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Introduction: This study was conducted to determine the effect of the sound of running water, which we had not previously encountered being used in dialysis patients, on invasive pain and anxiety experienced during cannulation., Methods: The research was conducted as a randomized, controlled study. A descriptive form, a VAS pain scale, and state-trait anxiety scales were used as a data collection form. The data were analyzed on SPSS version 22.00 for Windows software. The independent groups t-test was applied to compare descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, number, and percentage in independent groups, while categorical data were compared using the chi-square test. The effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable was tested using linear regression analysis. p values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant., Results: The study was completed with 32 experimental and 33 control group patients. There was no significant difference in pre-intervention pain and anxiety between the groups. The pain levels of the patients after the first and 12th cannulations were significantly lower in the experimental group (p < 0.05). State and trait anxiety levels were also significantly lower in the experimental group at the 12th session (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: We conclude that the sound of running water has a significant positive effect on pain and anxiety experienced during cannulation by dialysis patients. We recommend that clinicians apply such a simple method as listening to the sound of running water for reducing pain and anxiety during invasive procedures., (© 2024 International Society for Apheresis and Japanese Society for Apheresis.)

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) burden is defined as the proportion of time the patient remains in AF over a given period of time; thus, it is theoretically highest in permanent AF and lowest in paroxysmal AF. Inflammation is associated with the initiation and maintenance of AF. However, the relationship between systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and AF burden is unknown., Objective: In the present study, we investigated the relationship between SII and AF burden., Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional analysis of 453 patients (252 females and 201 males, aged 44 to 94 years) with AF (138 with paroxysmal AF and 315 with permanent AF) who visited the cardiology outpatient clinic between October 2022 and June 2023. SII was calculated as (neutrophils × platelets/lymphocytes). The predictive role of SII and other inflammatory markers in the likelihood of AF pattern was evaluated by logistic regression analyses, and p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: Age, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, diabetes mellitus, neutrophil, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, SII, C-reactive protein, red blood cell distribution width, hemoglobin A1c, and left atrial diameter were significantly higher in the permanent AF group. According to the logistic regression analysis, age (p = 0.038), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.024), red blood cell distribution width (p = 0.023), C-reactive protein (p = 0.010), SII (p = 0.001), and left atrial diameter (p < 0.001) significantly contributed to the prediction of the likelihood of permanent AF., Conclusion: SII is independently associated with the AF burden. Prospective studies are needed to determine whether SII may be useful in identifying patients at high risk for AF progression.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of lavender oil inhalation on the anxiety and comfort levels of patients scheduled for colonoscopy. Seventy-three experimental group patients scheduled for colonoscopy at a training and research hospital in the west of Turkey in June to September 2022 and 72 control group patients were included in this randomized, controlled, prospective study. Minimal sedation (propofol 2-3 mg/kg) was applied in both groups. Lavender inhalation was applied to the experimental group, whereas the control group patients received nursing care (vital sign monitoring, prevention of complications, and rest). The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Shortened General Comfort Questionnaire were used for pre- and postprocedural data collection. Median ages were 53.00 years (47.25-59.00) in the experimental group patients and 51.00 (44.00-59.5) in the control group. Although postprocedural state anxiety scores were lower in the experimental group compared with the control group, the difference was not statistically significant ( p = .069). The general postcolonoscopy comfort score was significantly higher in the experimental group compared with the control group ( p < .001). Trait anxiety scores also increased as the number of colonoscopies increased in both groups. We conclude that lavender oil inhalation, a simple and inexpensive intervention, increases patient comfort while exhibiting a positive, albeit statistically insignificant, effect on anxiety., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates.)

