Do patients with diabetes use the insulin pen properly?

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the insulin pen application knowledge and skills of patients with diabetes. Methods: In our descriptive study, 200 patients with diabetes were asked to present the insulin pen injection technique on a mannequin and the steps of the pen injection implementation were noted on the data collection form as correct/incorrect by researchers. Results: More than 3 out of 4 (79.5%) of the participants were using the insulin pen or the cartridge after the expiry date, 70.5% were not rotating the injection site, and 63.0% were massaging the skin after injection. Injection sites complications were significantly more in those who were using the insulin pen or the cartridge after the expiry date, those who don\u2019t know the proper length of the needle and the possible body injection sites, those who don\u2019t rotate the injection sites, those who massage after injection, and those who don\u2019t use a new needle at each injection (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study put into light some failures in the knowledge and skills of patients with diabetes regarding insulin pen use. Nurses should provide patients with diabetes an effective and repetitive training concerning insulin pen use. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i1.38 Cite as: Tosun B, Cinar FI, Topcu Z, Masatoglu B, Ozen N, Bagcivan G, et al. Do patients with diabetes use the insulin pen properly? Afri Health Sci. 2019;19(1). 1628-1637. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i1.3

O R I G I N A L P A P E R Stool Specimen Collection: Nurses' and Patients' Perspectives Ramazan Gumral, MD

Abstract Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the difficulties that nurses are confronted with during the procedure of taking stool specimens, and the difficulties that patients experienced during giving stool specimens and their solutions. Background: Specimen collection is often the first crucial step in determining diagnosis and treatment methods. Appropriate specimen collection, transport, and processing are important to diagnose infectious diseases accurately. Methods: This descriptive/cross-sectional study included 173 nurses and 108 patients. To collect data, questionnaires developed by the authors were used. Results: Of the nurses, 24.3% stated that they have difficulty in explaining to patients the method for taking stool specimens. Of the patients, 66.7% expressed that they had difficulties in obtaining their own stool specimens. The main complaints of the patients were "not being able to determine the quantity of the stool to be given". Of the problematic patients, 16.7% expressed that they found no solution to their problems. Conclusion: Nurses should give patients information regarding an appropriate and applicable method of giving a specimen, and patients should be evaluated as to whether they need explanation on it

Uremic pruritus and associated factors in hemodialysis patients: A multi-center study

Background : Uremic pruritus is a common and disturbing problem in hemodialysis patients. Although its pathogenesis is not completely understood, it is thought to be multifactorial. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors of uremic pruritus in hemodialysis patients. Methods : A total of 249 patients from four dialysis centers were included in this study. Data were collected using a questionnaire, the visual analogue scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. We investigated whether socio-demographic and biochemical parameters were correlated to uremic pruritus. Results : Pruritus was present in 53.4% of the hemodialysis patients. The mean visual analogue scale severity was 6.47 ± 1.56. Patients with white blood cell (WBC) counts ＞ 6.7 × 10³/μL had 1.73 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.360-2.888; P = 0.036) more pruritus than did those with WBC counts ＜ 6.7 × 10³/μL. Patients with dry skin were 0.2 times (95% CI, 0.070-0.182; P = 0.028) more likely to suffer from very severe pruritus than were those with normal skin. Conclusion : Uremic pruritus remains a serious problem in dialysis patients. The WBC level and presence of dry skin are thought to be among its causes. Therefore, data regarding the possible risk factors of uremic pruritus must be followed closely in patients at risk

Integrating simulation based learning into nursing education programs: Hybrid simulation

BACKGROUND: Hybrid simulation can be developed with mannequins of any fidelity and tabletop simulators with a standardized patient to create a complex, high-level learning activity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of a hybrid simulation technique used with nursing students in a scenario about the emergency setting. METHODS: This one-group pre-test post-test model quasi-experimental study was carried out with 39 students in Ankara, Turkey, from October 2014 to July 2015. RESULTS: Nearly all participants reported that the simulation improved their critical thinking, decision-making skills, and self-confidence before the clinical activity and that they felt as though they were real nurses during the activity (94.7%, 97.3%, 84.2%, and 92.1%, respectively). CONCLUSION: The results of this study support the integration of hybrid simulation experiences throughout the nursing curriculum, as evidenced by positive responses from students through the simulation evaluation questionnaire

Do patients with diabetes use the insulin pen properly?

