressing were applied to the patients in both groups during the peripheral catheter application phase. Patients in the intervention and control groups were evaluated in terms of phlebitis at the end of every 24 h using the Visual Infusion Phlebitis Scale. The study was reported according to the CONSORT declaration. RESULTS: Phlebitis symptoms occurred in 15/22 (68.2%) of the patients in the intervention group on the first day, 3/22 (13.6%) on the second day and 2/22 (9.1%) of the patients on the third day, while in the control group, 20/22 (90.9%) of the patients had phlebitis on the first day and 2/22 (9.1%) on the second day. The incidence of phlebitis was 20/22 (90.9%) in the intervention group and 22/22 (100%) in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in phlebitis symptoms between groups. CONCLUSION: The research results showed that the application of sesame oil did not significantly reduce the frequency of phlebitis. However, a trend indicating delayed onset of phlebitis symptoms was observed in the sesame oil group. Nevertheless, larger sample studies are needed. These studies are expected to assist in determining the effects of sesame oil on phlebitis more precisely and provide stronger support for the results. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Training of nurses on non-pharmacological methods should be supported and opportunities should be given for their application.

Surgical handwashing practices of operating room staff: An observational study.

OBJECTIVE: This descriptive and cross-sectional study aims to assess the surgical handwashing practices of operating room staff. DESIGN: Single-blind study. METHODS: The study was conducted with 66 staff (surgeons and operating room nurses) employed in the surgery department of a university hospital in Turkey. Data were collected using a Staff Information Form prepared in light of the literature to collect the participants' sociodemographic data and the Surgical Hand Washing Procedure Checklist developed according to the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and Association of Surgical Technologists (AST). The staff assigned to operating rooms were identified, and then, their surgical handwashing practices were observed by one of the researchers. FINDINGS: Of the participants, 77.3% were dressed suitable to the operating room field, 56.1% appropriately wet both of their hands and forearms, and 72.7% used a sufficient amount of antiseptic solution (3-5 ml) in their palms. More than half of them (51.5%) inappropriately performed the procedure of surgical handwashing (applying an antiseptic solution to hands and arms with circular motions, starting from the fingertips up to 3-5 cm above their elbows for a minute), and 47% incorrectly performed the procedure of rinsing hands and arms while keeping the hands above the elbows under running water and passing arms through the water in one direction during this process. CONCLUSION: In the study, it was determined that none of the team members completed the preparation, application and drying steps of the surgical handwashing procedure. Therefore, it is necessary to make arrangements that will facilitate the handwashing procedures of the personnel. Personnel-related problems, such as the duration of washing and drying methods, are possible to be avoided with periodic in-service training and with posters demonstrating the washing stages, which might lead to behavioural changes.

Influence of Discomfort Tolerance of Women who Undergo Mammography on the Perceived Pain Intensity Due to the Procedure.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the capacity to tolerate discomfort by women who undergo mammography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data were obtained using the face-to-face interview method immediately after the procedure with women who undergo mammography (n=132). Demographic data collection form and the Discomfort Intolerance Scale was used for data collection. RESULTS: Among the women, 78.8% experienced pain during mammography and the pain intensity was determined as 3.55 (standard deviation=3.00) on the 0-10 Visual Analogue Scale. Women who were not on pain relievers and nonsmokers have high discomfort tolerance. Women who were consuming substances containing methylxanthine (eg. chocolate) tend to avoid discomfort. Women with a history of breast mass and abnormal test results did not avoid discomfort as much as women who undergo regular checkup mammograms. Most of the women experience pain during mammography, and avoidance from discomfort increases as the perceived pain during the procedure increases. CONCLUSION: Conducting different studies using the same scale can be useful in evaluating the discomfort experienced during mammography and its contribution to reducing pain.

Physiological and psychological effects of ambient noise in operating room on medical staff.

BACKGROUND: The study was conducted to assess operating room noise levels and to investigate its effects on medical staff. METHODS: Single-blind study. This study was conducted with 92 medical staff working in 11 operating rooms of a university hospital. Data was collected using a personal information form and sound level measuring devices. Sound measurements were made 3 days a week in the morning and in the afternoon, twice a day and lasted 15 min each. Mean values of the measurements in each room were collected and recommended maximum values for operating rooms (35 dB during daytime) by the World Health Organization were set as a reference point. RESULTS: The highest noise level was measured in orthopaedic (67.5 dB), and the lowest in gynaecology room (55.5 dB). Daily mean noise level of all operating rooms was 60.90 dB. Noise disturbance score measured with Visual Analogue Scale was 6.66 ± 1.84. Of the medical staff, 84.8% were physiologically, 93.5% psychologically, and 82.6% both physiologically and psychologically affected. Of those affected physiologically, 51.1% experienced fatigue, and 33.7% headache, and of those affected psychologically, 43.5% experienced inattentiveness, 34.8% agitation and 15.2% restlessness. Only 4.34% reported not being affected by the noise. CONCLUSION: Operating room noise levels were higher than normal limits set by the World Health Organization, which affected the medical staff both physiologically and psychologically. Since experienced negativities may reduce medical staff's motivation and increase error making, making arrangements to control noise levels is recommended.

Effects of Discharge Education and Telephone Follow-up on Cataract Patients' Activities According to the Model of Living.

PURPOSE: Assess the impact of planned discharge education and telephone follow-up of patients who underwent cataract surgery on daily living activities. DESIGN: A controlled comparative study. METHODS: This study was carried out on patients who underwent cataract surgery (intervention group = 72, control group = 72). Discharge education designed according to the Model of Living was used in the intervention group. Phone follow up was performed for both groups after surgery and activities were assessed. FINDINGS: Significant differences were found between the two groups in applying eye drops, knowledge on using old eye glasses and protecting the operated eye, conditions requiring a physician call, conditions that may deteriorate the operated eye, personal hygiene, mobilization, and sleeping (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Using a Model of Living in discharge education of cataract patients and following up using a structured checklist was an effective intervention. This model can be efficiently used in postoperative education of day surgery patients.