University Hospital In Turkey Research Articles

Evaluation of the Incidence and Stage of Oral Mucositis in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Retrospective Study.

This study aims to retrospectively evaluate the incidence and stage of oral mucositis in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. A total of 102 patient records of patients hospitalized between 2014 and 2019 in the adult hematopoietic stem cell transplantation clinic of a tertiary university hospital in Turkey were evaluated. Data were collected through a retrospective evaluation of patient records. Records made according to the WHO Oral Toxicity Scale included in the patient records during hospitalization in the adult hematopoietic stem cell transplantation clinic were evaluated. Oral mucositis data from recordings were analyzed at baseline, and on days 5, 10, 15, and 30). 96.1% (n=98) of 102 patients developed oral mucositis; only 10.7% had Grade 3, and 2.7% had Grade 4. Oral mucositis development time was 8.28 ± 0.32 days, and recovery time was 14.25 ± 0.78 days. It was determined that smoking, diagnosis, transplantation type, and preparatory regimen affected the oral mucositis healing process. While the incidence of oral mucositis in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in our study was similar to be similar with the reported findings in the literature, the proportions of Grade 3 and 4 oral mucositis were lower in our study.

Relationship Between Social Isolation, Loneliness and Psychological Well-Being in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: The Mediating Role of Disease Activity Social Isolation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

To evaluate the relationship between social isolation, loneliness and psychological well-being in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Additionally, we examined the mediating effect of disease activity on the relationships between social isolation, loneliness and psychological well-being. Cross-sectional descriptive study. A total of 218 participants were recruited from outpatient clinic at a university hospital in Turkey and from the community membership of the patient support group. Participants provided their socio-demographic and disease-related information and completed (online and paper based) the Turkish Lubben Social Network Scale-6, the Turkish UCLA Loneliness Scale Short Form and the Turkish Psychological Well-being Scale. The data were analysed using univariate linear regression analysis. This study adhered to the STROBE checklist for reporting. The majority of the participants (72%) were socially isolated, and over half (54.1%) reported moderate to high levels of loneliness. Participants also had low psychological well-being. Linear regression analysis revealed that high loneliness level and social isolation were negative predictors of psychological well-being. The results revealed that the effect of social isolation and loneliness on psychological well-being was mediated by disease activity. In line with the findings, it can be recommended to enhance social support and networks, along with regular psychological evaluation, should be integrated into the holistic care approach for IBD patients. The findings of this study hold significant implications for the management and support of patients with IBD, particularly within clinical settings in Turkey. Patients were invited to complete questionnaires. The investigators explained the study's content and purpose, and addressed any concerns during the data collection process.

The Relationship Between Discomfort Intolerance And the Fear Of Self-Injection And Testing In Patients With Diabetes Using Insulin: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Diabetes is a global problem. Diabetes nurses, in particular, take great responsibility in reducing and controlling the fears of individuals using insulin and increasing their capacity to tolerate discomfort. This study was conducted to examine the effects of the capacity to tolerate discomfort on the fear of self-injection and the status of testing blood glucose levels in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes using insulin. This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2022 and February 2023 with 320 adult patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes using insulin who were followed up in the Endocrinology and Internal Medicine Clinics of a university hospital in Turkey. The data analysis process included analyses of the frequency, independent-samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, the Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Pearson's correlation analysis. Data were analysed using the IBM SPSS v27.0 software, considering alpha as 0.05. The mean total Discomfort Intolerance Scale score of the patients was 22.78 ± 6.74, and the mean Fear of Self-Injecting and self-testing was 21.1 ± 6.7. A negative significant correlation was found between the discomfort intolerance levels of the patients and their levels of fear of self-injection and self-testing (p < 0.05). Individuals with a higher capacity to tolerate discomfort have lower levels of fear of self-testing and self-injection. Therefore, the fear of self-testing and self-injection in patients using insulin injections may affect diabetes self-management. Individuals with low tolerance for discomfort should be identified, interventions to increase tolerance in individuals at risk should be planned, and diabetes self-management should be better supported. The reporting of the results of the study adhered to the STROBE guidelines.

