Factors Affecting Breastfeeding in Births Given During the Day and at Night; A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study

Objective: How giving birth at night and during the day affects the breastfeeding process should be evaluated when health services are planned. In this study, we investigated the effect of giving birth at night and during the day on the breastfeeding process. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional comparative study, we included 228 women who gave birth at night and 192 women who gave birth during the day. We compared the effect of giving birth at night or during the day on breastfeeding with the univariate analysis in terms of intrapartum and postpartum factors. Results: While the mothers who gave birth during the daytime started the first breastfeeding earlier (p < 0.001), the duration of the first breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact practice was longer in mothers who gave birth at night (p < 0.05). While the rate of formula supplementing in babies born at night was 44.8%, it was 55.2% in babies born during the day (p < 0.001). The rate of receiving support from health workers (p = 0.040) and intending to breastfeed babies exclusively after discharge (p < 0.05) was higher in mothers who gave birth during the day than it was in mothers who gave birth at night. Conclusion: Day and night labor have different advantages and disadvantages on breastfeeding. It is important to address these differences in terms of intrapartum and postpartum care process to prevent negative breastfeeding experiences in the early period.

Episiotomy Skills Self-Efficacy Scale (ESSES): Development and psychometric properties

BACKGROUND

Episiotomy is a surgical procedure that increases midwifery students' anxiety levels and reduces their self-efficacy levels. However, there is no valid and reliable tool to assess the student's episiotomy experience-related self-efficacy levels.

OBJECTIVES

The study was aimed at developing the Episiotomy Skills Self-Efficacy Scale and investigating its psychometric properties.

DESIGN

In the study, the descriptive, cross-sectional and methodological design was used.

SETTING

The study was conducted at the midwifery department of a state university in western Turkey.

PARTICIPANTS

The study sample included 209 midwifery students selected using the convenience sampling method.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review and expert panel was conducted on episiotomy skills. Content validity was performed by 10 health professionals. Of them, one was an obstetrician and gynecologist, four were midwives and five were faculty members working in midwifery departments of different universities. The Episiotomy Skills Self-Efficacy Scale was administered to the 3rd and 4th grade students who had taken a course on childbirth. The inclusion criteria were as follows: having received episiotomy training, and having opened and closed an episiotomy on a model in the laboratory. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was performed within the scope of validity. Reliability was evaluated with the Cronbach's alpha method and item-total correlations.

RESULTS

A two-factor structure which explained 77.96 % of the total variance was obtained by factor analysis. Its "Preparation for and Implementation of Episiotomy" dimension includes 11 items, and "Episiotomy Repair and Control" dimension includes 8 items. Model fit indices were at an acceptable level. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.97.

CONCLUSIONS

The Episiotomy Skills Self-Efficacy Scale has sufficient psychometric validity and reliability. It is short and easily administered.

The relationship between hopelessness level and complementary and alternative medicine use in patients with breast cancer

Introduction

Following the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, women may experience some emotions such as anxiety, uncertainty, andhopelessness, and these experiences may vary from person to person. Many patients, along with conventional treatments, can resort to traditional methods to support the treatment, prevent recurrence of cancer, cope with the side effects of the treatment, and strengthen physically and mentally.

Aims

The study was aimed at determining the relationship between hopelessness level and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods in women with breast cancer.

Materials and Methods

In this descriptive and cross-sectional study, 336 women with breast cancer who presented to the mammography unit were contacted. Among the CAM methods used, herbal treatment methods rank first. Of the reasons, women prefer these methods; "CAM provides psychological comfort" takes the first place.

Results

The mean scores obtained from the Beck Hopelessness Scale by the women who used and who did not use CAM were 5.45 ± 5.18 and 4.44 ± 4.10, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

In conclusion, women with breast cancer may attempt to use CAM due to hopelessness. Therefore, in the course of medical treatment of patients, CAM practices should be questioned, they should be provided counseling and if necessary, referred for psychological support.

The Effects of Different Breastfeeding Training Techniques Given for Primiparous Mothers Before Discharge on the Incidence of Cracked Nipples

OBJECTIVE

This research investigated the effects of different breastfeeding training techniques for primiparous mothers before discharge on the incidence of cracked nipples.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a controlled intervention study that was carried out between 2015 and 2016 on 90 mothers living in İzmir. The mothers were divided into three groups: the demonstration-based training group, brochure group, and routine care-receiving group. The mothers in the "brochure group" were provided with breastfeeding training brochures. Mothers in the demonstration-based training group received one-to-one training using designed doll and puppet tools.

