The prevalence and associated factors of fear of childbirth among Turkish pregnant women

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of fear of childbirth and affecting factors in pregnant women in Turkey.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study and included a total of 2025.    Pregnant Women Assessment, some variables related to previous and current perinatal processes and Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (version A) were used for data collection.

FINDINGS

In this sample, 42.4% of the women reported fear of childbirth. What the women were afraid of most was the development of unwanted conditions at childbirth, obscurity/uncertainty, and negative attitudes of health professionals. The factors causing fear of childbirth were the low education level, unemployment status, low financial status, stillbirth, unplanned pregnancy, indecisiveness about the type of delivery, not attending prenatal education programs, negative effects of other people, insufficient social support, confiding in the healthcare centre and health professional, negative, and indecisive birth perceptions, prior negative birth experiences and not feeling ready for childbirth (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of fear of childbirth in this Turkish sample, especially in the multipara is higher than in Western countries. Causes of fear of childbirth can vary with countries and even with each region of a country.

Experiences of nurses diagnosed with COVID-19 and recovered: A qualitative research

AIM

This study aimed to explain the feelings and experiences of nurses who survived COVID-19 in their care and recovery processes, based on Watson's theory of human caring.

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic was an extraordinary time when nurses both took care of their patients and dealt with their illness by catching the disease themselves. In this process, nurses who contracted the disease experienced the fear of transmitting the disease to their relatives.

METHOD

A qualitative descriptive research design was used in this study. The sample consists of 15 nurses selected by the convenience sampling method and diagnosed with COVID-19 and recovered. The data were collected in face-to-face interviews using the individual in-depth interview method through a semi-structured interview form. A thematic analysis was performed on the data according to the 10 carative factors of Watson's theory of human caring.

RESULTS

It was determined that the spiritual and professional difficulties experienced by nurses who recovered from COVID-19 during the disease and symptom management process were the fear of death, infecting their family members and losing them, and the importance of life.

CONCLUSION

It is considered that care practices based on Watson's theory of human caring will be beneficial in the management of these processes.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Nurses diagnosed with COVID-19 should be supported by the nursing management during their illness so that their negative experiences will not be repeated. Watson's theory of human caring can help eliminate this sense of fear and loss.

The relationship between gender perception levels and infertility distress of infertile women in a university hospital, Turkey

Purpose

This study was conducted to analyze the correlation between gender perception and infertility distress of infertile women.

Design/methodology/approach

This was a descriptive-analytical study conducted with 255 women receiving treatment in the in vitro fertilization unit of a medical faculty hospital in Turkey. Study data were collected using sociodemographic questions as well as the Perception of Gender Scale (PGS) and the Infertility Distress Scale (IDS).

Findings

It was found that the PGS mean score was 69.65 and the IDS mean score was 53.1. It was determined that there was a negative, moderate and significant correlation between gender perception and infertility distress levels of women in the infertility treatment process (r = −0.263, p < 0.001).

Originality/value

As a result of the study, a negative, moderate, significant correlation was detected between gender perception and infertility distress.

Prenatal distress levels of pregnant women in Turkey and affecting factors: a multicentre study

This study was conducted to determine prenatal distress levels of pregnant women from seven provinces of Turkey and factors affecting prenatal distress levels. The multicentre descriptive study included 2365 pregnant women who were in the twentieth gestational week and above. The data were collected using the pregnancy information form, prenatal distress questionnaire and spousal support scale. Descriptive statistics, Student's t-test, ANOVA and logistic regression were used to evaluate the data. The results of this study demonstrated that pregnant women's prenatal distress levels are affected by such factors as the region lived in, lack of spousal support and being a primary school graduate. Nurses should develop intervention strategies that involve the pregnant woman's spouse to reduce prenatal distress and the factors affecting prenatal distress.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Prenatal distress can have significant effects on pregnancy, maternal health and human development across the lifespan.What the results of this study add? Spousal support could also have an effect on the psychological health of mothers.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Nurses and midwives monitor the pregnant women, and therefore, they should evaluate the prenatal distress levels in the prenatal period, plan intervention strategies for pregnant women with high stress levels and include the pregnant women's spouses in these intervention strategies.

