Hacettepe University Faculty of Health Sciences Nursing Journal - 2017; 4(1)

De�erli Okurlar�m�za

Serg�l DUYGULU — 2017-01-01

Conference-Related Opinions of the Nursing Students Who Participated in the 13th National Nursing Students Conference

Sevilay H�NT�STAN, Se�il G�lhan G�NER, Bet�l BAYRAK — 2017-01-01

Aim: This study was conducted to identify the conference-related opinions of the nursing students who participated in the 13th National Nursing Students Conference. Material and Methods: The sample of this descriptive study was composed of 381 nursing students who participated in 13th National Nursing Students Conference held between May 1-3, 2014. The data were gathered with face to face interview technique by using a questionnaire designed by the researchers. Numbers and percentages were used for data analysis. Results: Mean age of the participant nursing students was 21.8�1.5. The students stated that the congress contributed to their professional growth (98.7%), increased their motivation and enthusiasm for nursing profession (92.4%), enabled them to understand problems of nursing profession better (91.6%), announcement of the congress was on time (89.5%) and students should be informed and supported about the participation in the future nursing students conferences by the managements of nursing schools (99.7%). Conclusion: 13th National Nursing Students Conference held for nursing students was found useful in terms of students� professional growth. It was also recommended that opinions of the students should be taken into consideration for future nursing students conferences.

Retrospective Investigation of Oral Agents Used for Management of Mucositis in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Receiving Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy

K�bra �ITLAK, Sevgisun KAPUCU — 2017-01-01

Aim: This study was conducted as a retrospective descriptive study with the aim of investigating the oral agents used for management of mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Material and Methods: The study was conducted in Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Oncology Education and Research Hospital Radiation Oncology Clinic. The sample of the study composed hospital records of 46 patients who were staying at the clinic to get radiotherapy and chemotherapy cures plannned for treatment after diagnosis between May 2012 and May 2015. Data was collected by using a file review form developed by the researcher, degrees of oral mucositis which had already been evaluated according to the WHO oral toxicity scale and was present in patient files were added into the review form. Non-parametric statistics including Mann-Whitney U Test and Kruskal Wallis Test for group comparisons and Spearman�s correlation analysis for relations among quantitative variables were used. Results: Of the patients with head and neck cancer, 39.1% were 61 years old and older, 84.8% were men, 45.7% had laryngeal cancer. During the treatment period while mucositis was not observed in 13% of the patients, Grade 2 oral mucositis was observed in 30.4% of the patients, Grade 3 in 26% of the patients and Grade 4 in 17.3% of the patients. In 4.4% of patients having grade 2 oral mucositis mixture of sucralfat-lidocain was used, in 6.6% of patients having grade 3 oral mucositis nystatin+chlorhexidin+L-Glutamin was used and in 10.9% of patients with grade 4 oral mucositis oral L-Glutamin was used. Conclusion: In the direction of results obtained in this study, it was recommended that randomized controlled studies on the effectiveness of the oral care agents used in the management of oral mucositis in the patients receiving head and neck radiotherapy should be conducted and effective use of the oral care agents, effectiveness of which are proven according to the guides, should be provided.

Patient Communication Following Laryngectomy: A Pilot Study Using Visual Communication Guide

Melek ERT�RK YAVUZ, Ayla G�RSOY — 2017-01-01

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of the visual communication guide. Materil and Methods: This research was carried out with the mixed method, integrating qualitative and quantitative research methods. Fourteen partial laryngectomy patients and 20 healthcare professionals took part in this study. Results: The patients stated that the visual communication guide helped them to express themselves. They also stated that the issues in the guide were handled appropriately, and they found the guide useful. However, half of the patients found the images inadequate. At the same time, healthcare professionals and patients found the images in the guide clear and easy to understand, and the colors and sizes of the images and fonts adequate. The healthcare professionals thought that the guide was convenient and saved time in communication but it did not contain enough images for patients to share their psychological issues. After analysis of the qualitative data, four main themes were determined. These were: the experience of being unable to speak, quick and easy communication, confidence, and positive and negative opinions. Conclusion: It was concluded that the visual communication guide can be effective and useful for the communication of patients who have undergone partial laryngectomy.

