Mean Total Scale Score Research Articles

The interpersonal care relationship between nurses and older patients: A cross‐sectional study in three hospitals

To gain insight into which elements of the interpersonal care relationship (IPCR) are perceived as occurring (less) frequently and as (not) disturbing from the perspective of hospitalized older patients. A cross-sectional study in three Belgian hospitals. A convenience sample of patients aged 75years or older admitted to a non-geriatric ward were recruited between May 2017 and April 2019. The Interpersonal Geriatric care relationship (InteGer) tool was used to identify elements of the IPCR and was completed by the researchers through structured patient interviews. The mean total scale score for frequency was 3.74 (SD 1.51) [range 0-12]. On subscale level, the highest mean score was in the accessibility and the lowest mean score in the humanization subscale. Statistically significant differences between the hypothesized and experienced disturbance were observed in 18 of the 30 items. Ten items score in the category 'no action needed' (not occurring, not disturbing), nine items in the category 'remain attentive for patient experiences' (occurring, not disturbing), 10 items in the category 'further analyses or monitoring needed' (not occurring, disturbing) and one item in the category 'urgent action needed' (occurring and disturbing). Participants report mostly positive experiences related to the four subscales of the InteGer, that is, humanization, attentiveness, interest and accessibility. Insights from this study provide important opportunities in the context of care optimization for each category with the main focus on items with high experienced disturbance. The InteGer can be used for monitoring IPCR and formulating action points at ward and hospital level to further improve the IPCR and quality of care.

An investigation of the diabetes health literacy level and compliance to the treatment in patients with diabetes in Turkey

Aim: This study aims to investigate the relationship between the diabetes health literacy level and compliance to the treatment in individuals with diabetes. 
 Material and Method: This descriptive study was conducted in the Internal Diseases-1 and Endocrinology clinics of a hospital between January 2019 and April 2020. The target population was the patients who were hospitalized in these clinics due to Type-II diabetes between the dates when data were collected. Sampling was performed using the sampling method with a known population, and the sample was composed of 237 patients. Data were collected through the Socio-demographic Form, the Diabetes Health Literacy Scale, and the Scale for Compliance to the Treatment in Type II Diabetes Mellitus. Data analysis included Kolmogorov Smirnov test, numbers, percentages, Cronbach’s Alpha, t-test, Kruskal Wallis, analysis of variance, chi-square test, and correlation test.
 Result: This study found the health literacy scale total mean score as above-average (38.41±8.59), and the compliance to the treatment mean score as moderate (83.14±12.35). A negative and significant relationship was found between compliance to the treatment and diabetes health literacy scale total score and the communicative health literacy and critical health literacy mean scores (p

Quality of life and satisfaction in surgical versus conservative treatment of nonsyndromic children with craniosynostosis.

Craniosynostosis represents the second most common reason for referral to pediatric neurosurgery. However, the quality of life and neurodevelopmental impact of leaving this physical disorder uncorrected is poorly understood. This multicenter cross-sectional study identified previously managed nonsyndromic infants (< 24 months of age) with single-suture craniosynostosis at both pediatric neurosurgical centers in Alberta, Canada. The primary variable of interest was the allocated treatment (surgical vs conservative). The primary outcome was the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), a validated measure of quality of life examining physical, emotional, social, and school functioning. Treatment decision satisfaction and the reasons for selected management were quantified and collected directly from caregivers. One hundred fourteen children met the inclusion criteria: 78% underwent surgery and 22% had conservative treatment. The most common suture affected was sagittal (54%), followed by metopic (33%), coronal (10%), and lambdoid (3%). Caregivers most commonly opted for surgery because of severe appearance (80%). Seventy-six percent and 72% of the caregivers of children with conservative management did so due to concerns of surgical risks and mild appearance, respectively. There was a statistically significant relationship between both the parents' (p < 0.001) and the surgeon's (p = 0.001) impression of a severe head shape and surgical management. Parental satisfaction with their child's appearance as well as satisfaction with their treatment decision did not differ between management types. Regarding quality of life, on univariate analysis, the conservative group had a statistically higher physical summary score (p = 0.01), psychosocial summary score (p = 0.004), and mean total scale score (p = 0.003) compared to the surgical group. However, after adjusting for severity and age at consult, no significant independent associations between management type and any of the PedsQL summary scores were found. Alberta families have a high number of children with craniosynostosis treated with conservative management. Conservatively managed infants were largely minimally affected patients, particularly those with metopic synostosis. The study found no independent association between management type (surgery vs conservative) and quality of life when adjusted for important patient factors.

