The Effect of Altruistic Behaviors on Psychological Resilience and Care Burden in Caregivers

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the predictive effect of altruistic behaviors on psychological resilience and care burden in caregivers of cancer patients. Material and Methods: The study consisted of 194 caregivers of 194 patients with cancer who were treated at the Hematology- Oncology Service, Day Treatment Center and General Surgery Service of Dokuz Eylül University Hospital. The study data were collected by using four data collection tools, namely Patient and Caregiver Information Form, Altruism Scale, Resilience Scale for Adults, and Clinically Adapted Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale. The mean score of caregivers was 74.96±12.02 on the total Altruism Scale, 129.86±23.72 on the total Resilience Scale for Adults and 30.20±13.05 on the total Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale. Results: A statistically significant and positive correlation was found between caregivers’ scores on the altruism scale and resilience scale (p<0.01). The increase in altruistic behavior scores increased the resilience score (p<0.05). It was found that 24.1% of the variance in the level of caregivers’ resilience was caused by the variance in the level of their altruistic behavior. A statistically significant and negative correlation was found between caregivers' scores on the Altruism Scale and the Zarit Care Burden Scale (p<0.01). An increase in altruistic behavior scores caused a decrease in the level of caregiver burden (p<0.05). It was determined that 13.2% of the variance in the level of caregivers’ care burden was caused by the variance in their altruistic behavior. Conclusion: It was concluded that altruistic behaviors in caregivers of patients with cancer increased psychological resilience and reduced the burden of care. Nurses can take on an active role in increasing altruistic behavior that has an important role in the provision of effective care by caregivers

Periton Diyalizi Hastalarında Uygulanan Özyönetim Programının Hastaların Bazı Laboratuvar Bulguları, Sodyum ve Fosfor Tüketimi Davranışlarına Etkisi

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, periton diyalizi (PD) hastalarında uygulanan öz-yönetim programının hastaların bazı laboratuvar bulguları, sodyum ve fosfor tüketimi davranışlarına etkisini açıklamaktır. Gereç ve yöntem: Çalışmanın evrenini, Ocak-Mart 2020 tarihleri arasında Türkiye’nin batısında yer alan bir ildeki Üniversite Hastanesi Periton Diyalizi ünitesine ayaktan gelen 30 PD hastası oluşturmuştur. Bu çalışmada, ön test-son test deseni kullanılmıştır. Hastaların bazı laboratuvar bulguları, diyette sodyum ve fosfor alımı konusunda olumlu davranış değişikliği sağlamalarına yönelik öz yönetim programı uygulanmıştır. Çalışmada kullanılan anket formu iki bölümden oluşmuştur; 1. bölümde sosyo-demografik ve hastalığa ilişkin veriler, 2. bölümde ise sodyum ve fosfor alımına yönelik sorular yer almıştır. Çalışma verileri değerlendirilirken tanımlayıcı istatistiksel yöntemlerin yanında, ön test-son test puan ortalamaları arasındaki farkı saptamaya yönelik olarak, paired simple t testi ve Mc Namer testi uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: Periton diyalizi hastalarında, girişim öncesi ve sonrası bazı laboratuvar bulguları (plazma sodyum, idrar sodyum, diyalizat sodyum, plazma fosfor, idrar fosfor, plazma kalsiyum) puan ortalaması arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark bulunmamıştır (p>0,05). Periton diyalizi hastalarında girişim öncesi ve sonrası sodyum ve fosfor alımına yönelik sorulara verilen yanıtlara bakıldığında; ön test-son test puanları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark saptanmamıştır (p>0,05). Sonuç: Periton diyalizi hastalarıyla yürütülen bu çalışma sonuçları, öz yönetim programının hastalarda bazı laboratuvar değerleri ve sodyum ve fosfor alımına yönelik olumlu değişimler yaratmadığını ortaya koymaktadır. Hastalarla daha uzun süre zaman geçirmeleri nedeniyle davranış değişikliği kazandırmada düzeyini artırmada hemşirelere önemli sorumluluklar düşmektedir.Objective: The aim of this study is to explain the effect of the self-management program applied in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients on some laboratory findings, sodium and phosphorus consumption behaviors of the patients. Materials and Methods: The population of the study consisted of 30 PD patients who came to the peritoneal dialysis unit of the University Hospital in a province in the west of Turkey between January-March 2020. In this study, pretest-posttest design was used. A self-management program was applied for patients to provide positive behavioral changes regarding some laboratory findings and dietary sodium and phosphorus intake. Questionnaire form to be used in the study consisted of two parts; in the first part, socio-demographic and disease related data, and in the second part, questions about sodium and phosphorus intake were included. While evaluating the study data, in addition to descriptive statistical methods, paired simple t test and Mc Namer test were applied to determine the difference between the pretest-posttest mean scores. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the mean scores of some laboratory findings (plasma sodium, urine sodium, dialysate sodium, plasma phosphorus, urine phosphorus, plasma calcium) in PD patients before and after the intervention (p>0.05). Considering the answers given to the questions about sodium and phosphorus intake before and after the intervention in PD patients; no statistically significant difference was found between pretest-posttest scores (p>0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study conducted with PD patients reveal that the self-management program did not create positive changes in some laboratory values and sodium and phosphorus intake in patients. Nurses have important responsibilities in increasing their level of gaining behavior change because they spend longer time with patients

Difficulties encountered by hospitalized Syrian refugees and their expectations from nurses

Background: Treating patients with care and respecting their cultural values are key factors necessary to enhance the quality of nursing care

Examining the relationship between symptoms watched in lung cancer patients and illness perception

