Zuhal Bahar

Perceived Barriers and Home Care Needs When Adapting to a Fecal Ostomy: A Phenomenological Study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine perceived barriers to adaptation to life with a fecal ostomy based on the Health Belief Model and to reveal home care needs related to these perceptions. DESIGN: Phenomenological study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Twelve participants undergoing ileostomy or colostomy within 3 months of data collection participated in the study. The participants were recruited from Stomatherapy Outpatient Clinic of Dokuz Eylül University Hospital. Their mean age was 54.41 ± 19.14 years (mean ± SD). Eight (67%) underwent ostomy surgery 2 to 3 months prior to study participation; 9 (75%) underwent stoma surgery for the treatment of colorectal cancer, 5 (42%) had a temporary stoma, and 8 also received chemotherapy for the management of an underlying malignancy. METHODS: A semistructured interview form was used to collect data, and obtained data were analyzed with inductive content analysis. The questions were based on the Health Belief Model and were directed at identifying challenges to adaptation to life at home and home care needs in patients with stoma. RESULTS: Inductive content analysis identified 4 main themes: “restriction of daily life activities”; “factors affecting adaptation to stoma”; “need for health professionals”; and “emotional effects.” The theme, need for health professionals, was expressed by the highest number of the participants. The respondents explained that services from ostomy nurse specialists should begin in the hospital and continue into the home. Participants suggested that ostomy nurses are needed to improve self-care skills via telephone contact and home visits. They also expressed the need for nursing interventions for the management of adverse effects associated with chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals experience physical, mental, and social barriers when adapting to live with a new stoma and when receiving chemotherapy for underlying cancer. Additional services from ostomy nurses are needed to aid patients when adapting to these challenges.

Nursing Interventions in the Prevention of Needlestick and Sharps Injuries: The Case of a University Hospital in Turkey

ABSTRACT This study aimed to create an occupational safety program by reducing the rates of needlestick and sharps injuries in nurses. The universe of this experimental study was made up of nurses working in a university hospital and they were involved in a preliminary study before administering the sampling method. The data were collected through “Needlestick and Sharp Injuries Form” and “Clinical Observation and Evaluation Form”. As a result of this study, while the rate of needlestick and sharp injuries in nurses before the intervention was 31.2 percent, it was found to be 24.3 percent in the 9th month monitoring following the intervention, which yielded a significant difference. Needlestick and sharp injuries continued to occur. These results should be considered in the design of occupational safety programs to reduce the NSIs at the Hospital Center. It is also necessary to establish a monitoring system of needlestick and sharp injuries at a hospital level and a reporting system at the national level in Turkey.

Reliability and Validity of the Turkish Version of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment Scale

ABSTRACT The scales need to be adapted for the society so that they can be used. This study aims to assess the reliability and validity of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment Scale. The phases of the testing of the scale included the translation and adaptation of the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale construct analysis by an expert group, and pre-test and psychometric evaluation (factor analysis, reliability coefficient and inter-item correlations). Pearson Correlation analysis of the results showed a significant positive relationship between test-retest scores of the scale (r= .775, p= .000; t=781, p= .439). Cronbach alpha coefficient was α=.88 and standardized α value was .89. The scale explains the fifty-six percent of total variance. The scales were found to be reliable and valid in Turkish population. These findings suggest that the Turkish version of the instrument is available for measuring specific aspects of the caregiving experience in the Turkish population.