The relationship between perception of COVID-19, fear of COVID-19 and self-care management in individuals with chronic diseases during the pandemic process in Turkey.

AIMS: To determine the relationship between perception of COVID-19, fear of COVID-19 and self-care management in individuals with chronic diseases during the pandemic process. BACKGROUND: Individuals with chronic diseases are a sensitive group during the COVID-19 pandemic process; it is thought that self-care management may be adversely affected as a result of their more intense exposure to the psychological, physiological and economic effects of the pandemic. In the literature, there is no study examining the effect of perception of COVID-19 and fear of COVID-19 on self-care management in individuals with chronic diseases. DESIGN: Descriptive study. METHODS: The study was conducted with 322 individuals who applied to the internal medicine outpatient clinics of a university's Health Practice and Research Center, met the inclusion criteria, agreed to participate in the study and had a chronic disease. Questionnaire form, Perception of COVID-19 Scale (P-COVID-19), The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and Self-Care Management Process in Chronic Illness Scale (SCMP-G) were used to collect data. STROBE checklist was used to report the present study. RESULTS: In the study, it can be stated that individuals with chronic diseases had a moderate to the high perception of contagiousness and dangerousness of COVID-19, they had a moderate-high level of fear of COVID-19 and their self-care care management was above moderate level. There was a significant positive correlation between P-COVID-19, FCV-19S and SCMP-G in the study. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that the perception of COVID-19 contagiousness and the fear of COVID-19 had a positive effect on the self-care management of individuals with chronic diseases. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Determining the level of COVID-19 perception and fear of COVID-19 and their effects on the life of the individual, and evaluating self-care management during the difficult pandemic process will increase the success in the holistic nursing care and management of chronic diseases.

The effect of cognitive flexibility in nurses on attitudes to professional autonomy.

BACKGROUND: Professional autonomy, which directly affects the quality of professional nursing in patient care, and cognitive flexibility, which is an important factor for adaptation to change and developing nursing roles, are important concepts for nursing. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES: This research was carried out to determine the effect of cognitive flexibility on attitudes towards professional autonomy in nurses. RESEARCH DESIGN: This was a descriptive study. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT: The research was conducted with 415 nurses working in a city hospital of a province, meeting the inclusion criteria and agreeing to participate in the study. A questionnaire form, The Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), and the Attitude Toward Professional Autonomy Scale for Nurses (APASN) were used to collect data. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Ethical approval was obtained from the university ethics committee before starting the study. Institutional permission was obtained from the city hospital where the study was conducted. Electronic informed consent was obtained from the nurses included in the study. FINDINGS: In the study, the mean CFI score was 80.62 ± 11.55 and the mean APASN score was 70.42 ± 18.79. There was a weak positive correlation (r = 0.270; p < 0.05) between CFI and APASN scores. Moreover, the effect of the CFI mean score on the APASN mean score was found to be statistically significant (ß = 0.278; p < 0.001). Furthermore, CFI explains 7.7% of APASN. CONCLUSION: In the study, nurses' attitudes towards professional autonomy and cognitive flexibility scores were found to be at a good level. Cognitive flexibility has a positive effect on attitudes towards professional autonomy. Interventional studies that will increase the level of cognitive flexibility are recommended in the development of nurses' attitudes towards professional autonomy.

Relationship Between Nurses' Compassion Level and Emotional Intelligence During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Case of City Hospitals.

Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive study is to determine the relationship between nurses' compassion level and emotional intelligence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to collect data from a sample of 218 nurses who volunteered to participate. Data were collected using the descriptive information form, the compassion scale (CS), and the revised Schutte emotional intelligence scale (RSEIS). Findings: The nurses' total CS score was 97.51 ± 1, and their total RSEIS score was 152.1 ± 14.8. In our study, a moderate, positive, and significant relationship was found between nurses' compassion level and emotional intelligence levels. Conclusions: It was determined that nurses within the scope of the study had a high level of compassion and a medium-high level of emotional intelligence during the COVID-19 pandemic process. Initiatives should be planned to develop emotional intelligence, which helps to minimize the negative effects of the pandemic on nurses and prevent negative emotions.

The Effect of Progressive Relaxation Exercises on Dyspnea and Anxiety Levels in Individuals With COPD: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Dyspnea is a common symptom and anxiety is a common comorbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They affect individuals with COPD in a multifaceted way, causing many disabilities. Progressive relaxation exercises (PREs) are an important intervention in reducing symptoms and comorbidity. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of PREs on dyspnea and anxiety levels in individuals with COPD. A pretest-posttest randomized controlled trial was conducted at the chest diseases clinic of a university hospital in Turkey. Forty-four patients with COPD who met the inclusion criteria for participation in the study were assigned either to an intervention or a control group, with 22 patients in each group. In the intervention group, the patients performed PREs once a day for 4 weeks in addition to the standard treatment. The patients in the control group received the standard treatment. In the data collection stage of the study, questionnaire forms, namely, the Modified Borg Scale (MBS), Modified British Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), were used. Data were collected before (the first follow-up) and after the intervention (the second follow-up). In the second follow-up, the MBS, BAI, and CAT scores decreased significantly in the intervention group (P < .05) but showed no significant changes in the control group (P > .05). This study demonstrates that PREs can reduce dyspnea and anxiety levels in individuals with COPD.

Application of heat and a home exercise program for pain and function levels in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial.

AIM: This study aimed to determine the effect of application of superficial local heat and a home exercise program on pain and function levels to patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: This study was conducted in Turkey between January 2014 and February 2015. The sample group of the study consisted of 62 patients with osteoarthritis; 15 assigned to heat application, 15 to exercise, 15 to exercise after heat application, and 17 for the control group. While the patients in the control group received routine treatment only, the patients in the intervention group were treated with heat application, exercise, or exercise after heat application, suggested for 5 days a week for 4 weeks in addition to routine treatment. RESULTS: In this study, all of the intervention groups had decreases in Visual Analogue Scale Pain and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index pain, stiffness, and function scores when compared with the control group. It was found that this decrease in Visual Analogue Scale Pain and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores was mostly in the exercise group, but this condition was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: As a result, it is recommended that nurses train patients with osteoarthritis on heat application and home exercises and encourage them to apply these practices.