Objective: To examine the relationship between the symptom experience of lung cancer patients and their illness perception of the disease. Methods: The descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted from April to September 2015 at the Chemotherapy Treatment Centre of the Medicine Chest Diseases Clinic at the Ege University, Izmir, Turkey, and comprised lung cancer patients of either gender aged >18 years. Data was collected using a predesigned Patient Questionnaire as well as the standard Lung Cancer Symptom Scale, Illness Perception Questionnaire and Karnofsky Performance Scale. The patients' sociodemographic characteristics and data on their illness, the symptoms they experienced and the numerical and percentage distribution of the items on the illness perception scale, mean and standard deviation values were examined. Pearson Correlation analysis was used to examine the correlation between illness perception and Karnofsky Performance Scale scores and other variables. Results: Of the 105 patients, 86(81.9%) were males, 86(81.9%) were married, 49(46.7%) were elementary school graduates, 101(96.2%) were unemployed, and 95(90.5%) were receiving chemotherapy. The overall mean age of the sample was 61.43 +/- 8.24 years, the period since diagnosis was 11.38 +/- 17.84 months, and the duration of chemotherapy was 4.28 +/- 2.37 months. The mean symptom burden score was 22.75 +/- 10.85 and the Lung Cancer Symptom Scale score was 22.75 +/- 10.85. The mean score of the type of illness domain was 5.53 +/- 2.12. The overall mean global quality of life score was 64.30 +/- 12.60. Conclusions: As the symptom burden experienced by the lung cancer patients increased, their perception of the illness became more negative, and the longer the cyclical periods and the period of diagnosis, the patients' control over their illness decreased

Metacognitive Beliefs and Their Relation with Symptoms in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Introduction: Metacognitive constructs have shown promise in explaining the symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Few studies have examined the role of metacognitions in symptom dimensions of OCD, despite mounting clinical, neuropsychological and imaging evidence for the distinctiveness of these dimensions. Methods: Metacognitions were assessed using the Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ-30) in 51 participants with DSM IV OCD and 46 healthy controls. The Maudsley Obsessional Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) was used to quantify symptom dimensions, along with the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) for anxiety, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) for depression. Results: Individuals with OCD differed from healthy controls on beliefs of uncontrollability and danger when depression and anxiety were controlled for. Correlations between metacognitive beliefs and obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions were largely similar across the OCD and healthy control groups. Hierarchical regression showed that need to control thoughts contributed to checking, cleaning and rumination symptoms; cognitive self-consciousness to symptoms of slowness; uncontrollability and danger to doubt symptoms; positive beliefs to checking symptoms. Conclusions: Specific associations between metacognitive variables and the different symptom dimensions of OCD are evident, however, severity of anxiety and depression also contribute to these associations

The relationship between retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and carotid intima media thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

WOS: 000346060800038PubMed: 25315984Aims: the aim of the present study was to investigate retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and to evaluate the relationship between RNFL thickness and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT). Methods: This study included 171 patients with T2D (53.2+/-8.8 years) and age matched 61 healthy controls (51.9+/-8.1 years). We evaluated anthropometric and metabolic parameters as well as RNFL and CIMT measurements in patients with T2D and controls. the MannWhitney U test was used to compare the continuous variables and the Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables. Spearman's rank correlation test was used for calculation of associations between variables. Results: the average RNFL thickness was 84.82+/-11.22 mm in patients with T2D and 92.35+/-8.45 mm in healthy controls (p < 0.001). Mean CIMT values were higher in patients with T2D (0.80+/-0.1 mm) than the healthy subjects (0.72+/-0.1 mm) (p < 0.001). A significant negative correlation was found between age and all quadrants of RNFL. There was a negative correlation between average RNFL thickness and HbA1c (r =-0.176), uric acid (r = -0.145), CIMT (r = -0.190) and presence of carotid plaque (r = -0.193). the superior RNFL thickness was negatively associated with HbA1c (r = -0.175), CIMT (r = -0.207) and carotid plaque (r = -0.176). There was also an inverse correlation between the inferior RNFL thickness and HbA1c (r = -0.187) and carotid plaque (r = -0.157). Conclusion: Thinning of RNFL might be associated with atherosclerosis in patients with T2D. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

The impact of hypertension on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and its association with carotid intima media thickness

WOS: 000354191800007PubMed: 25658169Objective. Our aim was to investigate retinal nerve fi ber layer (RNFL) thickness in hypertensive patients using spectraldomain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and to evaluate the relationship between RNFL thickness and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT). Methods. This study included 59 patients with hypertension (HT) (53.6 +/- 10.7 years) and 54 age-matched healthy controls (51.0 +/- 8.1 years). We evaluated anthropometric and metabolic parameters as well as RNFL and CIMT measurements in patients with hypertension and controls. Results. the average RNFL thickness was 86.60 +/- 10.86 mu m in hypertensive patients and 93.63 +/- 7.30 mu m in healthy controls (p < 0.001). Selective thinning of the RNFL was found in the superior and inferior quadrants. Mean CIMT values were higher in patients with HT (0.80 +/- 0.15 mm) than the healthy subjects (0.71 +/- 0.1 mm) (p < 0.001). the average, inferior and nasal RNFL thickness were negatively associated with diastolic blood pressure respectively (r= 0.112, r= 0.210, r= 0.225). There was an inverse correlation between RNFL thickness in the average and superior retinal quadrant and CIMT (r- =0.201, r= -0.185). There were no correlations between RNFL thickness and age, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, lipid parameters, high-sensitive C-reactive protein and microalbuminuria. Conclusion. RNFL thickness is reduced in hypertensive patients and may be associated with atherosclerosis