The Breast Size Satisfaction Survey (BSSS): Breast size dissatisfaction and its antecedents and outcomes in women from 40 nations

The Breast Size Satisfaction Survey (BSSS) was established to assess women's breast size dissatisfaction and breasted experiences from a cross-national perspective. A total of 18,541 women were recruited from 61 research sites across 40 nations and completed measures of current-ideal breast size discrepancy, as well as measures of theorised antecedents (personality, Western and local media exposure, and proxies of socioeconomic status) and outcomes (weight and appearance dissatisfaction, breast awareness, and psychological well-being). In the total dataset, 47.5 % of women wanted larger breasts than they currently had, 23.2 % wanted smaller breasts, and 29.3 % were satisfied with their current breast size. There were significant cross-national differences in mean ideal breast size and absolute breast size dissatisfaction, but effect sizes were small (η² = .02-.03). The results of multilevel modelling showed that greater Neuroticism, lower Conscientiousness, lower Western media exposure, greater local media exposure, lower financial security, and younger age were associated with greater breast size dissatisfaction across nations. In addition, greater absolute breast size dissatisfaction was associated with greater weight and appearance dissatisfaction, poorer breast awareness, and poorer psychological well-being across nations. These results indicate that breast size dissatisfaction is a global public health concern linked to women's psychological and physical well-being.

Effectiveness of online education in teaching breast self- examination

BACKGROUND

This research evaluated the effectiveness of an online education model in teaching breast self- examination to university staff and students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

1,679 women participated in a breast self-examination online training program. Breast self-examination knowledge evaluation forms developed by Maurer (1997) were used in the research and were evaluated on a 100 point scale. Paired t-test and McNemar's Test statistics were employed.

RESULTS

The participants scored an average of 46.5 (14.0%) on knowledge on breast self-examination before training, but 77.4 (11.0%) one month after education and 76.7 (9.52%) after six months. There was a clear significant difference between these knowledge levels (p<0.05). Similarly, while the rate for systematic practice of breast self-examination among women was 30.8% before training it increased to 47.8% afterwards. Again the difference was significant (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Online education is an effective method for teaching breast self-examination to women.

Awareness and attitudes of Turkish nursing students towards research and development in nursing

BACKGROUND

The research course in nursing is included in almost all nursing curricula in national and international scales.

PURPOSE

To compare awareness and attitudes of Turkish nursing students towards research and development in nursing.

METHODS

This study had descriptive and cross-sectional research design. The research sampling is consisted of 390 senior students studying during the 2013-2014 academic year in six schools of health in six different geographical regions in Turkey. The Personal Identification Form and Nursing Students' Attitudes to and Awareness of Research and Development within Nursing Scale were utilized in data collection.

RESULTS

It was determined that there is difference between awareness and attitude scores of nursing students from six different schools towards research and development in nursing according to their schools and background.

CONCLUSION

It can be suggested that initiatives to increase awareness of students at nursing schools towards research course must be planned.

Evaluation of School of health students' ethics position in Turkey

BACKGROUND

The advances in science and technology increasingly lead to the appearance of ethical issues and to the complexity of care. Therefore, it is important to define the ethics position of students studying in health departments so that high quality patient care can be achieved.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to examine the ethics position of the students at Shool of Health of an University in western Turkey.

METHODS

The study design was descriptive and cross-sectional. The study population included 540 first, second, third, and fourth year students from the Departments of Nursing, Midwifery, and Rescue and Disaster Management in the 2013-2014 academic year. Data were collected with a Personal Identification Form and The Ethics Position Questionnaire. Obtained data were analyzed with Chi-square test, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and Nested Analysis of Variance. Ethical considerations: Before conducting the research, approval was obtained from Ege University Clinical Research Ethics Committee in İzmir and written informed consent was taken from all the participants.

FINDINGS

There was no significant difference in the mean scores for the Ethics Position Questionnaire between the students in terms of years and fields of study. Although the mean scores for the subscale idealism did not differ between fields of study, the mean scores significantly differed between years of study. However, the mean scores for the subscale relativism did not differ in terms of years and fields of study.