Development of a tool to assess students’ perceptions of respectful maternity care

ObjectivesTo develop and test a tool to measure Bachelor of Nursing students’ perceptions towards respectful maternity care in Nepal, a lower-middle income country. DesignA cross-sectional design was used. Phases of tool development included item generation, expert review for content validity testing, and psychometric testing. The draft tool had 42 items on a 5-point Likert response scale of 1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree. Psychometric testing included dimensionality, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. A t-test assessed mean score differences between students who had witnessed or not witnessed disrespect and abuse. SettingsTwo medical colleges in Chitwan, Nepal ParticipantsUndergraduate Bachelor of Nursing students (n = 171) undertaking their midwifery clinical practicum were invited to complete the online survey. FindingsPrincipal component analysis generated three factors: Respectful Care, Safety and Comfort, and Supportive Care and explained 37.44% of the variance. The 18-item tool demonstrated good internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha of 0.81). The mean total scale score was 71.23 (SD 7.47, range 52-88 out of 90). Pearson's correlation coefficient confirmed test-retest reliability at one week (r = 0.91, p <0.001). The magnitude of difference in mean scores between those who had witnessed or not witnessed disrespectful and abusive care was very small (η2 = 0.04). Key conclusionThe new Student Perceptions of Respectful Maternity Care tool is the first valid and reliable measure of students’ perceptions of respectful maternity care. Validation of the newly developed tool in other low- and middle-income countries is recommended. Implications for practiceMeasuring students’ perceptions provides information to educators on how best to enhance students’ understanding and provision of respectful care to women.

Examining self-regulated learning of nursing students in clinical practice: A descriptive and cross-sectional study

BackgroundHow and how much learning occurs during the clinical practice process is connected with the concept of self-regulated learning. As a life-long learner, the nurse can explore learning strategies when he/she is a student, the first step in the nursing profession, by arranging and organizing his/her own learning. This contributes to the development of professional skills and competencies. ObjectivesThis study aims to examine self-regulated learning towards clinical practice and the influencing factors in nursing students. DesignDescriptive cross-sectional design. Settings and participantsThe research sample comprised 614 students in the nursing department in the 2019–2020 academic year. MethodsData concerning the students' demographic characteristics and self-regulated learning were collected using the “Individual Information Form” and the “Self-Regulated Learning Scale for Clinical Nursing Practices”. Personal characteristics were analyzed with numeric and percentage calculations, and some mean scores pertaining to the scale with ANOVA, Independent T and Logistic Regression Tests. ResultsThe mean total scale score of the students was 61.0 ± 10.7. The motivation and learning strategy scores of the first year students were reported to be significantly higher than the other students (p < 0.05). The mean scale score of females (61.7 ± 10.1) was significantly higher than that of males (58.5 ± 12.3) (p < 0.05). Moreover, it was found that fourth year students felt competent 3.8 times more than first year students (p < 0.05) (95% CI (OR) = 0.17–0.40). ConclusionsSelf-regulated learning was reported to be higher in females, first year students, those who had an interest in nursing, and those who see academicians as role models. Moreover, it was reported that fourth year students felt more competent than first year students. Considering that self-regulated learning will increase success in following constantly developing health technologies and changing scientific knowledge and adapting to the working environment, it is recommended to identify the factors affecting self-regulation and support students in this direction.

Determination of self-efficacy of patients diagnosed with epilepsy.

