Hacettepe University Faculty of Health Sciences Nursing Journal - 2015; 2(3)

De�erli Okurlar�m�za

Serg�l DUYGULU — 2015-09-01

The Validity and Reliability of Exercise Behavior Change Scales

Yasemin G�M��, Yeter K�T�� — 2015-09-01

Aim: The purpose of this methodological study is to adapt “Exercise Processes of Change Scale, Exercise Decisional Balance Scale and Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale” developed by Marcus (1992) into Turkish language and culture, to examine validity and reliability of Turkish forms of these questionnaires. Material and Methods: The study sample consists of individuals who are registered to G�lba��/Ankara Community Education Center. Data was colected by “Personal Information Form” and “Stages of Change Model Scale”. Permissions were taken from the owner of Scale, the institution, the participants and Ethical Commission of Gazi University. In data analysis, relating to the validity of the scale, validity language, content and construct (confirmatory factor analysis, X2 compliance testing, comparative and normalized fit index, goodness of fit index, root mean square error of the mean and approximation errors); relating to the reliability of the scale, subscale-total correlation and Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was used. Results: The study was conducted with 400 individuals. The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that Exercise Processes of Change Scale factor loading values were between 0.64 and 0.90, Exercise Decisional Balance Scale factor loading values were between 0.55 and 0.73, Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale factor loading values were between 0.62 and 0.84. Cronbach alpha reliability coefficients of Exercise Processes of Change Scale, Exercise Decisional Balance Scale and Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale were found respectively as 0.97, 0.90, 0.85. The factor structures of the original instrument were confirmed for Turkish culture via calculated fit indexes analysis. Conclusion: It was concluded that Exercise Processes of Change Scale, Exercise Decisional Balance Scale and Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale which had been developed for adults, are instruments that are congruent with Turkish language and culture and Turkish form of the scale can yield valid and reliable measurements.

Nurses' Knowledge and Practices About Pain and Pain Control in Children

�lknur G�L, M�jgan ONARICI — 2015-09-01

Aim: This study was conducted with the aim of determining nurses' knowledge and practices related to pain and pain control in children. Material-Methods: The population of this descriptive study comprised 26 nurses working in six Family Health Centers and one Community Health Center, and 19 nurses working in the pediatric clinic of a State Hospital located in the city center of a province in Central Anatolia. The data was collected using a questionnaire developed to determine nurses' sociodemographic characteristics and their knowledge and practices about pain and pain control in children. Data was analysed via percentage and chi-square tests. Results: It was determined that the majority of the nurses utilized behavioral indicators to assess pain in children. The leading three of the most frequently reported pain symptoms by the nurses were crying (97.5%), restlessness (97.5%) and facial expression (90%). Although 95% of the nurses had no idea about the scales used to assess pain, they weren't using pain assessment scales individually or in the units they worked at. In respect of relieving/alleviating pain, it was determined that 65% of the nurses administered routine analgesics, and that they did not adequately carry out the methods they could perform independently. Conclusion: It was determined that the nurses had lack of knowledge about pain and pain control in children and they did not carry out the pain control methods they can perform independently .

Evaluation of Nursing Students' Awareness and Attitudes Towards Nursing Research

Canan KARADA�, Leyla �ZDEM�R — 2015-09-01

Aim: This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the influence of literature review and evaluation education on nursing students' awareness and attitudes towards nursing research. Material-Methods: This quasi-experimental study was carried out with 30 first year students of a nursing school that provides nursing education at the level of bachelor of science. Data was collected by a data collection form and Turkish version of “Nursing students' attitudes towards and awareness of research and development within nursing scale” that included information related to descriptive characteristics of the students and the students' knowledge about research and scientific activities. Numbers, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Mann-Whitney U and McNemar tests were used for data analysis. Results: Students' awareness and attitudes towards nursing research was found similarly high before (4.19) and after (4.21) the education (p>0.05). 80% of the students were willing to do research before and after the education. However, 73.3% of the students has never attended to any scientific activities. While no student followed English articles, regular Turkish article follow-up ratio rised to 36.7% from 23% after the education (p>0.05). ‘Inability of accessing references' which is one of the reasons for unfollowing articles decreased significantly after the education (Before the education 36.7% , after the education 6.7%) (p<0.05). Conclusion: Awareness and attitudes of the students towards nursing research and their willingness for conducting research were similarly high before and after the literature review and evaluation education. As a result of the provided education in the context of the study, a reduction was determined in the problem of inability of accessing references.