Is there a relationship between basic birth beliefs and pregnancy-related anxiety in Turkey

AIM

It is important to investigate the relationship between the beliefs about birth as a natural or medical process and the pregnancy-related anxiety that has a powerful impact on the negative outcomes of labor. This study was aimed at investigating the relationship between basic birth beliefs and pregnancy-related anxiety in Turkey.

METHODS

This descriptive, cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted in a University hospital located in eastern Turkey. The study sample included 473 primiparae having completed 14 weeks of pregnancy. The Birth Belief Scale and Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire/PRAQ-R2 were used to collect the data.

RESULTS

A relationship was found between birth beliefs and pregnancy-related anxiety. Strong beliefs about birth as a medical process or weak beliefs about birth as a natural process were found to be related with fear of giving birth and worries about bearing a handicapped child.

CONCLUSION

A relationship was detected between beliefs of pregnant women about birth as a medical and natural process and fear of giving birth, worries about bearing a handicapped child., concern about own appearance. It is highly important to detect the birth beliefs in order to help women have a healthy pregnancy period and to decrease their anxiety levels. Pregnancy-related anxieties of women must be detected, and their birth beliefs that result in anxiety must not be overlooked during the provision of prenatal healthcare services.

The effects of clinical education program based on Watson's theory of human caring on coping and anxiety levels of nursing students: A randomized control trial

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the clinical education program based on Watson's human caring theory on coping and anxiety levels of nursing students.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The research sample consisted of the intervention (n = 53) and the control (n = 53) group.

FINDINGS

A statistically significant difference was determined in anxiety mean scores (P < .001) and the self-confident approach, the social-support seeking approach, the unconfident approach, and the submissive approach subscales of coping with stress in students of the intervention group compared to the control group (P < .05).

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

It is recommended that the clinical education program based on Watson's caring theory is used during the clinical education of nursing students.

Effect of infertility causes related to gender differences on Women's distress levels among patients utilizing a Turkish university hospital

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the effect of causes of infertility related to gender differences on the distress level of women who were treated for infertility.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study. The sample consisted of 314 women who were treated for infertility between September 2016 and June 2017. Data were collected as “Sociodemographic Characteristics Form” and “Infertility Distress Scale.”

Findings

A statistically significant difference was found between the mean distress scores of the women for whom the reason for infertility was related to a female factor, and of the women for whom this reason was related to a male factor.

Research limitations/implications

The situation should be determined with quantitative studies, and the reason for the differences should be determined with qualitative studies.

Practical implications

Infertility nurses should develop a care plan that ensures that couples understand their feelings, and which enhances their mutual respect and partnership.

Social implications

The study highlights the importance of cultural awareness in the care of infertile couples.

Originality/value

The authors highlight some important aspects about the gender difference on women's distress level.

A comparison of physical anxiety levels in adolescent and young women with polycystic ovary syndrome and in other healthy adolescent and young women in a university hospital, Turkey

Purpose

This study was conducted to investigate the Social Physique Anxiety (SPA) level in adolescent and young women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Design/methodology/approach

This is a descriptive study. It was conducted in Turkey. The study was conducted from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017. It was completed with a total of 150 young women – 75 of them had PCOS and 75 of them were healthy. Study data were collected using demographic information form and Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS).

Findings

The study was found that the adolescent and young women with PCOS had higher subscales and total scores for total SPAS at a statistically significant level than healthy adolescent and young women (p < 0.05).

Practice implication

The findings of this study may be used for planning and implementing interventions in health-care practice such as screening and early treatment of SPA of women with PCOS.

Originality/value

It was found that PCOS in adolescent and young women increased the SPA level. In line with these results, health professionals must be particularly aware of the potential psychosocial and health needs of adolescent and young women with PCOS.

Women's birth beliefs and associated factors in an obstetrics clinic in the Southeastern Anatolian Region of Turkey

Purpose

The impact of birth beliefs on pregnancy and delivery are universally recognized, but the factors that affect birth beliefs vary across regions depending on individual and cultural characteristics. This study aimed to determine women's birth beliefs and examine their associated factors.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional study was conducted with 548 primiparas in the obstetrics clinic of a university hospital located in the Southeastern Anatolian Region of Turkey from February to June 2019. Descriptive characteristics, form and the Birth Beliefs Scale were used in data collection. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics, T-tests and ANOVA analyses were used.

