Differences in quality of life between infertile women and men in Turkey.

Objective: To examine potential differences in quality of life between infertile women and men.

Design: A descriptive, cross-sectional design.

Method: A questionnaire was used to collect individuals' sociodemographic data; the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) tool was used to collect information about quality of life.

Patterns of the use of complementary and alternative medicine in women with metastatic cancer.

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been widely used in the general population and in patients with cancer. Female sex and advanced cancer are 2 reported factors contributing to CAM use.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the patterns of CAM use among women with metastatic cancer.

Patients' self reports and caregivers' perception of symptoms in Turkish cancer patients.

Purpose: The study's aim was to compare cancer patients' and family caregivers' perceptions of symptom distress in patients receiving chemotherapy in Turkey.

Method: The study used a cross-sectional design. A convenience sample of 80 dyads, composed of cancer patients and their caregivers, completed the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (RSCL) in an out-patient chemotherapy unit.

Knowledge about cervical cancer risk factors and pap testing behaviour among Turkish women.

Background: The aim of the paper was to examine knowledge about cervical cancer and in relation to Papanicolaou (Pap) testing among Turkish women.

Methods: This cross-sectional study research was carried out at Ege University Faculty of Medicine Hospital's Obstetric and Gynecology Outpatient Clinic between March 1st, and May 30th, 2008 with 92 volunteer women who were sexually active and aged 25 to 61. Data was collected through survey forms by interviews conducted by researchers.

Validity and reliability study of the Turkish psychiatric nurses of job motivation scale.

This methodological study was planned to explore the validity and reliability of the evaluation scale for measuring the job motivation of nurses who work in psychiatric clinics. The sample was composed of 378 nurses who work in all psychiatric units or psychiatric hospitals located in Turkey's four large cities - Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Manisa. For testing reliability of 'job motivation scale', the internal consistency tests were executed with split scale analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient and item-total score correlation.

Breast cancer screening behavior in Turkish women: Relationships with health beliefs and self-esteem, body perception and hopelessness.

The purpose was to examine breast cancer screening behavior in Turkish women, the reasons for not doing screening and the relationship between health beliefs and levels of self-esteem, body perception, and hopelessness. This research was conducted as a descriptive, correlational study in an area covered by three neighborhood primary health care clinics in Bornova, Izmir. The data were collected between April and November 2006 from 382 women over 40 years of age who were selected using a stratified random sampling method and a descriptive information form, Champion's Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), the Body Cathexis Scale (BCS) and the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS).

A survey on prevention of surgical infections in operating theaters.

Background: It is well known that surgical site infections (SSIs) contribute significantly to the cost of nosocomial infections. Although many guidelines and recommendations exist, research has demonstrated that practices for preventing SSIs in operating theaters (OT) vary.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to describe the current infection control practices for SSIs, formerly called surgical wound infections, in OTs, and compare these findings with evidence-based practice guidelines.

Hopelessness in Turkish cancer inpatients: the relation of hopelessness with psychological and disease-related outcomes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hopelessness level and the relationship of depression, anxiety and disease-related factors to the presence of hopelessness among Turkish patients with cancer. Ninety-five patients hospitalized for cancer treatments were recruited for current study. Data were collected by using a demographic questionnaire, the Pain Numeric Rating Scale, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale.

Effect of the first chemotherapy course on the quality of life of cancer patients in Turkey.

Multiple studies have examined the quality of life of cancer patients before or after treatment, but few have evaluated the impact of a specific course of treatment on cancer patients' quality of life. Using a longitudinal design, we examined the quality of life of 24 women and 8 men before receiving their initial course of chemotherapy and again at 21 days after the first course of chemotherapy. The study was carried out at the outpatient chemotherapy unit of a university hospital located in the city of Izmir, West Turkey.

Does the body temperature change in older people?

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the mean body temperatures in older people using mercury-in-glass thermometer.

Background: Older people are unable to regulate their body temperatures to the same degree as young adults because their responses to changes in body temperature are altered. Several published reports suggest that body temperature decreases with advancing age and has a greater variability in older populations.

Health education needs of patients with schizophrenia and their relatives.

The purpose of this study was to determine the health education needs of patients with schizophrenia and their relatives. A total of 80 patients and 80 relatives were included in the study. The data were collected using Descriptive Characteristics Questionnaire and Evaluation of Health Educational Needs Form.

A descriptive study of pressure ulcer pain.

Despite increased emphasis on addressing patient pain, knowledge and information about pressure ulcer pain remains limited. To describe the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of pain related to pressure ulcers, a study was conducted among 47 hospitalized patients with pressure ulcers using the McGill Pain Questionnaire and Revised Faces Rating Scale. Volunteer participants, admitted for neurological disorders, ranged in age from 38 to 72 years (mean age 60.