Nursing Students' Perceptions of Caring Behaviors

Canan B�R�MO�LU, Sultan AYAZ — 2015-09-01

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine nursing students' perceptions of caring behaviors. Material-Methods: Universe of the descriptively-designed study consisted of nursing students of a university (N=620). No sample was selected, 342 students who accepted to participate in the study were included. Data was collected with questionnaire form and Caring Assessment Questionnaire. Frequencies, percentage distribution, mean, standard deviation, independent samples t test, and one-way variance analysis were used for data analysis. Results: The mean age of students was 20.33 � 1.5, 91.2% of the students were female, 94.4% of them were single and 59.1% of them chose nursing willingly. The students' mean score of Caring Assessment Questionnaire was 5.23�0.9. The students who chose the nursing profession willingly, who stated that caring is the primary duty of nurses and who experienced caring and being cared had higher Caring Assessment Questionnaire scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was determined that nursing students' perceptions of caring behaviors were good; choosing the profession willingly and having experiences such as caring and being cared influenced their perceptions towards caring behaviors. In the line of these results; providing students to choose the profession willingly, providing practices regarding continuity of positive caring behaviors of the students during nursing education are recommended.

Nursing Management and Interleukin-2 Use in Patients with Cancer

Sevgisun KAPUCU — 2015-09-01

Recently, biologic agents are used frequently in various clinical settings, besides being used initially in oncology units. In these developing area, among health care team nurses have major responsibilities in administration of biologic agents and management of patients receiving biologic agents. In this review we focused on responsibilities of nurses in use and management of IL-2 which is one of the biologic agents that are commonly used.

An Effective Method on Cognitive and Behavioral Problems of Alzheimer Patients: Reminiscence Therapy

G�ler Duru A��RET, Sevgisun KAPUCU — 2015-09-01

Alzheimer's disease causes deteriorations in both cognitive and physical functions and patients gradually require more care with these increasing deteriorations. Pharmacologic agents used in the treatment of Alzheimer's are usually effective on symptoms of the disease. Therefore, non-pharmacological therapies are gaining importance in management of the symptoms that are experienced by Alzheimer patients. Among those non-pharmacologic therapies, “Reminiscence Therapy” is one of the most common methods. In reminiscence therapy, which is an independent nursing intervention, older adults are encouraged to recall and discuss their positive past experiences, and share their positive emotions in individual or group sessions. Usually, reminiscence therapy is administered for consecutive 12 weeks with 30-45 minute duration sessions within groups consisting 2-5 people. Recent studies showed the effectiveness of reminiscence therapy in management of cognitive and behavioral problems of Alzheimer patients. This article aims to provide basic information on reminiscence therapy and increase the use of reminiscence therapy among nursing interventions in our country.

The Relationship Between Nurse Staffing and Patient, Nurse and Organizational Outcomes: Nurse Workforce Planning at Acute Care Hospitals

Emine T�RKMEN — 2015-09-01

The nursing workforce plays an important role in providing high-quality and safe patient care in hospitals. Studies have revealed that there is a relationship between nurse staffing, nurse work environment, and patient, nurse and organizational outcomes. Patient outcomes such as pressure ulcers and infections improve when there is an increase in nursing hours per patient and in the proportion of highly-educated and experienced nurses. There is an increase in job satisfaction and a decrease in nurse burnout and turnover in positive nursing practice environments. Additionally, as for organizational outcomes, there is a decrease in the lengthof- stay at hospital and re-admission to the hospital. In Turkey, few studies have examined the relationship between nursing staffing and patient, nurse and organizational outcomes. This article reviews nurse staffing measures, the impact of nurse staffing on patient, nurse and organizational outcomes at hospitals related to the literature, and discusses nurse staffing practices in our country.