DISCUSSION

Whether students are idealistic or relativistic in terms of ethical judgment will be effective in ethical decision-making skills during patient care. Therefore, we need to define the factors that influence students' ethics position in the future.

CONCLUSION

It is suggested that the courses and practices that teach students to be aware of their ethics position to create an ethical outlook can be placed in the curriculum in health schools.

Relationship of knowledge about and attitudes towards violence with recognition of violence against women among health staff in pre-hospital emergency medical services

BACKGROUND

Domestic violence, specifically, violence against women, is prevalent in all segments of society regardless of social class, ethnicity, culture or country. In other words, domestic violence is a global concern.

AIM

The study aims to investigate the relationship between the attitude and knowledge of the health staff in pre-hospital emergency medical services about violence against women and their recognition of such form of violence.

METHODS

This descriptive study was conducted on 1023 paramedics and emergency medicine technicians who work in the pre-hospital emergency health setting and are members of the Paramedic and Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine Association. The Attitudes towards Violence against Women Scale (ATVAWS) and Health Staff's Recognition of Signs of Violence against Women Scale (HPRSVAWS) were used for data collection.

RESULTS

The mean scores for the ATVAWS and HPRSVAWS were 46.68 ± 6.92 and 20.31 ± 3.23, respectively. Of the participants, 48.5% had been subjected to violence, 43.93% had been subjected to violence perpetrated by their mothers, 41.53% had been exposed to physical violence and 4.2% remain exposed to domestic violence. Participants who had been exposed and those who remain exposed to domestic violence produced high scores in ATVAWS, which indicates an improvement in the traditional approach (less opposing view) to violence. High scores in the ATVAWS for (a) those who were exposed to violence in their workplaces, (b) who had never attended to actual or suspected cases of violence against women in their professional life, (c) who had attended to seven or more cases of violence against women, (d) who were less competent in physically examining actual or suspected cases of violence and (e) who had not been trained on violence against women, which indicates an increase in the traditional approach to violence.

CONCLUSION

The study found that health staff in emergency health stations better recognised the signs of violence against women as their attitudes towards violence were less similar to the traditional approach. That is, they mostly held non-violent views. The characteristics, attitudes, perceptions and values of health professionals were considered important factors in addressing violence.

The information requirements and self-perceptions of Turkish women undergoing hysterectomy

Objectives:

To investigate the affects, information requirements and self-perceptions of Turkish women undergoing hysterectomy.

Methods:

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 37 Turkish women undergoing hysterectomy and followed in a gynecology unit of a state hospital in Canakkale, Turkey, between February and August 2012. Data were collected before discharge with a questionnaire composed of 32 questions. Percentage distributions and Chi-square test were used in the evaluation of the data.

Results:

There was a significant relationship between fear of anesthesia and number of pregnancies (p=0.007) and between death during surgery and number of pregnancies in the preoperative period (p=0.027). The relationship between knowing type of surgery and knowing when sutures would be removed was also significant in post-operative period (p=0.045). In addition, there was a significant relationship between women’s living only with their husbands and worrying about not having children anymore (p=0.032).

Conclusion:

The women’s information needs were high and women’s self-perceptions had been affected negatively after hysterectomy. It is recommended that nurses, primarily health professionals should have adequate knowledge on comprehensive care and psychosocial support after hysterectomy.

Quality of Life and Perceived Social Support Before and After Sex Reassignment Surgery

This study aimed to explore the pre- and postoperative differences in quality of life and perceived social support of Female-to-Male transsexual patients who underwent mastectomy and complete hysterectomy. Sixty-three Female-to-Male female individuals who underwent complete hysterectomy and mastectomy between November 2019 and November 2020 were included in this study. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Short Form. The pre- and postoperative perceived social support mean scores of patients were 57.2 ± 9.0 and 74.9 ± 7.3, respectively. The pre- and postoperative quality of life mean scores of patients were 76.9 ± 8.3 and 107.8 ± 10.1, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the measurements (p < .05). In addition, the patients whose education level was primary school, whose income was less than their expenditure, whose father was a primary school graduate, whose family had a strict family opinion on sexuality, whose family had a traditional view, and who had a high body mass index were found to have higher postoperative social support perceptions and quality of life. The patients' postoperative quality of life and perceived social support improved after sex reassignment surgery.