This study was conducted to determine the self-efficacy of patients diagnosed with epilepsy. This descriptive-correlational study was conducted between November-December 2020 with individuals diagnosed with epilepsy and living in the eastern province of Turkey. The sample of the study consisted of individuals diagnosed with epilepsy (101 persons) who were living in this province and agreed to participate in the study. According to the findings obtained from the study, the Epilepsy Self-efficacy Scale Total Mean Score of the individuals was found to be 226.38 ± 45.23. The scale does not have a cut-off point, and the total score that can be obtained from the scale varies between 0 and 310. An increase in the score obtained indicates high self-efficacy. It can be said that the self-efficacy levels of the sampled individuals are also high. It was found that there was a negative correlation between the first diagnosis age and the seizure management sub-dimension, and a positive statistically significant correlation between the age of the individuals and the age of the first seizure. The Epilepsy Self-efficacy Scale Total Mean Score of the individuals was found to be statistically high in those who received information regarding the disorder and used their drug/drugs regularly. It is suggested to conduct the study in larger groups. It is recommended to carry out studies to increase epilepsy self-efficacy.

The association between coronaphobia and attitude towards COVID-19 Vaccine: A sample in the east of Turkey

PurposeThis study was conducted to examine the association between coronaphobia and attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine in the society. MethodsThis cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with snowball sampling method between December 30, 2020 and January 10, 2021. The survey form was sent online to individuals who were 18 years of age and older. 1252 individuals who responded to the surveys were included in the study. The data were collected by using “Descriptive Information Form”, “Attitudes towards the Covid-19 vaccine scale” and “Coronavirus 19 Phobia Scale (CP19-S)”. Descriptive statistics and Pearson Correlation analysis were used in the evaluation of data. ResultsIn the study, it was found that the participants had a mean ATV-COVID-19 scale positive attitude sub-dimension score of 2.81±1.04, while they had a mean negative attitude sub-dimension score of 2.95±0.78 and a mean total score of 2.89±0.78. It was found that the participants had a mean C19P-S psychological sub-dimension score of 21.03±5.36, a mean psychosomatic sub-dimension score of 10.30±4.11, a mean social sub-dimension score of 15.04±4.71, a mean economic sub-dimension score of 8.89±3.46 and a mean total scale score of 55.28±15.00. It was found in the study that there was a positive association between the participants’ C19P-S and social sub-dimension and ATV-COVID-19 and positive attitude sub-dimension, while there was a negative association between ATV-COVID-19 and negative attitude sub-dimension (p<0.05). ConclusionsIt was found that the participants had a moderate level of coronavirus phobia and positive attitudes towards the vaccine. It was found that positive attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine increased as the coronavirus phobia increased.

The Comparison of Role Conflict Among Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses Working in Acute Care Hospitals in Ontario Canada.

ObjectivesThe study aimed to describe and compare nurses’ perceptions of role conflict by professional designation [registered nurse (RN) vs registered practical nurse (RPN)] in three primary areas of practice (emergency department, medical unit, and surgical unit).MethodsThis analysis used data (n = 1,981) from a large cross-sectional survey of a random sample of RNs and RPNs working as staff nurses in acute care hospitals in Ontario, Canada. Role conflict was measured by the Role Conflict Scale.ResultsA total of 1,981 participants (RN = 1,427, RPN = 554) met this study’s eligibility criteria and provided complete data. In general, RN and RPN mean total scale scores on role conflict hovered around the scale’s mid-point (2.72 to 3.22); however, RNs reported a higher mean score than RPNs in the emergency department (3.22 vs. 2.81), medical unit (2.95 vs 2.81) and surgical unit (2.90 vs 2.72). Where statistically significant differences were found, the effect sizes were negligible to medium in magnitude with the largest differences noted between RNs and RPNs working in the emergency department.ConclusionsThe results suggest the need to implement strategies that diminish role conflict for both RNs and RPNs.

Examining the correlation between intercultural sensitivity and individualized care perception of nursing students

BackgroundIntercultural sensitivity is accepting the existence of cultural differences and similarities between individuals without attributing a value to them. In order to provide individualized nursing care, it is required to train nurses who can respond to cultural needs of society, have cultural knowledge and skills regarding society and show a high intercultural sensitivity. PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the correlation between intercultural sensitivity and individualized care perception of nursing students, who will become a member of professional health discipline. MethodThe population of this study consisted of nursing students receiving education in a state university in Ağrı. The sample of the study consisted of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year students who agreed to participate in the study and were not absent during the data collection process. In the study, the “Student Information Form”, “Intercultural Sensitivity Scale” and “Individualized Care Scale” were used. The study was completed with 90 individuals. Statistical analyses were performed in the SPSS program using arithmetic mean, standard deviation, and correlation analysis. ResultsNursing students' Intercultural Sensitivity Scale total mean score was 89.10 ± 10.42 and their Individualized Care Scale mean score was 3.97 ± 0.59. It was determined that there was a weak, positive and statistically significant correlation between total mean score of Intercultural Sensitivity Scale and total mean score of Individualized Care Perception Scale among the nursing students (r = 0.274, p = 0.009). ConclusionIt was determined that the correlation between nursing students' intercultural sensitivity and individualized care perception was weak, positive and statistically significant. It was found that as nursing students' intercultural sensitivity level increased, their individualized care perception also increased.

