Determination of the relationship between the fatigue and social support levels of cancer patients: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cancer is seen as one of the most important health problems of our time. In the world and in our country, the most common death cause after cardiovascular diseases in the order of diseases that result in death is cancer. This descriptive, cross-sectional study is done in order to determine the relationship between fatigue and social support levels of cancer patients. METHODS: Research was carried out in Cukurova University Hospital in Adana, which is located in the south of Turkey, between December 2014 and December 2015. Data were collected by interview form prepared by the researcher, Piper Fatigue Scale and Social Support Patient Form. Data was analyzed by percentile, mean, independent t test, one-way analysis of variance, correlation and multiple regression. RESULTS: The average score of Social Support Patient Form is 131.1 ± 15.5, and Piper Fatigue Scale total score mean of the participants is 5.8 ± 2.4. A low level of negative correlation was found between the social support to cancer patients scale emotional support subdimension and the Piper Fatigue Scale affective subdimension. CONCLUSION: As a result of the research, it was seen that the level of fatigue of the participants had moderate and level of perceived social support was positive. The age, marital status, and education status of the participants do not affect the fatigue and social support levels.

The Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Pregnant Women: Perceived Stress, Social Support and Sleep Quality.

BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional study aims to identify the relationship between perceived stress, social support and sleep quality and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant women's perceived stress, social support and sleep quality. METHODS: The target population of the study was pregnant women who applied to the Family Health Center. After the sample calculation was performed, the study involved 166 participants. The data, which were quantitative in nature, were collected through a web-based, online questionnaire administered within a determined period. Data collection tools included the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). RESULTS: Of all the participating pregnant women, 88% reported to have poor sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. A moderate, negative relationship was found between the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and a weak, positive relationship with the Perceived Stress Scale. While statistically significant differences were found between the pregnant women's perceived stress according to their psychological perceptions and perceptions about daily life (P < 0.05), no significant differences were found between the perceived social support level and sleep quality index. CONCLUSION: It was considered that pregnant women's perceived social support levels, sleep quality, and perceived stress levels were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Effect of Bidet Use on Severity of Constipation and Quality of Life Among Pregnant Women.

BACKGROUND: Constipation is a common problem in pregnancy. This study aims to elucidate the efficacy of using a bidet before defecation to reduce the severity of constipation and improve the quality of life in pregnancy. METHODS: The sample consisted of an experimental group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30), a total of 60 pregnant women. Randomization was performed using the pitch-and-toss method from simple probability randomization methods. The research data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Constipation Assessment Scale for Pregnancy, and the Constipation Quality of Life Scale. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the pregnant women's mean scores on the Constipation Assessment Scale for Pregnancy due to the intervention of bidet before defecation. Although the members of the intervention group had severe constipation at first, they reported only "some problems" on defecation after the intervention. In addition, statistically significant improvements were observed in the intervention group via all subscales of the Constipation Quality of Life Scale except the satisfaction subscale. CONCLUSION: Providing pregnant women with training on constipation and information about how to control constipation using a bidet is very important in terms of reducing the severity of constipation, enabling them to feel better and continue their daily activities, and thus to improve their quality of life.

The Use of Oxytocin by Healthcare Professionals During Labor.

BACKGROUND: Oxytocin is widely used in perinatal medicine, but it can cause serious side effects. Health professionals should be familiar with the pharmacokinetics, dosing regimen, and fetal effects of oxytocin. This study aims to explore the use of oxytocin by healthcare professionals during labor. METHODS: This study was conducted in one medical faculty, one training and research hospital, one maternity hospital, and one private hospital in Adana, Turkey. The sample group included 107 participants. The data were gathered using a survey prepared in line with the literature. The survey was comprised of 30 questions. These questions concern the social demographic information of the participants, the knowledge and actual oxytocin use, and the views of the participants. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The average age of the participants was 36.76 ± 8.70 years, the mean of working experience in the delivery room was 7.79 ± 7.73 years. 85.6% of the participants who answered the question of possible effects of oxytocin as contraction, 57.9% of the possible side effects as fetal distress. 69.2% of the participants stated that they applied oxytocin after dilution in a fluid while 47% stated that they applied it after dilution in fluid with 5% Dextrose. While 40% of the participants responded that they sometimes forgot to administer medication, 39.2% stated that they did not register medication in their survey responses. CONCLUSION: It was determined that most of the participants answered the questions about the effect of oxytocin correctly, but they could not respond to all the side effects of oxytocin. It was found that most of the participants could not answer the storage conditions that are important for the effectiveness of the drug correctly. In addition, the importance level given to the principles of drug administration by the participants was generally found to be high.