Findings

It was determined that factors such as age group, income level, any problems during pregnancy and preferred delivery mode statistically affected women's birth beliefs.

Originality/value

Based on the findings from this study, healthcare personnel should provide training and consultation services to pregnant women starting from the prenatal period to help ensure a positive labor experience.

The Turkish version of the Nursing Students' Perceptions of Instructor Caring Scale: An assessment of psychometric properties

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Nursing Students' Perceptions of Instructor Caring (NSPIC-Tr) Scale.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Methodological study. The sample of this study consisted of 344 nursing students.

FINDINGS

Its four-factor structure was confirmed with explanatory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results. The results of CFA showed that the scale's fit index supported the EFA. The scale's Cronbach's alpha internal consistency coefficient had high reliability.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

NSPIC-Tr is a valid and reliable scale for the assessment of Turkish nursing students' perceptions of instructor caring.

Turkish adaptation of the pregnancy-related anxiety questionnaire-revised 2: Validity and reliability study in multiparous and primiparous pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to create a Turkish version of the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire-Revised 2 (PRAQR2), which was revised for application to multiparous and primiparous pregnancy, and to explore its psychometric characteristics in multiparous and primiparous pregnancy.

DESIGN

This study was methodologically designed to assess the reliability and validity of the PRAQ-R2.

SETTING

The study was carried out in the obstetrics clinic of a training and research hospital in Malatya.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 616 healthy pregnant women (399 multiparous and 217 primiparous) constituted the sample of the study.

METHODS

The cultural adaptation process of the questionnaire was conducted in three phases: language validity, content validity, and pilot application. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to test the construct validity of the questionnaire. The reliability of the PRAQ-R2 was evaluated with Cronbach's alpha internal consistency coefficient, item-total correlation, test-retest analysis, and parallel forms reliability.

FINDINGS

The EFA revealed that the PRAQ-R2 consists of 10 items for the multiparous group and 11 for the primiparous group after adding the item ``I am anxious about the delivery because I have never experienced one before.'' The CFA for both groups supported the three-factor questionnaire yielded by the EFA. Good fit index values were obtained in both groups. Cronbach's alpha internal consistency coefficient ranged from 0.81 to 0.93 for the multiparous group and 0.87 to 0.94 for the primiparous group for the complete PRAQ-R2 and each of its subdimensions. In addition, the item-total correlation, test-retest analysis, and parallel forms reliability of the questionnaire were highly correlated.

CONCLUSION

The PRAQ-R2 is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used to evaluate the level of anxiety in Turkish pregnant women irrespective of parity.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The use of the PRAQ-R2 in prenatal healthcare services will contribute to the early diagnosis, treatment, and management of pregnancy-related anxiety.

Effects of Nursing Care Based on Watson's Theory of Human Caring on Anxiety, Distress, And Coping, When Infertility Treatment Fails: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: The failure of infertility treatment leads to individual, familial, and social problems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the nursing care program based on Watson’s "Theory of Human Caring" on anxiety and distress caused by coping when the treatment fails.

Methods: This study randomized controlled trial study was conducted from April to November 2012, with 86 Turkish women with infertility (intervention group: 45, control group: 41). Follow-up of 32 infertile women, who failed infertility treatment from intervention group, and 35 infertile women, who failed infertility treatment from control group, continued for another four weeks. Data were collected through Spiel Berger’s State/Trait Anxiety Inventory, Distress Scale, and Ways of Coping Questionnaire. The analyses of data were conducted using SPSS ver 13.

Results: The intervention and control groups significantly differed in terms of anxiety, distress, and coping levels. The intervention group’s mean anxiety score decreased by thirteen points and distress by fourteen points (in a positive direction). The intervention group’s mean positive coping style score increased. Whereas a negative increase was observed in the control group’s values depending on the failure of the treatment.

Conclusion: Watson’s theory of human caring is recommended as a guide to nursing patients with infertility treatment to decrease levels of anxiety and distress, and to increase the positive coping style among infertile women.