Fathers' functional status during pregnancy and the early postnatal period.

Objective: to determine the functional status of fathers whose wives were pregnant or in the early postnatal period.

Sample And Setting: the research population comprised 3750 fathers whose wives were pregnant or in the early postnatal period, and who were registered at a primary health clinic in the province centre. The research sample comprised 275 husbands of women who were registered at these clinics and who were in at least their 28th week of a normal (not at-risk) pregnancy with a single fetus, or who were in the early postnatal period (6-8 weeks postnatal) following birth of a single baby between the 38th and 42nd week without complications.

Sleep quality of older adults in nursing homes in Turkey: enhancing the quality of sleep improves quality of life.

The aim of this descriptive study was to examine the sleep quality of older adult nursing home residents and the factors that affect it. The research population included all of the older adult residents of three nursing homes (n = 992) in Izmir, Turkey. The sample comprised those who met the inclusion criteria for the research and agreed to participate (n = 540).

[Investigation of nurses' pain related knowledge, attitude and clinical decision making skills].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the nurses' ain related knowledge, attitude and clinical decision making skills. Three instruments were used in the study: (1) Nurses' Introduction Form, (2) The Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Questionnaire and (3) Clinical Decision Making Survey Questionnaire developed by McCaffery and Ferrell was translated into Turkish and used with permission. The results showed that many nurses have inadequate knowledge about pain assessment and management, nurses' (% 47.

Effectiveness of a honey dressing for healing pressure ulcers.

Objective: To compare the effect of a honey dressing vs an ethoxy-diaminoacridine plus nitrofurazone dressing in patients with pressure ulcers.

Design: This 5-week randomized clinical trial evaluated the effect of a honey dressing on pressure ulcer healing.

Setting And Subjects: Thirty-six patients with a total of 68 stage II or III pressure ulcers referred from a university hospital in Izmir were enrolled in the study.

The effect of different body positions on blood pressure.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to test the effects of different body on BP readings in a Turkish healthy young adults.

Background: It is known that many factors influence an individual's blood pressure measurement. However, guideliness for accurately measuring blood pressure inconsistently specify that patient's position and they should keep feet flat on the floor.

Correlation between psychiatric nurses' anger and job motivation.

The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between the level of anger and the job motivation of nurses working in a psychiatric ward. The research included 378 nurses who worked full time in inpatient psychiatric wards in 10 hospitals located in Turkey. A descriptive characteristics questionnaire, the Trait Anger-Anger Expression Scale, and a job motivation questionnaire were used as data collection tools.

Computer courses in the undergraduate nursing curriculum in Turkey.

This study surveys computer courses in undergraduate nursing schools in Turkey. To accomplish this, the investigator gave an assignment to first-year students at the Ege University School of Nursing as part of a computer course in 2003-2004. The assignment consisted of having students use their computer skills and do research on the Internet to obtain information about computer classes at other Turkish nursing schools.

[Cancer pain and its influence on quality of life].

Pain is an important problem for patients with cancer, occurring in half of all cancer patients and more than 90% of patients with advanced disease. Pain related to cancer is a complex, multidimensional phenomenon composed of sensory, affective, cognitive, and behavioural components. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified cancer pain as a major international problem and pain control has become a critical element in the comprehensive care of many cancer patients.

International communication via the Internet: Turkish nursing students' experiences.

This study involves an assignment given to first-year students at the Ege University School of Nursing in Turkey as part of a computer course. The assignment required students to obtain nursing and healthcare information about a foreign country via the Internet. The objective was to heighten global awareness while improving computer skills.

Comparing mercury-in-glass, tympanic and disposable thermometers in measuring body temperature in healthy young people.

Aim And Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether a disposable thermometer was at least as accurate as a tympanic thermometer when compared with a mercury-in-glass thermometer and to investigate the waiting periods of mercury-in-glass thermometers.

Background: Although different methods of temperature measurement have been widely studied and described during the last decade, comparison between readings obtained when measuring body temperature using disposable, mercury-in-glass and tympanic thermometers is little documented and there is confusion about the waiting periods of mercury-in-glass thermometers.

Methods: This research was descriptive and comparative.

Peer education project on breast self-examination in Izmir, Turkey.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to assess undergraduate female student knowledge related to the Peer Education Method and Breast Self-Examination (BSE), to encourage them to refer for screening with certain intervals and to teach them the means of utilizing the health services.

Design: The subjects comprised 160 undergraduate female students who were selected by simple random sampling and who accepted to participate.

Methods: A survey form, which was prepared under the direction of relative literature by the researcher four 3rd graders of Ege University School of Nursing, was applied to female students.