Workplace violence and nurses' psychological well-being: The mediating role of burnout and the moderating role of psychological resilience

Workplace violence can harm healthcare professionals. It can cause bodily harm, psychological distress, and even death. Moreover, it creates an unpleasant workplace that lowers morale and productivity. To provide quality patient care without fear of danger or intimidation, healthcare organizations must keep their personnel safe from violence. This article examines workplace violence and nurses' psychological relationship with nurses' burnout as the mediator. Psychological resilience's moderating role between workplace violence and nurses' psychological well-being is also examined. The data of this study includes 945 nurses from 15 university hospitals in Turkey. The proposed model was tested by using hierarchical multiple regression analysis. This study showed that workplace violence and burnout negatively affect nurses' mental health. Psychological resilience also weakens the relationship between workplace violence and nurses' psychological well-being. The study suggests that healthcare administrators may build a secure and supportive workplace by enacting workplace violence prevention and response policies. They can also be trained in recognizing and responding to warning signals of violence. Nurses should feel safe reporting violence concerns. Moreover, nurses with high workplace violence and low psychological well-being must emphasize psychological resilience's buffering effect.

Study to determine medical imaging devices costs of maintenance and repair: case of a university hospital in turkey

Abstract Objectives: Unperformed maintenance and repairs cause medical devices to become idle or unusable before their useful life. In this study, it was aimed to determine a standard for maintenance and spare parts expenditures of medical imaging devices. Methods: In the study conducted on nearly 30 medical imaging devices of a university hospital, firstly, the economic life of the devices was determined depending on the intensity of use. It was determined that the expenditures changed in the first five years, the second five years and after the economic life. Expenditures were categorized according to the period and technological level. Results: According to the results obtained, the annual expenditure of medium technology devices varies between 2% and 7% of the current price. For high-tech devices, expenditures vary between 4% and 13%. In the study, the required expenditure rates for the devices according to the technology level were also predicted. Conclusions: It has been determined that the maintenance and repair practices of imaging devices in health institutions in Turkey are inadequate. Managers should closely monitor the inventory of medical imaging devices for effective use, quality service delivery and employee health.

Effect of different patient positions on endotracheal tube cuff pressure in patients undergoing urological procedures: a prospective study.

The endotracheal tube (ETT) contains a cuff that is placed in the trachea to prevent gas leakage and aspiration of secretions and gastric contents. However, patient positioning after intubation may cause ETT displacement and changes in cuff pressure. Evaluate the effect of different patient positions on ETT cuff pressure in patients undergoing urological procedures in supine, prone, lateral flank, and lithotomy positions. Prospective and observational study. A university hospital in Turkey. Patients who underwent surgeries under general anesthesia in different patient positions were involved. After intubation (T0), the cuff pressure was checked with a manometer and adjusted to 25 cmH2O and continuously monitored. The cuff pressure was checked before (T1) and after achieving the final position (T2) and then at 5, (T3), 10, (T4), 15 minutes (T5) of the position, at the end of the procedure (T6) and before extubation (T7). At postoperative 2nd and 12th hours, the patients were interviewed for sore throat, hoarseness, and cough. The effect of different patient positions on the ETT cuff pressure. 200 patients. The cuff pressure increased significantly at T2 in the lithotomy, lateral flank, and prone groups (P<.001 each). The highest increase in cuff pressure occurred in the prone group (34.3 [7.5] cmH2O). Over time, the cuff pressure decreased in all groups during surgery. Postoperative complications at the 2nd postoperative hour were similar in all groups; however, the mean cuff pressure was significantly higher in the patients with postoperative sore throat or cough (sore throat: P=.003; cough: P=.047). ETT cuff pressures are affected by different patient positioning; therefore, regular recording and adjustment of cuff pressure are necessary for patient safety. We used ETT of a single manufacturer. Therefore, our findings may not be applicable to other types of ETT.

The effect of practice environments and psychological empowerment perceptions of nurses on their care behaviours: A cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of professional and individual characteristics, practice environments and psychological empowerment perceptions of nurses on their care behaviours. The study used a cross-sectional research design following the STROBE guidelines. The sample of this descriptive and correlational study consisted of 584 nurses working in a university hospital in Turkey. The data were collected between January and June 2023 using the Nursing Information Form, the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI), the Psychological Empowerment Scale (PES), and the Caring Behaviours Scale-30, and analysed using descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlation and multiple linear regression. It was determined that PES-NWI, PES andCaring Behaviours Scale(CBI-30) scores of nurses were higher than the average. The study revealed that certain professional and individual characteristics of nurses, practice environments and psychological empowerment perceptions had an effect on their care behaviours. The results of the study showed that nurses' PES-NWI, PES and CBI-30 scores were higher than the average, and that certain professional and individual characteristics of nurses, practice environments and psychological empowerment perceptions had an effect on care behaviours. Nursing service managers, in particular, are required to understand the importance of this relationship and create appropriate working conditions which are integrated with psychological empowerment to improve caring behaviours of nurses.

A RETROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF 'CODE WHITE' REPORTING IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL ON THE EXTENT OF VIOLENCE IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS

The objective of this study was to examine and contrast the incidence of violence reported by White Code in a university hospital in Turkey and to analyse the phenomenon of workplace violence in terms of related variables. The study included 477 cases of violence against health workers reported between 2018 and 2023. The data were collected using a complete census method. Descriptive statistics and a chi-square test were employed for the statistical evaluation. Results: The majority of those subjected to violence were doctors (69.6%). The emergency services were the setting in which violence was encountered most frequently (51.6%). It was observed that physicians were exposed to verbal violence more than other occupational groups. There was a difference between years according to the type of violence, and violence was mostly caused by miscommunication. Consequently, it would be beneficial to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to the evaluation of the consequences of violence on healthcare professionals.

Waning Humoral Immune Response Following the Third and Fourth SARS-COV-2 Vaccine: A Cohort Study in Healthcare Workers.

This study is aimed at providing information about the timing of booster doses and antibody kinetics in healthcare workers. This research extends a prospective cohort study conducted at Dokuz Eylul University Hospital in Turkey, covering the period from March 2021 to December 2021. During this timeframe, the antibody levels of the health workers were measured at four different time points. The associations of antibody levels with gender, age, occupation, body mass index (BMI), chronic disease, and smoking were analyzed. There was a significant difference between antibody levels in all four blood draws (p < 0.001). Antibody levels decreased in both those vaccinated with BNT162b2 (p < 0.001) and those vaccinated with CoronaVac (p = 0.002) until the fourth blood draw. There was a significant difference between those vaccinated with one and two doses of booster BNT162b2 before the third blood draw (p < 0.001), which continued at the fourth blood draw (p < 0.001). The antibody levels of those with an interval of 41-50 days between two vaccinations decreased significantly at the fourth blood draw (p < 0.001). This study provides insight into the dynamics and persistence of antibody response after additional COVID-19 vaccine doses among healthcare workers. The longer the interval between booster doses may result in greater antibody levels being maintained over time, allowing for longer durations of protection.

The effect of nurses' attitudes towards evidence-based nursing on the level of compliance with isolation measures in nurses caring for liver transplant patients.

Liver transplant recipients are at a high risk of infection during the first month. Therefore, it is crucial to implement isolation measures correctly to prevent the spread of nosocomial infections. Evidence-based practices and proper implementation of isolation measures can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality. The study aimed to investigate the impact of nurses' attitudes towards evidence-based nursing on their compliance with isolation measures. This is a descriptive study conducted between October 2023 and January 2024, with the participation of 137 nurses working in the organ transplant clinics of a university hospital in Turkey. Data was collected using a participant introduction form, the attitudes towards evidence-based nursing scale, and the compliance with isolation measures scale. The mean total score for the scale of attitudes towards evidence-based nursing among nurses was 55.95 ± 10.43 (15-75). Similarly, the mean total score for the scale of compliance with isolation measures was 71.44 ± 13.53 (18-90). Both scores were above the middle level. The study found a moderately significant positive correlation between attitudes towards evidence-based nursing and compliance with isolation measures (r: 0.670, p: 0.000). The regression model showed that the attitude towards evidence-based nursing explained 44.9% of the positivity towards isolation measures (R2 = 0.449). The study found a positive correlation between nurses' positive attitudes towards evidence-based nursing and their compliance with isolation precautions when caring for liver transplant patients. This highlights the significance of evidence-based nursing in patient care and the importance of adhering to isolation measures to prevent nosocomial infections.