RESULTS

The rate of cracked nipples at age 2 weeks was 63.3% in the routine care-receiving group, 56.7% in the brochure group, and 20% in the demonstration-based training group. At the end of the fourth week, the rate was 30% in the routine care-receiving group and less than 10% in the other two groups (p < 0.005). The LATCH scores were higher in the demonstration-based training group than in the other two groups (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups in the percentage of exclusive breastfeeding.

CONCLUSION

The results documented that breastfeeding training based on one-to-one demonstration utilizing specially designed audiovisual tools was more effective than the other two methods in the prevention of nipple cracks.

Breast cancer risk and early diagnosis applications in Turkish women aged 50 and over

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to determine breast cancer risk and early diagnosis applications in women aged ≥50.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional, descriptive field study focused on a population of 4,815 in Mansurog?lu with a 55.1% participation rate in screening. In the study, body mass index (BMI) was also evaluated in the calculation of breast cancer risk by the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRA) (also called the "Gail Risk Assessment Tool") . The interviewers had a three-hour training provided by the researchers, during which interactive training methods were used and applications were supported with role-plays.

RESULTS

The mean age of the women participating in the study was 60.1±8.80. Of these women, 57.3% were in the 50-59 age group, 71.7% were married, 57.3% were primary school graduates and 61.7% were housewives. Breast-cancer development rate was 7.4% in the women participating in the study. When they were evaluated according to their relationship with those with breast cancer, it was determined that 73.0% of them had first- degree relatives with breast cancer. According to the assessment based on the Gail method, the women's breast cancer development risk within the next 5 years was 17.6%, whereas their calculated lifetime risk was found to be as low as 0.2%. Statistically significant differences (P=0.000) were determined between performing BSE - CBE and socio-demographic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

It was determined that 17.6% of the participants had breast cancer risk. There was no statistically significant difference between the women with and without breast cancer risk in terms of early diagnosis practices, which can be regarded as a remarkable finding. It was planned to provide training about the early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer for people with high-risk scores, and to conduct population-based breast cancer screening programs.

Prospective comparison of colour Doppler ultrasonography and testicular scintigraphy in acute scrotum

The aim of this prospective study was to compare the effectiveness of colour Doppler ultrasound and testicular scintigraphy in the differential diagnosis of acute scrotum. Ten patients were investigated by clinical examination initially and by both techniques afterwards. Scintigraphy was performed in a blind fashion. According to the findings, 3 patients were categorized as acute ischaemia and 7 as inflammation. The 3 patients diagnosed as ischaemia underwent surgical exploration. Both imaging techniques predicted ischaemia (100%). In the inflammation group conservative therapy and follow-up were chosen. Ultrasonography alone established the correct diagnosis in 7/7, whereas scintigraphy in 5/7 of the patients.

Value of color Doppler sonography in the diagnosis of venous impotence

The gold standard in the diagnosis of venous impotence is cavernosometry. But a less invasive and time-consuming screening test for patients with a high probability of venous impotence is required. Therefore we evaluated 82 men with erectile dysfunction by color Doppler sonography after intracavernosal injection of 60 mg papaverine. 28 of them who had a poor erectile response but sufficient arterial inflow were included in this study. 6 patients who were previously found to have psychogenic impotence formed the control group. After pharmacological stimulation by papaverine, all patients were examined for 20 min by color Doppler sonography in order to detect diastolic flow velocities in the cavernosal arteries and erectile responses. Both groups of patients underwent pharmaco-cavernosometry in a blind fashion afterwards. The diagnosis of venous impotence with color Doppler sonography was confirmed by dynamic pharmaco-cavernosometry in 25 of 28 (89%) and 6 of 6 (100%) subjects of the study and control groups, respectively. Statistically, in the diagnosis of venous dysfunction, color Doppler sonography had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 66.6%, accuracy rate of 91% and a positive predictive value of 0.892. The gold standard in the diagnosis of venous impotence is still cavernosometry, but it seems that color Doppler sonography may provide a sensitive assessment of penile venous competence.