Context: Although a number of studies have shown that lavender administered via inhalation can decrease the invasive pain and anxiety experienced by hemodialysis (HD) patients during cannulation, the evaluation has mostly been on the short-term effectiveness of lavender oil. Also, no study has evaluated the effects of lavender on comfort level., Objective: The study aimed to investigate the long-term effectiveness of lavender oil, when administered via an inhaler during HD sessions, on a patient's experience of invasive pain, anxiety, and comfort during access to the fistula., Design: The research team designed a prospective, single-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial., Setting: The study took place in an HD unit of a public hospital in Kirklareli, Turkey., Participants: Participants were 24 patients receiving HD in the unit between January and March 2021., Intervention: Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Pure lavender essence was diluted with sweet almond oil at a ratio of 1:10. Before the cannulation procedure at 12 HD sessions, three drops of a 1:10 mixture were placed on sterile gauze and held at a distance of about 10 cm from the participant's nose to ensure its inhalation before the fistula puncture with the needle. No extra procedure was performed for the control group., Outcome Measures: Participants completed a visual analogue scale (VAS) right after puncture of the fistula during each HD session. The STAI and HD Comfort Scale were scored at baseline prior to the first HD session and postintervention at the twelfth HD session., Results: The VAS (P < .001) and state anxiety scores (P = .027) were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group at all time points, except at baseline. The comfort scale in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < .05)., Conclusions: Lavender aromatherapy could be a good option for reducing the pain, anxiety, and discomfort level of HD patients.

Introduction: HD unit is a noisy environment for patients, and noise can affect anxiety levels and sleep quality., Methods: The aim of the study is to determine noise level, the relationship between noise levels, and sleep quality and anxiety in patients in HD unit. A descriptive and observational study design was used. Three Benetech GM1351 manual sound-level meters were used to measure noise. A patient information form, the State Anxiety Inventory, and the modified Post-Sleep Inventory were used for data collection., Results: The noise range detected in the HD unit ranges from 48.40 to 72 dB(A). Our findings show that patients in the HD unit are exposed to high noise levels and the noise significantly negatively impacts quality of sleep and anxiety level of the patients., Conclusions: It is important to be aware that HD patients are constantly exposed to high levels of noise and to plan nursing interventions to reduce this noise level., (© 2022 International Society for Apheresis and Japanese Society for Apheresis.)

Background: Successful arteriovenous fistula cannulation ensures maximum patient benefit in the haemodialysis procedure., Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of various cannulation methods used for arteriovenous fistulas on dialysis adequacy., Design: It is a descriptive, cross-sectional and multicenter study., Participants: A total of 164 dialysis patients from four dialysis centers were included., Measurements: Data were collected by determining patients' characteristics and the arteriovenous fistula cannulation method used, in addition to recording the Kt/V and urea reduction ratio values to evaluate dialysis adequacy. The mean Kt/V and urea reduction ratio values over 3 months after dialysis initiation were used. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04270292., Results: Cannulation with the puncture method was used in 53% of the patients; the fistula needles were inserted in the antegrade direction in 43.9% of the patients; the arterial needle was rotated after fistula needle placement in 63.4% of the patients; and the arterial and venous needles were on the same vascular line in 15.2% of the patients. Placement of the fistula needle in the antegrade direction increased the Kt/V value 0.164 times (95% confidence interval: 0.002-0.212, p = .047)., Conclusion: Antegrade placement could be a factor influencing dialysis adequacy. We suggest antegrade interventions to the fistula to maximize the patient benefit from the haemodialysis treatment., (© 2021 European Dialysis and Transplant Nurses Association/European Renal Care Association.)

Introduction: The major salivary glands can be stimulated by chewing gum to increase saliva flow and decrease xerostomia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chewing gum on dry mouth, interdialytic weight gain, and intradialytic symptoms in hemodialysis (HD) patients., Methods: This prospective randomized controlled single-blind study was conducted with patients who had been treated for at least 6 months with sessions 3 days a week for 4 hours at two HD units. Patients were randomly allocated to chewing gum group or the control group. In the chewing gum group, gum was chewed for 10 minutes six times a day, and when the patients felt mouth dryness or were thirsty. In the nonchewing gum group, gum was not chewed. The patients were followed-up for 3 months. A total of three saliva samples were taken before starting treatment at the first, 12th, and 36th HD session. Data were collected with the "Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)," "Hemodialysis Patients Fluid Control Scale," "Dialysis Symptom Index," and "Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale" at baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12., Findings: The study was completed with a total of 44 patients consisting of 22 patients in the each group. The second and third month VAS values (xerostomia) of the patients in the chewing gum groups were statistically significantly lower than those in the control group (P = 0.014, P < 0.001, respectively). The third month salivary flow rate in the chewing gum group was higher than the values in the control group patients (P < 0.001)., Discussion: It is anticipated that this study will raise nurses' awareness of dry mouth and encourage future studies on interventions to increase the salivary flow rate to prevent or treat dry mouth., (© 2020 International Society for Hemodialysis.)