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the insulin pen application knowledge and skills of patients with diabetes. Methods: In our descriptive study, 200 patients with diabetes were asked to present the insulin pen injection technique on a mannequin and the steps of the pen injection implementation were noted on the data collection form as correct/incorrect by researchers. Results: More than 3 out of 4 (79.5%) of the participants were using the insulin pen or the cartridge after the expiry date, 70.5% were not rotating the injection site, and 63.0% were massaging the skin after injection. Injection sites complications were significantly more in those who were using the insulin pen or the cartridge after the expiry date, those who don't know the proper length of the needle and the possible body injection sites, those who don't rotate the injection sites, those who massage after injection, and those who don't use a new needle at each injection (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study put into light some failures in the knowledge and skills of patients with diabetes regarding insulin pen use. Nurses should provide patients with diabetes an effective and repetitive training concerning insulin pen use

O R I G I N A L P A P E R .r . Determination of the Frequency of Clinical Skills Implementation by Senior Nursing Students in an Emergency Department

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to determine how often nursing students find an opportunity to observe and/or practice nursing skills during their training in an emergency department. Background: Clinical education as an integral part of nursing education offers the nursing students opportunities to gain clinical experiences in the nursing skills and procedures and deepens the theoretical part of the nursing in a real-life clinical environment. However, it is unclear that at which level clinical practice is experienced by the students in a clinical setting by the time of graduation. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in the emergency department of a university hospital. The sample of the study was included total 67 nursing students who underwent practical training. The data were collected using the &quot;Nursing skills evaluation form&quot;. Results: It is determined that the most practiced nursing skills were to measure blood pressure, to measure body temperature and to inform patients about the medical practices that were done by the nursing students. The least practiced skills were to feed babies, monitor chest tubes and maintain endotracheal tube care. Conclusion: The study results show that some nursing skills are practiced very often, while others are never practiced in the emergency department. Therefore, it is recommended to evaluate the frequencies of targeted nursing skills to give an each student an opportunity of practicing in more feasible clinical settings

Quality of life and related factors among chronic hepatitis B-infected patients: a multi-center study, Turkey

Background: The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in Turkey and to study related factors

Quality of life and related factors among chronic hepatitis B-infected patients: a multi-center study, Turkey

balkan, ilker inanc/0000-0002-8977-5931; Altindis, Mustafa/0000-0003-0411-9669; Sahin, Ahmet Ziyaettin/0000-0003-1060-6746; atilla, aynur/0000-0001-8027-1991WOS: 000386954300001PubMed: 27809934Background: The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in Turkey and to study related factors. Methods: This multicenter study was carried out between January 01 and April 15, 2015 in Turkey in 57 centers. Adults were enrolled and studied in three groups. Group 1: Inactive HBsAg carriers, Group 2: CHB patients receiving antiviral therapy, Group 3: CHB patients who were neither receiving antiviral therapy nor were inactive HBsAg carriers. Study data was collected by face-to-face interviews using a standardized questionnaire, Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Hepatitis B Quality of Life (HBQOL). Values equivalent to p < 0.05 in analyses were accepted as statistically significant. Results: Four thousand two hundred fifty-seven patients with CHB were included in the study. Two thousand five hundred fifty-nine (60.1 %) of the patients were males. Groups 1, 2 and 3, consisted of 1529 (35.9 %), 1721 (40.4 %) and 1007 (23.7 %) patients, respectively. The highest value of HRQOL was found in inactive HBsAg carriers. We found that total HBQOL score increased when antiviral treatment was used. However, HRQOL of CHB patients varied according to their socio-demographic properties. Regarding total HBQOL score, a higher significant level of HRQOL was determined in inactive HBV patients when matched controls with the associated factors were provided. Conclusions: The HRQOL score of CHB patients was higher than expected and it can be worsen when the disease becomes active. Use of an antiviral therapy can contribute to increasing HRQOL of patients