Effect of web-based education intervention on blood glucose control, self-care and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

This study aimed to assess the effects of web-based education on blood glucose control, self-care and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes. A single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) checklist at a university hospital in Turkey. The study included 89 patients with type 2 diabetes who were randomly divided into an intervention group (44) and a control group (45). Participants in the intervention group participated in a 3-month web-based education programme. The findings indicated that there were no significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics and illness features between the intervention and control groups, and both were homogeneous. A statistically significant decrease of 0.71 was observed in the HbA1c (%) level of the intervention group following web-based education. Following web-based education, there was a significant difference in body mass index (kg/m2) and waist circumferences (cm) between the intervention and control groups. The intervention group displayed significantly improved self-care and quality of life over the 3-month period (p < 0.05). This study suggests that web-based education can enhance the self-care and quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Effect of Sexual Dysfunction on Quality of Life in Men with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction. Sexual dysfunction is a significant complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). Men with DM may develop erectile dysfunction and a lack of sexual desire due to the nature of the disease and its complications. This study aimed to assess the effect of sexual dysfunction on the quality of life (QoL) in men with type 2 DM. Methods. This study utilized a single-center, descriptive design and was carried out between November 15, 2021, and August 24, 2022. It included 378 male patients with type 2 DM treated at the internal medicine outpatient clinic at a university hospital in Turkey. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form developed by the researchers, the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX), and the Diabetes-Specific Quality of Life Scale (DSQOL). Descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis were used to assess the data. Results. Among male patients with type 2 DM participating in the study, the mean ASEX score was 14.47 ± 3.37 and the DSQOL score was 2.92 ± 0.31. The relationship between the mean ASEX and DSQOL scores and various factors such as age, education status, employment status, regular health check-ups, duration of diagnosis, type of treatment, fasting blood glucose level, HbA1c level, and body mass index was found to be statistically significant (p &lt; 0.05). A negative correlation was identified between the mean ASEX and DSQOL scores (p &lt; 0.001). Additionally, multiple regression analysis revealed that QoL, duration of diagnosis, marital status, and education status were significant factors influencing the sexual dysfunction levels of the participants (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions. This study found that as individuals’ levels of sexual dysfunction increased, their QoL decreased. Therefore, it is recommended to assess sexual dysfunction thoroughly and implement training programs aimed at improving sexual health to enhance individuals’ QoL.

Environmental sustainability, medical waste management, energy and medicine consumption of the surgical intensive care nurses: A qualitative study.

In intensive care units, it is noticeable that there is intensive use of resources in the treatment and care process, leading to a significant amount of waste generation. In addition, the demand for intensive care, increasing life expectancy and surgical interventions, complex comorbidities and ecological crisis make it necessary to make critical care more sustainable. To explore the perspectives of nurses working in surgical intensive care units regarding responsible medical waste management, energy and medication consumption. This qualitative descriptive study was conducted in surgical intensive care units of a university hospital in Turkey in November 2023. Twenty-three nurses filled in an introductory form and participated in a semi-structured interview. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis. Three main themes were determined: environmentally sustainable intensive care, prevention of waste in intensive care; responsible consumption and recycling; suggestions for institutional and individual behavioural change regarding environmental sustainability. The majority of nurses lack knowledge about sustainable development goals. However, in the intensive care unit, they provided effective and creative solutions for medical waste management, energy and medication consumption and individual and institutional behavioural change regarding environmental sustainability. Sustainability strategies should be created in institutions to ensure responsible medical waste management, energy and medicine consumption and reduce carbon footprint. In accordance with this purpose, 'Green teams' including unit-based doctors, nurses and paramedics should be established. Training should be provided and awareness should be raised to reduce energy use resulting from heating, lighting, ventilation and air conditioning.

Attitudes and Behaviors Regarding Compliance With Contact Lens Wear and Care Among Contact Lens Users at a University Hospital in Turkey.

To investigate the level of compliance with contact lens (CL) care habits among CL wearers of different age and occupation groups. This survey study included 205 CL wearers followed in the tertiary reference center between 2016 and 2022. The survey was employed to probe each user's demographic data and noncompliant behaviors. To this end, the study compared CL compliance levels of patients in different age and occupation groups. There were 85 (41.5%) patients in the good compliant group, 72 (35.1%) in the average compliant group, and 48 (23.4%) in the poor compliant group. The most common noncompliant behavior was disruption of aftercare visits. Except for two noncompliant behaviors (storage of fresh lens solution and exceeding the recommended lens case replacement time), other noncompliant behaviors were found more frequently in the ≤25 age group. The differences between the age groups were significant in hand washing and water activities ( P =0.004 and P =0.023, respectively). Exceeding lens replacement time and sleeping with lenses criteria were found to be significantly noncompliant in health care workers compared to non-health care workers ( P =0.006 and P =0.001, respectively). The level of compliance was found to be lower in users with 6 to 7 days of CL use per week than in those with fewer days ( P =0.006). We found that the compliance rate was lower in younger patients and health care workers. We also observed that long-term use of CL reduces the level of compliance. Therefore, it might be necessary to focus on modifiable risk factors in these patient groups.