Investigation of body image perception, self-esteem, and self-confidence in female-to-male transsexuals before and after sex reassignment surgery

PURPOSE

The study was aimed at investigatting the changes in body image perception, self-esteem, and self-confidence of female-to-male transsexuals (FtM) after sex reassignment surgery (SRS).

DESIGN AND METHODS

The quasi-experimental study was conducted with the female individuals who undergo FtM SRS between May 2018 and May 2019. The study data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Body Image Scale, Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, and Self-Confidence Scale.

FINDINGS

It was observed that the patients' postoperative body image perception, self-esteem, and self-confidence improved. As their postoperative body image perception was higher than was their preoperative body image perception, their postoperative self-esteem and self-confidence levels were also higher. In addition, as their self-esteem increased, so did their self-confidence.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

It was found that the patients' postoperative body image perception, self-esteem, and self-confidence improved.

Attitudes of Married Muslim Women Regarding Family Planning Methods During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Western Turkey

COVID-19 had negative effects upon family planning. Women cannot visit healthcare facilities because of a fear of curfew-related sanctions or exposure to COVID-19. It is seen that religious beliefs are influential especially in terms of family planning method preference and having abortions. This study was conducted to determine the attitudes of married Muslim women regarding family planning methods during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 611 married Muslim women who presented to the family planning outpatient clinic of a public hospital in Western Turkey between 1 September 2020 and 1 March 2021. The mean Family Planning Attitude Scale score of the women was found to be 137.53 ± 27.11. It was observed that, as the mean age of the women increased, their family planning attitudes were more positive, and as their number of pregnancies, abortions and living children increased, their attitudes were more negative (p < 0.05). Women do not want to get pregnant during the pandemic process. This is because the effects of COVID-19 on both themselves and the baby to be born are not known, which worries women. Therefore, in order to transform positive attitudes regarding family planning into behavior, it is recommended to provide effective training and consultancy services during the pandemic period.

Identifying malnutrition risk in hospitalized patients: an analysis of five tools in the light of GLIM criteria

BACKGROUND

The prompt identification of malnutrition among hospitalized patients using the appropriate screening tool is paramount. The objective of our study is to compare the most recommended screening tools concerning the new GLIM criteria for malnutrition in hospitalized patients.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the data on 1,397 patients receiving inpatient treatment at Bandırma Training and Research Hospital between August 2022 and May 2023 to assess and compare malnutrition in them. Patients who received inpatient treatment in the internal and surgical clinics of Bandırma Training and Research Hospital. In addition to the GLIM criteria, we used nutritional screening and assessment tools such as NRS-2002, MST, GMS, MUST, and SNAQ. The GLIM criteria were considered the gold standard for the evaluation of sensitivity and specificity. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for the five screening tools were also used to assess the ability to distinguish malnutrition-risk patients accurately.

RESULTS

The comparison of the performances of different screening tools in detecting malnutrition demonstrated that while the GMS had the highest sensitivity (87.40%), the NRS-2002 had the highest specificity (91.70%). The area under the Curve (AUC) value indicated that the predictive values of the NRS-2002, MST, GMS, and SNAQ were excellent, and the predictive value of the MUST was good (p < 0.001). While the GLIM criteria in particular appear to be an effective tool for detecting malnutrition in hospitalized individuals, other screening tools are also useful in assessing their malnutrition risk.

CONCLUSIONS

We emphasized MST's alignment with GLIM criteria, underscoring the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for early malnutrition diagnosis. Patients at risk of malnutrition can be diagnosed more quickly and accurately with appropriate screening tools and the effectiveness of treatments can be increased.

