Hacettepe University Faculty of Health Sciences Nursing Journal - 2009; 16(3)

ED�T�RDEN

2009-09-01

Coping Styles of Patients Taking Hemodialysis and Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Treatment

Ar�. G�r. Duygu H��DURMAZ, Prof. Dr. Fatma �Z — 2009-09-01

This study has been carried out as descriptive to determine the coping strategies of hemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients with stres. Sample of this study was constituted by 212 hemodialysis and 149 CAPD patients who were recruited from Ba�kent University Hospital, Ankara University Ibn-i Sina Hospital, Gazi University Hospital and Hacettepe University Hospital. “Hemodialysis Patient Information Form”, “CAPD Patient Information Form” and “Ways of Coping Inventory” were used as data collection equipments. Significance between two means test (t test) and one way variance analysis were used for data analysis. According to study results; mostly used coping strategy in both of the patients groups was turning towards religion. This coping strategy was followed by acceptance, positive reframing, planning, active coping and other coping ways. The rank of coping ways, from mostly used to the least, was similar in both groups. CAPD patients use planning and instrumental support more and denial less than hemodialysis patients. Based on the results of the study, asssessing patients regularly about coping may be suggested for nurses working in these units. Also, nurses should integrate the study findings into education and counseling activities about patients' adaptation to treatment.

Family Caregivers' Difficulties in Caring for Bedridden Stroke Patients

2009-09-01

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the difficulties experienced by bedridden CVA patients' caregivers at home and suggest some solve advice for problems. Methods: This is a descriptive study designed to identify difficulties experienced by bedridden CVA patients' caregivers at home and suggest some solve advice for problems. The sample group consisted of 38 relatives of CVA patients. The patients had been discharged from one of three health centers: the Hacettepe University Neurology Ward, Ankara University's Ibn-i Sina Hospital, or Ankara Numune Hospital. Using questions form that contained open-ended questions, we interviewed 38 caregivers of stroke survivors to identify their characteristics and their difficulties experienced. Data were given as numbers and percentages. Results: The results of the study indicate that family caregivers need information about the disease (CVA), and about patients' care, medications, diet, excretory system function and sleep schedule. The results also indicate that the caregivers commonly face psychosocial problems, fatigue, and insomnia. Caregivers reported financial problems in purchasing medicines and medical care. They also stated that because of limited family resources, they tend to hospitalize their patients in government-funded facilities. Conclusion: Caregivers of CVA patients encounter a variety of informational, psycho-social and financial problems and many of these can be solved successfully by education-based intervention.

Strains of Caregivers of Alzheimer Patients

Ar. G�r. �matullah AKYAR, Prof. Dr. Nuran AKDEM�R — 2009-09-01

Study is carried out to determine the strains of caregivers of Alzheimer patients. The sample of this descriptive study is comprised of 50 caregivers. Literature based questionnaire were used for data collection. Chi square and Fisher's exact tests were used to evaluate the data. 64% of caregivers were feeling strain in family life because of caring, 40.6% couldn't take support, 34.4% feel psychological strain and 18.8% feel economical strain. While 90% of caregivers' daily life were influenced, 83.3% were having problem in caring. Significant difference was determined between patients' wandering problem and feeling strain in family life and having problem in caring; patients' fecal incontinence problem and caregivers' having problem in caring (p<0.05), while there wasn't significant difference between the other problems and caregiver's having problem in caring and strain in family life (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between status of having support and feeling strain in family life (p>0.05); there was difference between caregivers' having another person to look after and feeling strain in family life; caregivers' problem in caring and caregivers information needs; caregivers' economic status that influenced from caring and feeling strain in family life (p<0.05). Caregivers must be supported and assessed by expert people and institutions.

Pregnancy, Diabetes Mellitus and Nursing Care

Yard.Do�.Dr. Hilmiye AKSU, Esra YURTSEV — 2009-09-01

Despite the advances in care, pregnancy complicated by diabetes is still considered high risk. Care of the pregnant woman with diabetes requires that the nurse fully understand the normal physiologic responses to pregnancy and the altered metabolism of diabetes. Furthermore, the nurse must understand the relationship between pregnancy and diabetes, including psychosocial implication to assess the woman accurately, plan for her care, and intervene appropriately. Therefore in this article is mentioned about nursing approach to pregnant woman with diabetes.

The Knowledge of Student Nurses on Some Non-Pharmacological Methods Used in the Pain Control

Ar. G�r. H�sra �ZVEREN, Do�. Dr. H�lya U�AR — 2009-09-01

This descriptive study was carried out to determine the knowledge of student nurses on some non-pharmacological methods used in the pain control. The sample included 260 students who were enrolled to basic professional courses of nursing during the autumn term of the 2003-2004 academic year in the Hacettepe University School of Nursing. 244 volunteered students attended to this study. The data were collected by means of a questionnaire prepared by the researcher. The mean score of students regarding with the knowledge on non-pharmacological methods used in pain control was 29.26 out of the total score of 57.50. The statistical analysis on a number of independent variables revealed that only the mean score of students who had experienced pain was significant (p<0.05). It was identified that students' knowledge on the effects of massage, hold-cold application and relaxation exercises, were higher whereas their knowledge were low on the dermal menthol application, distraction, music and imagination.

Nurses' Approach to Forensic Cases

Yard. Do�. Dr. Dilek �ZDEN, Yard. Do�. Dr. Nurcan YILDIRIM — 2009-09-01

Nurses, in their institutions, are likely to be the first persons who meet to forensic cases, communicate, and contact with the belongings of victims or suspected individuals during examination, treatment and care. Nurses have to be able for forensic assessment when they encounter a forensic case. Although the priority of the nurses is the care and treatment of the patient; they must be prudent to avoid destroying evidences, and knowledgeable forproper collecting, saving and enrolling the evidences while performing his/her work. That the nurses act accordingly with knowledge and liability may prevent the evidences being overlooked, lost or destroyed during the care and the treatment. The aim of this article is to draw attention of nurses into the forensic cases and to provide basic knowledge, understandings and approach that may contribute to the evaluation of the forensic case.

A Significant Concept in Protecting Mental Health: Resilience

Porf. Dr. Fatma �Z, Uz. Hem. Emel BAHADIR YILMAZ — 2009-09-01

Resilience is a concept recently, which emphasized significantly. Resilience refers to the the ability of successful adaptation and overcoming negative conditions successfully inspite of the challenges of a difficult situation. In studies related to resilience, it was identified that individuals with high levels of resilience struggle more successfully with very much stressful life events such as poverty, violence and illness. In the meantime, it was emphasized that these kind of individuals possess positive personal qualities, such as effective problem solving abilities and effective interpersonal communication skills. Studies indicated that by improving the levels of resilience of individuals who had experienced failure due to similar negative situations they may overcome their problems easily or survive from stresses with least damages. In our country, the concept of resilience is unknown completely. Inthis article, the concept of resilience, factors influencing its formation and the importance of this concept for nursing are on its forming and the importance of resilience are reviewed.