Nursing Students� Attitudes Towards the Elderly

Sultan AYAZ ALKAYA, Canan B�R�MO�LU OKUYAN — 2017-01-01

Aim: It is important for nursing students to have positive attitude towards elderly in order to improve quality of care in later years. This study was conducted to determine the attitudes of nursing students towards elderly. Material and Methods: The population of the study that had a descriptive design was composed of nursing students of a university. Sample consisted of 432 students. Data was collected by a questionnaire and attitude towards elder people scale. Number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t test and one-way variance analysis and Tukey test were used in the analysis of data. Results: The students� mean age was 20.4 � 1.6 while 84.3 % were female, 35.2 % were first grade students. Mean score of the students obtained from attitude towards elder people scale was 121.1 � 10.7. It was found that attitudes toward the elderly scale mean scores of the students who live with an old person in their houses, care for old family members, and interact with old people everyday were higher and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was determined that nursing student�s attitude towards elders was generally positive, however, positive attitude was at a low level. In order to increase and maintain positive attitude towards elders, giving more place to issues and practices regarding with geriatrics and geriatric patient care in the content of undergraduate education program, and encouraging the students to participate in activities that will raise awareness about elderly care, organizing programs about geriatric nursing during undergraduate and graduate nursing education program.

An Alternative Method for Labor Pain: Foot Reflexology

Z�mr�t YILAR ERKEK, T�rkan PAS�NL�O�LU — 2017-01-01

Nowadays reflexology that is used for many areas in notably United States of America and United Kingdom, Belgium and France has become very popular among midwifery and nursing professionals. It has been widely used for both protecting and improving health and palliating some disturbances. For instance; it has been frequently applied for palliating cancer pain and side effects of chemotherapy, improving quality of life, strengthening immune system, regulating blood circulation, relieving anxiety, insomnia, constipation, menopausal symptoms, dysmenorrhea, and postpartum period discomfort and improving lactation. Enkephalines and endorphins are released in response to pressure and dermal exposure revealed by reflexology. By this way, neural transmission of pain signal to the brain is inhibited, pain and anxiety levels decrease and discard of toxins increases as a result of improved lymphatic and blood circulation. Reflexology also increases oxytocin secretion, shortens the duration between contractions, regulates the contractions, facilitates relaxation between contractions, and shortens the period during labor. In this sense, use of foot reflexology should be generalized in obstetrics clinics as a cheap, effective and easily applied midwifery/nursing intervention. In this review, emphasizing the effectiveness of foot reflexology used for labor pain for many years and the importance of its application as one of the midwifery/nursing interventions is aimed.

Caring For Caregivers of Individuals With Dementia: From the Perspective of Watson�s Theory of Human Caring

Seher G�NEN �ENT�RK, �zlem K��KG��L�, Jean WATSON — 2017-01-01

The caregiving process affects caregivers at bio-psycho-socio-cultural dimensions. Therefore, nursing care that will be carried out for caregivers should be planned and implemented in a way that cares for the whole of individuals. Watson�s Theory of Human Caring that defines nursing care as a scientific, ethical, esthetic and professional process during which individuals have a physical, mental, spiritual and socio-cultural interaction is a holistic caring model that requires taking the person into cosideration not only physically but also socially, psychologically, culturally and spiritually. The purpose of this article is to provide a road map, create a new perspective about how to use Watson�s Theory of Human Caring as a guide for caring for caregivers of individuals with dementia.

Randomized Controlled Trials

Belgin AKIN , Deniz KO�O�LU — 2017-01-01

This review aims to explain the basic concepts and approaches related to randomized controlled trials, which is an important type of research with the development of viewpoint of evidence -based care. The success and quality of randomized controlled trials hinge upon observing the actual effect of the applied intervention on the emergence of the measured result. Establishing this cause-effect relation can be possible if randomized controlled trials are conducted within a protocol, use random assignment, avoid biase, ensure internal and external validity, use blind techniques and appropriate statistical evaluations. This review includes the mistakes made in these stages and the precaution to be taken.