The Relationship Between Nursing Students' Academic Procrastination Behaviors and Stress Levels the Pandemic Process

Bu araştırmanın amacı; pandemi sürecinde hemşirelik öğrencilerinin akademik erteleme davranışları ile stres düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesidir. Tanımlayıcı ve ilişki arayıcı nitelikte olan araştırma 15–22 Kasım 2020 tarihleri arasında bir kamu üniversitesinin sağlık bilimleri fakültesi hemşirelik bölümündeki 218 öğrenci ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Verilerin toplanmasında “Kişisel Bilgi Formu”, “Akademik Erteleme Ölçeği” ve “Algılanan Stres Ölçeği” kullanılmıştır. Veriler; tanımlayıcı istatistikler, student t Testi, One-Way Anova testi ve Pearson korelasyon katsayısı ile analiz edilmiştir. Öğrencilerin Akademik Erteleme Ölçeği puan ortalaması 53.66 ± 7.22, Algılanan Stres Ölçeği Yetersiz Özyeterlik Algısı alt boyut puan ortalaması 12.19 ± 3.06, Stres/Rahatsızlık Algısı alt boyut puan ortalaması 15.83 ± 3.83 ve ölçek toplam puan ortalaması 28.03 ± 5.59 puandır. Öğrencilerin Akademik Erteleme Ölçeği puan ortalaması ile Algılanan Stres Ölçeği Yetersiz Özyeterlik Algısı alt boyutu (r=0.193, p=0.004) ve ölçek toplam puanı (r=0.151, p=0.026) arasında pozitif yönde çok zayıf bir ilişki saptanmıştır. Öğrencilerin cinsiyeti ile akademik erteleme davranışları (p=0.035), Yetersiz Özyeterlik Algısı (p=0.008), Stres/Rahatszılık Algısı (p=0.003) ve algılamış oldukları stres durumları (p=0.004) arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark saptanmıştır. Sonuç olarak, hemşirelik öğrencilerinin orta düzeyde akademik erteleme tutumuna, yetersiz özyeterlik algısına ve ortalamanın biraz üzerinde stres/rahatsızlık algısına sahip oldukları belirlenmiştir. Öğrencilerin akademik erteleme davranışları arttıkça algıladıkları stres düzeyi de artmaktadır.

SHOULD ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INTEGRATE WITH DENTAL EDUCATION? AN ASSESSMENT THROUGH THE DENTOMAXILLOFACIAL RADIOLOGY PERSPECTIVE

Introduction: The requirement to adapt dentistry education to the growing knowledge and big data is evident. Future dentists will participate in AI studies as both researchers and users. The main aim was to evaluate the attitudes of undergraduate dental students on artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Secondarily, it was aimed to discuss possible solutions for the integration of AI into education in particular to dentomaxillofacial radiology. Material and Method: A written survey included 16 questions with a 5-point Likert-scale was designed. The content of the survey included basic knowledge about AI terminology, applications on dentomaxillofacial radiology, and future estimations. One hundred seventy-six students attending the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades were included. The attitudes of the students were assessed with the total score. The responses were scored as: Strongly disagree: 1, Disagree: 2, Neutral: 3, Agree: 4, Strongly agree: 5. The minimum and maximum possible points were 16 and 80, and 48 was the middle score. The scores were classified as 16-31 (group 1), 32-47 (group 2), 48-63 (group 3), and 64-80 (group 4). Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was used to test the internal consistency of the questions. One-way analysis of variance and Chi-square test were used to compare normally distributed data. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the that did not show normal distribution. Statistical significance was evaluated with a 5% Type-I error level. Results: The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was 0.849. The response rate of the participants was 83.41% (n=176). The mean total scale score was 57.68 ± 0.651. Group 3 had the largest cluster (67.61%; n=119), whereas the group 1 had the smallest (0.56%; n=1). The total scale score showed no statistically significant difference between the academic years. Conclusion: The attitudes of undergraduate dental students on AI were positive and students are aware of the potential of applications in the field. The conventional dentomaxillofacial radiology curriculum requires an update.