The adherence of Turkish emergency departments to geriatric guideline recommendations.

This study aims to determine the availability of geriatrics-friendly protocols, pieces of equipment, and physical environments alongside potential opportunities of improvement in the emergency departments of our country. This prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted between the 1st and 29th of February, in the year 2024, within the AI, AII, B group- and university hospitals in Turkey. A questionnaire form consisting of three subdivisions in which general pieces of information, information regarding appropriate personnel/management for geriatrics-friendly emergency departments, equipment/materials, and the presence of physical environments was presented online to the participants and the responses that were provided online were evaluated. The study was conducted with a total of 175 participants from hospital emergency departments. The number of hospitals with monthly older patient application amounts of 500 and above was 133 (76.0%). It was observed that personnel/management knowledge was, relative to guideline suggestions, at low levels. When the appropriateness of personnel/management knowledge and total equipment/materials were compared to hospital roles, it was determined that university hospitals adhered closest to the guideline and that inter-group differences were significant (p < 0.001). It was determined that the compliance of emergency departments in Turkey with the criteria specified in the geriatric emergency department guidelines is at very low levels.

The effect of desire to be liked and social appearance anxiety on aesthetic surgery acceptance in female nurses

BackgroundA rapid increase has been observed in aesthetic surgery procedures in recent years and it has been determined that females have more aesthetic procedures. While different groups of female groups were taken as a sample in the studies, no study on female nurses was found. In this study, it is thought that psychological reasons such as stress, anxiety, desire to be liked and lack of self-confidence that lead women to plastic surgery will reduce the professional performance of nurses and this situation will create additional workload for other colleagues. Therefore, the aim of the study is to reveal the effect of desire to be liked and social appearance anxiety on the acceptance of female nurses to plastic surgery.MethodsThe population of the cross-sectional study consisted of 243.565 nurses working in public, private and university hospitals in Turkey. A questionnaire form was used as a data collection tool in the study. In the first part of the form, there are statements aiming to reveal the socio-demographic characteristics, social media usage levels and aesthetic surgery experiences of nurses, and in the second part, there is a desire to be liked scale, social appearance anxiety scale and aesthetic surgery acceptance scale. The 1004 questionnaire forms collected as a result of the study were subjected to percentage, frequency, correlation and regression analysis.Results41.2% of the nurses have had aesthetic procedures before and 68.4% of them want to have aesthetic procedures when there is an area they do not like in their body. A strong positive relationship was found between the desire to be liked, social appearance anxiety, and aesthetic surgery acceptance (r > 0.500, p < 0.01). Aesthetic surgery acceptance is affected by the desire to be liked and by social appearance anxiety.ConclusionIn the study, it was determined that social appearance anxiety and the desire to be liked led female nurses to plastic surgery. According to the results of similar studies conducted in different groups, it may be recommended that awareness training be organized both in schools and through digital media about the consequences of unnecessary plastic surgery.

Effect of Skin Antiseptics Used in Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Application on Phlebitis Development: A Double- Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of antiseptics used in peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) application on phlebitis development. Methods: This is a double-blind randomized controlled trial that is suitable for the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement. The study was carried out at a University Hospital in Turkey. The study participants were 60 patients (experiments 30 and control 30). 2% chlorhexidine was used as a skin antiseptic in the intervention group and 70% alcohol was used in the control group. In both groups, the catheter insertion site was observed every 8 hours for 72 hour. Data were obtained using the “Personal Information Form” and “Phlebit Scale”. Independent samples t-test (t-table value), Mann–Whitney U test (Z-table value) and Fisher’s exact test, continuity correction, or Pearson’s χ2 cross tables were used for data analysis. Results: No statistically significant difference was found between 2% chlorhexidine and 70% alcohol in preventing the development of phlebitis after PIVC application (p &gt; 0.05). No statistically significant relationship was found between the intervention and control groups in terms of sex, BMI, substance abuse, alcohol use, smoking, chronic disease, or PIVC application area (p&gt;0.05). The highest degree of phlebitis that developed in the intervention and control groups was 1st degree. There was also no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of degree of phlebitis and phlebitis development time (p &gt; 0.05). Conclusions: In line with the findings obtained from this study, it is thought that both skin antiseptics used when inserting a peripheral intravenous catheter are effective in preventing the development of phlebitis and will guide healthcare personnel in the selection of antiseptics.