Psychometric properties and cultural adaptation of Polish version of Gynecological Cancers Awareness Scale (GCAS)

OBJECTIVES

Cancer of the female genital organs is one of the most common causes of death of women in Poland. The aim of the study was to translate and analyze the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Gynecological Cancers Awareness Scale (GCAS).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Cross-sectional study and questionnaire technic were used to collect data. The study was conducted from June 10th to July10th 2021 among 443 adult women in Poland.

RESULTS

The Cronbach Alpha measure was used to assess the internal consistency of the scale. Cronbach's Alpha values greater than 0.7 indicates that the scale has high reliability.

CONCLUSIONS

The analysis confirms that the Polish version of Gynecological Cancers Awareness Scale has a very high reliability to assess the women's cancers awareness and knowledge of cancers.

Analysis of awareness of gynaecological cancers İn women using social media

This study aimed to use social media to investigate the relationship between the demographic, obstetric and gynaecological characteristics and the awareness of gynaecological cancer among women. The data were collected between 1st March and May 2018 using an internet-baseline survey/surveymonkey/google form. The sample was consisted of 1227 women who were literate, active social media users and had volunteered to participate in the study via social media. The GCAS scores of women who were in the age range 20-24 years, primary school graduates, no social security, were not pregnant, had a miscarriage, did not examine their external genital organs, had not entered the menopause and who did not use any family planning methods, were lower than the other women. The GCA of the women was found to be high.

The Relationship between Gynecological Cancer Awareness and Self-Care Agency in Married Women

Nursel Alp DalObjective  This study was conducted to determine the relationship between gynecological cancer awareness and self-care agency among married women. Materials and Methods  This descriptive and cross-sectional study was performed with 819 women who presented to the obstetrics polyclinic of a hospital located in the west of Turkey between December 15, 2020 and April 15, 2021. The data of the study were collected by using the Exercise of Self-Care Agency Scale (ESCA) and the Gynecological Cancers Awareness Scale (GCAS). Results  The mean age of the participants was 37.62 ± 9.181 years. The mean ESCA score of the women who participated in this study was 95.89 ± 25.060, which indicated moderate levels of self-care agency. The mean total GCAS score of the participants of this study was 156.57 ± 32.930, which indicated high levels of gynecological cancer awareness among the women. As the self-care agency of the women increased, their awareness of gynecological cancers also increased. Conclusion  Midwives and nurses who provide preventive and supportive healthcare services may affect the self-care agency of women positively by gynecological cancer awareness they will raise in these women.

Dietary Modulations in Preventing Cardiometabolic Risk in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex health issue include obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and chronic inflammation that increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). CVDs are of great concern in the disease progression and prognosis of T2DM. This review is a comprehensive examination of the literature on the relationship between T2DM and cardiovascular risk, nutrition-related cardiometabolic risk (CMR) factors, and impact of dietary modulations on CMR.

RECENT FINDINGS

In recent years the researches has been focus on the importance of a comprehensive treatment approach like dietary modulations to address multiple cardiovascular risk reductions, including hypertension and dyslipidemia. Modulation of dietary patterns are the most promising interventions to prevent CMR factors and T2DM via affecting the body weight, glucose control, and microbial diversity of individuals. Current evidence suggests that high-quality dietary patterns such as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan and the Mediterranean diet is important in the metabolic control processes of T2DM with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, glucagon-like peptide agonist compounds, and intestinal microbiota changes. Nutrition plays a critical role in preventing and improving CVD outcomes in patients with T2DM. Dietary modulations should be planned considering individual differences in responses to dietary composition and nutritional changes, personal preferences, eating behaviors and gut microbiota differences.

Intercultural awareness, communication, and empathy skills in nurses and midwives working in provinces with mass migration

PURPOSE

The study was to evaluate the intercultural awareness, communication, and empathy skills of midwives and nurses (n = 479) DESIGN AND METHODS: The descriptive study data were collected using the Communication-Skills-Scale (CSS), the Basic-Empathy-Scale (BES), and the Intercultural-Awareness-Scale (IAS).