An investigation of the relationship between religious coping and life satisfaction in oncology patients aged 65 and over.

Religious coping refers to the use of religion or spirituality to cope with stressful situations. Religious coping is a concept which involves both positive and negative cases. Studies on oncology patients, who encounter various physical and psychological difficulties, report that religious coping beliefs and practices are of great importance in helping patients to face the disease, adapt to this crisis period and accept their disease, and maintain their hope. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship between religious coping and life satisfaction in oncology patients aged 65 and over. This descriptive study was conducted at a university hospital in a city located in eastern Turkey between March and July 2020 with the voluntary participation of 125 patients with cancer. Data collection was performed via the Demographic Characteristics Form, Life Satisfaction Scale, and Religious Coping Scale. Mean score of the Life Satisfaction Scale was significantly higher among the participants with a monthly income of 2000 tl and over, who lived with their spouse and children, who adapted to the diseases, and who perceived their health status as 'good'. The mean score of the Religious Coping Scale was significantly higher in the participants with metastasis. There was a negative, statistically significant relationship between the Life Satisfaction Scale total mean score and the Negative Religious Coping sub-scale mean score (P < 0.05). This study found that negative religious coping negatively affected life satisfaction. Further, patients with cancer should be provided with psychosocial support programs that enable them to express the cases causing them to think what they experience is a divine punishment, encourage them in this way, and help them feel relieved.

Health Beliefs Regarding Medicine Use of Mothers Whose Children Are Hospitalized in a University Hospital and Knowledge and Practices of Mothers Towards Rational Use of Medicines in Their Children

Aim: This study was carried out to determine the health beliefs of mothers with children hospitalized at a university hospital regarding medicine use and their knowledge and practices towards rational use of medicines in the children. Methods: This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The study was conducted between 15 July and 15 October 2018 at the Karabük University Research and Training Hospital with 260 mothers. A Participant Information Form and the Drug Use Health Beliefs Scale were used as the data collection tools. Results: It was determined that only 10.8% (n=28) of the mothers had knowledge about rational use of medicines. The mothers’ Drug Use Health Beliefs Scale total mean score was 150.91 ± 15.13. 93.5% (n=243) of the mothers used antipyretics, whereas only 17.7% (n=43) of them used antipyretics recommended by a doctor. The mothers who read the package inserts of medicine had a significantly higher mean scale score than those who did not. Conclusion: The mothers had insufficient knowledge on rational use of medicines, but their health beliefs related to prescription medicine use were high. However, the mothers used antipyretic, analgesic, antibiotic and cough medicines in their children without consulting a doctor, whereas the majority of them used particularly antipyretics without a doctor’s recommendation. Keywords: rational use of medicines, Drug Use Health Beliefs Scale, children, mothers

ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE OF SEVERE ACUTE MALNOURISHED (SAM) CHILDREN IN MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRAAGED 2 – 4 YEARS

Background: Malnutrition is a serious health problem affecting children globally. Nutritional status of an individual is a factor determining his / her quality of life. Quality of Life (QOL) means a sense of well-being, satisfaction and happiness experienced by an individual. The aim of the study was to assess the Quality Of Life (QOL) of SAM children aged 2 – 4 years. Methodology: It was a cross sectional study for which children were selected from the Nutrition Rehabilitation, Research and Training Centre (NRRTC) located at Sion, Mumbai based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A structured interview was conducted to administer the case report form for data collection and consisted of anthropometry and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory tool. The ethical approval for the study was received from Inter System Biomedica Ethics Committee (ISBEC), Mumbai, India. Statistical Analysis: The data was analyzed using SPSS software version 25 for Windows. Results: The mean age of children was 38.56 ± 7.99 months. The mean total scale score for children with SAM aged 2 – 4 years was found to be 74.47 ± 22.57 and was significantly correlated with height, weight and MUAC. Amongst the subscales, social functioning had the highest scores and emotional functioning had the lowest scores. Conclusion: SAM children have low scores on the quality of life scale. The quality of life total scale scores have a statistically significant correlation with anthropometry.

