Factors Affecting Postoperative Pain Beliefs Among Surgical Patients in Türkiye: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Frequency, ability to cope, and severity of pain; the genetic structure of the individual affects their emotional and cultural characteristics, beliefs, and personal characteristics. It is stated that pain beliefs are one of the factors affecting emotional pain control and approach to pain. AIMS: This study, it is aimed to determine the pain beliefs of individuals experiencing postoperative pain. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Surgical services of a single secondary care hospital. 170 patients who were in the first week after surgery, experienced acute pain, were between the ages of 18-65, and did not have a psychiatric disorder were evaluated. Collection Tools: Postoperative pain levels of the patients were evaluated with a Visual Analog Scale. As the VAS score increases, the pain level increases. Pain beliefs were evaluated with the Pain Beliefs Scale. Pain Beliefs Scale increases in the score obtained from the sub-score of the scale indicate that the pain beliefs related to that test are high. A student T-Test was used for bivariate comparisons between groups. One-way ANOVA was used to compare trivariate groups. In addition, Spearman's Correlation analysis was performed. Statistically, a confidence interval of >95% was used. The statistical significance level was set as p < 0.05. RESULTS: It was found that the pain levels of the patients participating in the study were low and the scores they received from the Pain Beliefs Scale subscales were moderate. It was determined that those with lower education levels had higher scale scores in the psychological beliefs sub-dimension of the Pain Beliefs Scale. In the organic beliefs sub-dimension, it was determined that those with lower income levels had higher organic beliefs. It was determined that the postoperative pain experienced did not affect pain beliefs (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that there was no relationship between the pain level and pain beliefs of patients with low pain in the postoperative period. Individuals experiencing postoperative pain believe that pain occurs due to the influence of both organic and psychological factors. For this reason, it is recommended factors that nurses who care for individuals experiencing postoperative pain provide care for both organic and psychological sources of pain.

Eating attitude in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: The relationship between pain, body mass index, disease activity, functional status, depression, anxiety and quality of life.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between eating attitude and pain, body mass index, disease activity, functional status, depression, anxiety and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). DESIGN AND METHODS: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 111 RA patients between January 2021 and May 2021. FINDINGS: The Eating Attitudes Test scores of the participants had a positive significant relationship with their Visual Analog Scale scores (r = 0.257), Health Assessment Questionnaire scores (r = 0.221), Beck Anxiety Inventory scores (r = 0.287), Beck Depression Inventory scores (p = 0.224), and Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life Scale scores (r = 0.298) (p < 0.05). This study showed that when the eating attitudes of the RA patients were negative, their anxiety and depression levels increased, and their quality of life was negatively affected. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: In the positive management of depression and anxiety, by creating treatment guidelines, the moderation of the eating attitudes of patients and increasing their quality of life levels should be ensured.

Being A Hemodialysis Nurse During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Phenomenological Approach.

This study aimed to research the experiences of hemodialysis nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was designed with a descriptive phenomenological approach. The study was conducted with a total of 18 hemodialysis nurses. Content analysis method was used in the analysis of the data. As a result of the content analysis, six themes were determined. These were (I) encountering COVID-19, (II) social isolation, (III) difficulty maintaining nursing care, (IV) organizational issues, (V) professionalism, and (VI) coping methods. The research revealed that hemodialysis nurses experienced difficulties in their family lives, social lives, working environment and patient treatment during the pandemic. It was concluded that hemodialysis nurses need support physically and psychologically to cope with the fear of death, anxiety, exhaustion, and fatigue that they have experienced while working selflessly and vigorously with a small number of teams.

The Relationship Between the Fear of COVID-19 in the Elderly Aged 65 Years and Over and Their Levels of Adaptation to the "New Normal": A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study was carried out to determine the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 in the elderly aged 65 years and over and their levels of adaptation to the "new normal." This descriptive cross-sectional study was completed with 623 elderly individuals. It was determined that the individuals who adapted well to the "new normal" had high levels of adaptation to old age, while their levels of fear of COVID-19 were slightly above average (p < 0.01). Elderly individuals have tried to adapt to the "new normal" while also experiencing fear of COVID-19. In order to minimize the fear experienced by the elderly during COVID-19, adequate support and psychological support should be provided.

The Effect of Acupressure Applied to Individuals Receiving Hemodialysis Treatment on Severity of Thirst and Quality of Life.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the effect of acupressure on the severity of thirst and quality of life of patients receiving hemodialysis treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carried out in a randomized-controlled way to define the effect of acupressure performed on CV-23, SJ-17, Kid-1 acupuncture points for 15 min three times a week for six weeks on the intensity of thirst and quality of life in patients on hemodialysis. The second phase of the study was carried out as a qualitative study using an individual interview technique and a semi-structured questionnaire form before and after the acupressure with the intervention group patients in the study. The study was completed with 60 patients. RESULTS: The weekly increase in the amount of saliva and the weekly decrease in the Visüel Analog Scala (VAS)-VAS thirst level in the individuals in the intervention group compared to those in the placebo group were found to be significant (P < .05). In the 1st and the 6th week assessments the difference between the intervention group and the placebo group in terms the mental component sub-dimension of the Quality of Life scale was found to be significant (P < .05), but difference between all other sub-dimensions and total averagescores was not found to be significant (P < .05). CONCLUSION: It was determined that acupressure applied to the CV-23, SJ-17, Kid-1 acupuncture points with an acupressure device increased the amount of saliva, decreased the severity of VAS thirst and affects positively of quality of life except the mental component sub-dimension.