Green hospitals: Mitigating water footprint and greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable menu planning in Turkish state university hospitals.

Considering the importance of sustainable nutrition, it is important that hospitals' meal menus are planned to ensure the lowest possible environmental footprint. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the environmental effects of hospital menus and the changes that may occur when these menus are planned according to the Turkey Dietary Guidelines and Mediterranean diet recommendations. In this context, first, the yearly environmental footprints of the standard meal menus of the state university hospitals in Turkey (n = 42), including water footprint (WF) and greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) values, were determined. Second, changes in the environmental footprint as a result of arranging the standard meal menus of state university hospitals according to the Turkey Dietary Guidelines and Mediterranean nutritional models were evaluated. It was determined that the average WF and GHGE values of hospital menus were 137,280 ± 18537.2 L/month and 140.0 ± 18.4 kg CO2-eq/month, respectively. Adjusting state university hospitals' standard meal menus according to Turkey Dietary Guidelines and Mediterranean nutritional models reduced WF by 24.8% to 103206.7 L/month and 37.8% to 85420.5 L/month, and GHGEs by 31.7% to 95.5 kg CO2-eq/month and 49% to 71.3 kg CO2-eq/month, respectively. In addition, it was determined that hospital meal menus planned according to the Turkey Dietary Guidelines and the Mediterranean nutritional model contained lower saturated fat and cholesterol and higher dietary fiber. In conclusion, planning hospital menus according to the Turkey Dietary Guidelines and Mediterranean nutritional recommendations can reduce the environmental footprint of hospital food services.

Assessment of polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medications, and drug-drug interactions in older patients with cancer.

This study aimed to determine polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medications, and potential drug-drug interactions in elderly patients hospitalized in the oncology services of a university hospital in Turkey. This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2021 and September 2022 on cancer patients over 65 years old hospitalized at Suleyman Demirel University Medical Faculty Hospital in Isparta, Turkey. Potentially inappropriate medications were defined according to the 2023 Beers Criteria of the American Geriatrics Society. Potential drug-drug interactions were determined with Medscape® drug interaction checker. The median (min-max) of drugs used by the patients was 6 (2-15). Most of the patients (74.3%) had polypharmacy. Approximately half of the patients (51.4%) had potentially inappropriate medications. The most commonly used potentially inappropriate medications were diuretics (22.1%), metoclopramide (11.4%), antidepressant drugs (7.9%), and opioids (6.4%). The presence of comorbidities, mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders, circulatory system diseases, and respiratory system diseases were found to be statistically significantly higher in the group with potentially inappropriate medication than in the group without potentially inappropriate medication (p < 0.05). In total, 98 patients (70%) had at least one potential drug-drug interaction. Potential drug-drug interactions were minor in 33.3%, major in 57.5%, serious in 7.74%, and contraindicated in 0.22. According to our study, polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medications, and potential drug-drug interactions were high in elderly cancer patients. It is important to determine potential drug-drug interactions and potentially inappropriate medications in cancer patients by a multidisciplinary team, including the clinical pharmacist, to prevent possible negative consequences.

Effects of progressive muscle relaxation exercises on the vital signs and fatigue in kidney transplant patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Multiple effective nursing interventions are needed to manage deviations from normal vital signs and fatigue experienced by kidney transplant patients. In this study, we investigated the effect of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) exercises on vital signs and fatigue in kidney transplant patients. We conducted a randomized controlled experimental study with 52 patients (intervention = 26, control = 26) who underwent kidney transplantation at a university hospital in Turkey and met the inclusion criteria. The "Descriptive Characteristics Form", "Vital Signs Monitoring Form", and "Fatigue Severity Scale" were used to record data on the patients. Then, the patients in the intervention group (baseline assessment) were trained to perform PMR exercises, asked to practice, and followed up (first follow-up). Patients were recommended to perform PMR exercises for 20min every day for four weeks. The second follow-up in the second week after discharge and the third follow-up at the end of the fourth week were performed in the outpatient clinic. We found that the pulse rate, body temperature, and arterial blood pressure decreased over time and oxygen saturation increased in the patients of the intervention group. The PMR exercises decreased fatigue in these patients. The arterial blood pressure and oxygen saturation values differed significantly across different time points among the patients in the control group. The difference in the scores of fatigue severity between the pre-follow-up and the third follow-up in the control group was not significant. PMR exercises were found to be an effective nursing intervention in regulating vital signs and reducing fatigue in renal transplant patients.