Determination of Breast Cancer Fatalism in Women and the Investigation of the Relationship Between Women's Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Test Health Beliefs with Religious Orientation and Fatalism.

This study aims to determine breast cancer fatalism in women and investigate the relationship between women's cervical cancer and pap smear test health beliefs with religious orientation and fatalism. The study, which was conducted as a descriptive and relational screening one, was conducted in the eastern part of Turkey between July and August 2019. The study was conducted with 357 women who were not diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer, and who were not pregnant. A positive, significant relationship was found between the Religious Orientation Scale total mean score and Health Motivation and Pap smear Benefit Perception sub-scale mean score. A positive, significant relationship was found between the Fatalism Tendency Scale total mean score and Sensitivity, Importance Perception, Pap smear Benefit Perception and Pap smear Barrier Perception sub-scale mean scores (p < .05). The participating women were found to have a low level of breast cancer fatalism. Religious Orientation and Fatalism Tendency were found to have affected the Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Test Health Beliefs. Similar studies are recommended to be conducted in larger groups and different regions.

Identification of the Knowledge Level of Students Receiving Health Education About the Human Papilloma Virus, Screening Tests, and Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination.

This study aims to identify the knowledge level of students receiving health education about the human papilloma virus, screening tests, and human papilloma virus vaccination. The present study was designed as a descriptive study. It was conducted in the Nursing department and First and Emergency Aid programs in a city in the Eastern part of Turkey between November and December 2019. The sample of the study included 312 students who volunteered to participate in the study. The data collection tools used were the Socio-demographic Form and the Human Papilloma Virus Knowledge Scale. The students' Human Papilloma Virus Knowledge Scale total mean score was 5.86 ± 6.40. The HPV knowledge Scale total score, the General HPV Knowledge sub-scale, and the General HPV Vaccination Knowledge subs-scale mean scores were found to be significantly higher in women, in those who were enrolled in 3rd year, and in those who were knowledgeable about sexually transmitted diseases and cervical cancer. The HPV screening Test Knowledge sub-scale mean score was found to be significantly higher in those who were enrolled in 3rd year and who were knowledgeable about cervical cancer (p < 0.05). The results showed that students' knowledge levels about HPV were not sufficient, and variables such as gender, class level, and knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases and cervical cancer were found to affect the knowledge level about HPV, screening tests, and vaccination. It is recommended that similar studies should be conducted in larger groups, and initiations to increase the knowledge levels of students should be planned.

Comparison of two different tools of consciousness assessment in the intensive care unit

Aim: To compare two different consciousness assessment tools used in intensive care units. Materials and Methods: The prospective observational study was conducted with a total of 29 patients who were followed up in intensive care units. GCS and FOUR scores and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores of the patients who were monitored by the same observer for 10 days in the intensive care units were measured and recorded. Mean±standard deviation was used for the values regarding total scale score means. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used for comparing total score means. Results: GCS and FOUR scores and the mean total mRS scored of the patients on the first day were 6.95±2.25 (range, 3-11), 8.65±2.45 (range, 4-13), and 4.93±0.25 (range, 4-5) respectively. The mean total scale scores on the 10th day were 6.62±3.27 (range, 3-12), 8.13±3.44 (range, 4-13), and 4.89±0.30 (range, 4-5). A statistically significant high-degree relationship was found between the mean total scores of the patients' GCS and FOUR scores (p&amp;lt;0.001). Conclusion: FOUR can be confidently used instead of GCS for the assessment of consciousness. Comparisons of GCS and FOUR score should be conducted with different patient groups and larger samples. Differences between observers should also be evaluated when comparing the scoring systems.

