Ebru Baysal

Dysmenorrhea Characteristics of Female Students of Health School and Affecting Factors and Their Knowledge and Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Methods.

The purpose of this study was to examine the menstruation and dysmenorrhea characteristics and the factors affecting dysmenorrhea of health school students, and the knowledge and use of the methods of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) on the part of those students with dysmenorrhea. This is a descriptive study. A descriptive analysis was made by calculating the number, percentage, mean, Pearson &khgr;2, and logistic regression analysis. A total of 488 female students participated in the research and 87.7% (n = 428) of all students experienced dysmenorrhea. It was detected that a family history of dysmenorrhea and regular menstrual cycles of the students were dysmenorrhea-affecting factors (P < .05). Seven of 10 students with dysmenorrhea used CAM methods. Heat application of CAM methods for dysmenorrhea management was the most commonly used and also known by the students. The students who experienced severe pain used analgesics (P < .05) and CAM methods (P < .05).

Effects of structured patient education on knowledge level and INR control of patients receiving warfarin: Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To determine the effects of patient education about the safety of warfarin therapy on related-knowledge levels and on International Normalized Ratio (INR) control. Methods: In the study, randomized controlled experimental study design was used. It was conducted between September 2014–March 2015 with 63 patients who use warfarin at least two months at cardiology and cardiovascular surgery outpatient departments of two different hospitals in Manisa. Participants in the intervention group received one-to-one education about the safety of warfarin therapy and a booklet. Participants in the control group received usual care. Patients’ warfarin knowledge levels in both groups were measured three times at monthly intervals. Results: Before education warfarin knowledge levels were inadequate in intervention group, but it was higher after education and reached a good level. No significant difference was found between the International Normalized Ratio controls of the two groups. No significant relationship was found between pre- and post-education warfarin knowledge levels and the INR number in the therapeutic range. Conclusion: One-to-one education supported by written and visual material was effective in increasing patients’ warfarin knowledge levels.

Ethical Decision Making Levels of Nursing Students

Objective: The present study was conducted to determine nursing students’ levels of ethical decision-making. Methods: The sample of the descriptive study consisted of 240 nursing students. The data were collected using the Student Information Form and “Nursing Dilemma Test”. Results: It was found that Principled Thinking (PT) mean score (48.38±7.97) of nursing students was above average while their Practical Consideration (PC) mean score (17.87±4.13) was close to average. It was also determined that the nursing students participated in the study were not familiar (17.75±2.77) with the dilemmas included in the Nursing Ethical Dilemma Test. Conclusion: The students paid attention to consider ethical principles when making decisions about ethical dilemmas; however, they are also affected by environmental factors as well. Sex and class level were found to be influential in the process of ethical decision making.

Ethical decision-making levels of oncology nurses:

Aim: This study was carried out in order to determine ethical decision-making levels of oncology nurses. Ethical Consideration: Research Ethics Committees approval was obtained prior to the data collection. Permission to use the Turkish version of the Nursing Dilemma Test was received from Birgül Cerit. Written approval was taken from school administrators to conduct the study confirming that there were no invasive procedures planned for human beings during the study period. The study was conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration. Verbal consent was obtained from each of the nurses who agreed to participate after they were informed about the study content. Method: The population of this study conducted in a descriptive way consisted of a total of 96 nurses working at the oncology units and outpatient chemotherapy units of four different hospitals between September 2017 and March 2018. The study sample included 60 nurses who responded to the question form. The data of the study were collected using “Nurses Information Questionnaire” and “Nursing Dilemma Test” developed by Crisham in 1981. Results: Oncology nurses’ mean scores in Principled Thinking (49.00 ± 6.46) and those in Practical Considerations (18.35 ± 4.47) were found to be above the moderate level. It was determined that the oncology nurses participated in the study were familiar with situations similar to the dilemmas included in the Nursing Dilemma Test (15.00 ± 4.20). Conclusion: It was concluded that oncology nurses try to take ethical principles into consideration but are also affected by environmental factors while making decisions concerning ethical dilemmas. The most frequently encountered ethical dilemmas by oncology nurses include the following: deciding not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, telling the truth to the patient, studies being carried out without the patient’s content, and patient’s refusal of treatment. In order to improve oncology nurses’ critical thinking and ethical decision-making skills, it is important to determine ethical dilemmas encountered by oncology nurses, and nurses should be encouraged to be involved in ethical decision-making process through cooperation with the other healthcare personnel.

Comparison of Glucose Values of Blood Samples Taken in Three Different Ways

The purpose of the study was to determine differences and correlations between the blood glucose values of venous blood and the first and second drops of capillary blood samples taken in three different ways. Blood samples were (a) venous blood, (b) the first and second drops of capillary blood from the middle finger of the right hand (only washed with soap and water), and (c) the first and second drops of capillary blood from the middle finger of the left hand (washed with soap and water and cleaned with alcohol). It was concluded that the fasting capillary blood glucose values could be used in place of venous blood glucose values, that only washing the hands with neutral soap and water for 30 s could be sufficient for capillary blood glucose measurement, and that the first or second blood drop from a clean hand could be used for capillary blood glucose measurement.