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BACKGROUND:Some pregnant women have negative emotions that may predominate and they may develop a fear of childbirth. This causes negative consequences for their health and well-being. A complete definition of the causes of childbirth fear has not yet been established in the literature, but in a systematic review, various factors were found.OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to reveal the effect of educational, cognitive, and behavioral interventions on the reduction of fear of childbirth (FOC) in pregnant women.METHODS:For this meta-analysis study, articles in PubMed, EBSCOhost, Web of Science, YO¨K Thesis Center, and Google Scholar databases were searched without any year limitation in between September 2022 and February 2023. A total of 25 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The data were analyzed by meta-analysis and narrative methods.RESULTS:This meta-analysis showed that educational, cognitive, and behavioral interventions were effective in reducing FOC in pregnant women (standardized mean difference: −1.229, 95% confidence interval [−1.586, −0.872]; Z= −6,746, p= .000, I2= 94.225%). In subgroup analyzes, intervention types such as antenatal education, mindfulness, psychoeducation, and psychotherapy were found to be effective in reducing FOC. Interventions applied to women who have FOC reduce the FOC and provide a more positive birth experience.CONCLUSION:Results of the present study showed that educational programs could serve as an important tool in reducing women’s fear from natural childbirth and in choosing physiologic birth.

Mindfulness-based interventions have been receiving growing attention in cancer care. This study was performed to determine the effect of a mindfulness-based stress reduction program on depression and quality of life in cancer patients. The screenings in the study were performed in January to May 2023 through the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and YÖK Thesis Center databases. After the reviews, 14 studies were included in the study. This meta-analysis showed that mindfulness-based stress reduction programs were effective on depression (SMD: −0.363; 95% CI: −0.711 to 0.015; Z = −2.042; P= .041; I2 = 85.229%) and quality of life (SMD: 0.363; 95 CI%: 0.111-0.615; Z = 2.822; P= .005; I2 = 75.222%). The type of cancer (SMD: 0.385; CI: between 0.005 and 0.528; P= .000); duration of therapy (SMD: 0.243; CI: between 0.093 and 0.393; P= .002); the person providing therapy (SMD: 0.335; CI: between 0.133 and 0.507; P= .001); scale used (SMD: 0.290; CI: between 0.148 and 0.432; P= .000); and the origin of the study (SMD: 0.298; CI: between 0.158 and 0.438; P= .000) moderators were found to play a role in the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based stress reduction program on the quality of life of cancer patients. The mindfulness-based stress reduction program yields positive outcomes by reducing depression, enhancing the quality of life in cancer patients, and promoting overall mental well-being in individuals.

This phenomenological study aims to explore the experiences of individuals undergoing chemotherapy, focusing on their symptoms and the use of complementary and alternative treatments to cope with these challenges. Thirteen individuals diagnosed with cancer in a city in the central region of Turkey were interviewed using a semi-structured, in-depth approach in this phenomenological study. The criterion sampling method was employed to select participants, and interviews continued until data saturation was achieved. Thematic analysis was applied to the audio-recorded and transcribed interviews. The study adhered to the COREQ checklist for reporting qualitative research. The data analysis revealed 2 main categories (effects of cancer and chemotherapy on individuals, the use of complementary and alternative treatments to cope with the symptoms of patients receiving chemotherapy) and 6 themes (psychological effects, social impacts, physical effects, social practices, psychological practices, and physical practices). The study demonstrated that individuals faced significant psychological, physical, and social challenges due to cancer, posing difficulties in coping. The symptoms had a substantial negative impact on individuals. The research identified the use of various alternative methods, such as yoga, the Mediterranean diet, and music therapy, as coping strategies. It is recommended that individuals undergoing chemotherapy explore complementary and alternative treatment methods to effectively manage symptoms.

This study used a phenomenological research approach to investigate the experiences of individuals in an eastern Turkey city who initiated substance use during childhood. Fourteen participants were selected using criterion sampling and engaged in semistructured, in-depth interviews. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, and a thematic analysis was applied to the data. The study revealed 3 overarching categories (reasons leading to substance use, effects of substance addiction, and coping with addiction) and 9 subthemes (familial factors, environmental factors, traumatic experiences, personal factors, psychological effects, physical effects, social effects, perception of social support, and treatment process).