Breastfeeding and Sexual Activity and Sexual Quality in Postpartum Women

Background: Breastfeeding is the ideal source of nutrition for infants. Breastfeeding can affect sexual activity and sexual quality of women in the postpartum period. Objective: The present study was carried out to determine the effect of breastfeeding on sexual activity and sexual quality in postpartum women. Materials and Methods: The sample of the study consisted of 161 breastfeeding and 176 nonbreastfeeding women who were cared for in the Family Health Centers utilizing the Descriptive Information Form and Sexual Quality of Life-Female (SQOL-F) questionnaire. Results: Half of the breastfeeding and nonbreastfeeding women included in the study had cesarean delivery and the women in both groups reported changes in their sexual life (having less sexual intercourse, and suffering from dyspareunia) during the postpartum period. In the present study, 68.3% of the breastfeeding women and 47.7% of the nonbreastfeeding women experienced dyspareunia, and the difference between them was statistically significant (p < 0.05). There was also a statistical difference between the breastfeeding women and nonbreastfeeding women in terms of the types of changes experienced in sexual life (p < 0.05). The rate of the women who enjoyed sexual satisfaction more was higher in the nonbreastfeeding women (15.9%) than in the breastfeeding women (1.2%). The SQOL-F scale total mean score was 60.07 ± 9.88 in the breastfeeding women and 62.81 ± 9.66 in the nonbreastfeeding women, but the difference between the groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: In the present study, the sexual life quality mean scores between the breastfeeding and nonbreastfeeding women were moderate and similar to each other. The fact was that the reported sexual life quality was similar in the breastfeeding and nonbreastfeeding women despite the association of a lower sexual desire and frequency of intercourse in the breastfeeding group, suggesting that breastfeeding may serve as a sexual alternative for nursing mothers.

The effect of pain, stress, and cortisol during labor on breastfeeding success.

The aim of the study is to identify and compare the effect of pain, stress, and cortisol level during labor on breastfeeding success. The study was conducted with 51 pregnant women in the delivery room of Nenehatun Maternity Hospital between 15 August and 30 December 2016. The data were collected using the personal information form, visual analog scale (VAS), verbal category scale (VCS), perceived stress scale (PSS) and Breastfeeding Diagnostic and Assessment Scale (LATCH). It was determined that the total mean score of the mothers for the LATCH breastfeeding success scale was 6.56±1.64, the perceived stress scale total mean score was 48.13±4.09 in their active phase, and the perceived stress scale total mean score was 41.41±5.78 in their postpartum period. A negative moderate significant correlation was observed between the LATCH breastfeeding success scale mean scores and the cortisol levels in the active phase and postpartum period. It was found that the LATCH had a significant correlation with the perceived stress and cortisol in the postpartum period. It was determined that the mothers had more stress in the active phase and this stress affected negatively the lactation and sucking behavior of the infant.

Reliability and validity of the Thai version of the Pediatric Quality of Life inventory\u2122 3.0 Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy module in Thai children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

BackgroundDuchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is the most common genetic neuromuscular disorder in children. This chronic illness may impact the physical, family, social and school life of affected children and their families. These impacts can be assessed using a disease-specific measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) 3.0 DMD Module is designed to assess quality of life in children with DMD. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Thai version of the PedsQL™ 3.0 DMD Module in Thai children aged 5–18 years.Method and materialsThe Thai translation of the PedsQL™ 3.0 Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Module was performed in accordance with established guidelines using forward-back translation and was approved by the creator of the instrument. The Thai version of the scale was administered to children with DMD and their parents at the neuromuscular clinic at Siriraj Hospital and during the annual DMD Day meeting. Psychometric properties were established, and a re-test was performed within 2–4 weeks.ResultsFifty-six children were enrolled. An acceptable level of internal reliability was achieved, as measured by α > 0.7 (total score: child report α = 0.88, parent report α = 0.92). Test-retest reliability showed good agreement, with the following intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for the total score (calculated using all subscales from the child reports and parent reports): child report ICCs = 0.74 and parent report ICCs = 0.88. The mean total scale score was 66.03 for ambulatory children and 55.87 (P = 0.08) for non-ambulatory children according to child self-reports and 70.01 (ambulatory) and 54.29 (non-ambulatory) (P ≤ 0.01) according to parent proxy reports. The child self-reports were in acceptable agreement with the parent proxy reports for most subscales (ICC range 0.49–0.81).ConclusionsThe PedsQL™ 3.0 DMD Module Thai version is a reliable and valid measure of disease-specific health-related quality of life in Thai children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.