FINDINGS

The total average scores of the CSS, BES, and IAS were found to be 100.07 ± 13.03, 70.70 ± 13.99, and 83.51 ± 14.24, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between age, education, position, experience and the BES and IAS; gender, providing care for Syrian patients and the CSS and BES; marital status and the BES (P %3C .05).

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Nurses and midwives have important responsibilities in terms of protecting and improving the health of migrant women.

An Overview of the Potential Role of Nutrition in Mental Disorders in the Light of Advances in Nutripsychiatry

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

As research on the potential impact of nutrition on mental disorders, a significant component of global disability continues to grow the concepts of "nutritional psychiatry, psycho-dietetics/nutripsychiatry" have taken their place in the literature. This review is a comprehensive examination of the literature on the the potential mechanisms between common mental disorders and nutrition and evaluates the effectiveness of dietary interventions.

RECENT FINDINGS

Inflammation, oxidative stress, intestinal microbiota, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neural plasticity are shown as potential mechanisms in the relationship between mental disorders and nutrition. As a matter of fact, neurotrophic factors, which make important contributions to repair mechanisms throughout life, and neuronal plasticity, which plays a role in mental disorders, are affected by nutritional factors. In metabolism, the antioxidant defense system works with nutritional cofactors and phytochemicals. A balanced, planned diet that provides these components is more likely to provide nutrients that increase resilience against the pathogenesis of mental disorders. Nutrition can be considered a risk factor for mental disorders. Therefore, developing public health strategies focused on improving diet may help reduce the global burden of mental disorders and other related diseases.

Energy expenditure in healthy pregnant women: a systematic review

CONTEXT

Since pregnancy is a decisive period for women and children in terms of future health, it is very important to determine changes in energy expenditure and requirements. However, there is no reference method to determine the energy expenditure as there are many factors that change maternal energy homeostasis during this period.

OBJECTIVE

This review aims to evaluate the changes in energy expenditure during pregnancy and the effects of these changes on maternal weight gain, as well as the methods used to determine energy expenditure.

DATA SOURCES

Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and Wiley Online Library databases were searched to determine studies on energy expenditure during pregnancy between 2010 and 2022.

DATA EXTRACTION

Of the 2095 articles initially identified, 20 met the inclusion criteria for this review. Two independent reviewers selected and extracted data from those articles.

DATA ANALYSIS

The articles reviewed show that prepregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain, changes in fat mass, and lean body mass influence energy expenditure during pregnancy. Doubly-labeled water and indirect calorimetric methods are considered reference methods for determining energy expenditure in pregnancy. Indirect calorimetric methods, when used together with body weight and physical activity measurements, allow an accurate estimation of resting energy expenditure and energy requirements for pregnant women. Metabolic Holter or accelerometers are valid methods for determining activity energy expenditure in pregnant women and are suitable for use during activity.

CONCLUSION

Resting energy expenditure and activity energy expenditure should be carefully monitored and measured by valid methods to achieve the correct energy intake targets during pregnancy. The existing equations used in determining energy expenditure should be developed for a more accurate estimation of energy expenditure during pregnancy, or new pregnancy-specific equations should be derived.

Homophobia levels of parents of nursing students and affecting factors

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to determine the homophobia levels of parents of students who receive nursing education and the factors affecting their homophobia levels.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The study was carried out as a descriptive and cross-sectional study on the 375 parents of nursing students.

FINDINGS

There was statistically significant difference between the case when parents know that there is a homosexual individual in their immediate environment and the mean The Hudson and Ricketts Homophobia Scale (HRHS) score, as well as between the case when parents know that a friend of theirs is homosexual and the mean HRHS score (p < 0.05).

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

It should be taken into account that parents' prejudices against homosexuals may also affect the way their children view homosexuals.