AIM: To determine whether listening to music decreases the requirement for dosages of sedative drugs, patients’ anxiety, pain and dissatisfaction feelings during colonoscopy and makes the procedure more comfortable and acceptable. METHODS: Patients undergoing elective colonoscopy between October 2005 and February 2006 were randomized into either listening to music (Group 1, n = 30) or not listening to music (Group 2, n = 30). Anxiolytic and analgesic drugs (intravenous midazolam and meperidine) were given according to the patients’ demand. Administered medications were monitored. We determined their levels of anxiety using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Test form. Patients’ satisfaction, pain, and willingness to undergo a repeated procedure were self-assessed using a visual analog scale. RESULTS: The mean dose of sedative and analgesic drugs used in group 1 (midazolam: 2.1 ± 1.4, meperidine: 18.1 ± 11.7) was smaller than group 2 (midazolam: 2.4 ± 1.0, meperidine: 20.6 ± 11.5), but without a significant difference (P > 0.05). The mean anxiety level in group 1 was lower than group 2 (36.7 ± 2.2 vs 251.0 ± 1.9, P < 0.001). The mean satisfaction score was higher in group 1 compared to group 2 (87.8 ± 3.1 vs 58.1 ± 3.4, P < 0.001). The mean pain score in group 1 was lower than group 2 (74.1 ± 4.7 vs 39.0 ± 3.9, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Listening to music during colonoscopy helps reduce the dose of sedative medications, as well as patients’ anxiety, pain, dissatisfaction during the procedure. Therefore, we believe that listening to music can play an adjunctive role to sedation in colonoscopy. It is a simple, inexpensive way to improve patients’ comfort during the procedure.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between death anxiety of the Turkish nurses and their attitudes toward the dying patient. This study involved 203 nurses who were working at a university hospital. The data were collected using “Nurse Information Form” (which was prepared by the authors of this research), “Thorson-Powell Death Anxiety Scale,” and “Attitude Scale about Euthanasia, Death, and Dying Patient.” There was a positive correlation between death anxiety and dying patient avoidance behavior and euthanasia score (p < .05). The findings showed that nurses, death anxiety, and death scores were high in the loss of a close relatives (p < .05). Our findings suggest that the situation of the dying patients and their families and also nurses should be improved. Thus, special psychological education/training should be given to the nurses to deal with death anxiety and their attitude to the dying patient.

Objectives: A study was designed to measure the frequency of complementary therapy (CT) usage in cancer patients in southeastern Turkey. The demographic characteristics associated with the use of CT are sought in patients undergoing or following conventional treatment. Methods: A descriptive survey was performed in a total of 560 cancer patients. Questionnaire-based measures of demographics, expectations, and effects of using different types of CT and perceived benefits were recorded. Result: Demographic characteristics (age, gender, education status, etc.) did not differ among CT users and non-CT users. Three hundred ten patients (55.4%) had used at least one type of CT since the time of the initial diagnosis of cancer. The most frequently used CT method was herbal therapy, and the most commonly used herb was the stinging nettle. The source of information about CT was mainly from friends/family, whereas physicians and nurses played a small part in providing CT-related information. The majority of the patients used CT to benefit more from medical treatment. Only 20.7% of the patients considered themselves not benefiting from using CT. Conclusions: Currently more than half of Turkish patients with cancer use CT in addition to the standard medical approaches. CT usage is not associated with any specific demographic variables. Health professionals should not disregard the reality of CT usage in cancer patients. Because the majority of cancer patients use CT regardless of the medical advice, randomized clinical trials are needed to explore risks and benefits associated with CT modalities in cancer.

Sleep disorders are more common in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to determine the sleep quality in adult and elderly people with RA and the factors associated with sleep disorders in each group. The study was conducted with 182 patients (83 elderly and 99 adult patients) diagnosed with RA. Data were collected through a patient identification form including sociodemographic and disease characteristics. The Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to assess quality of life and sleep. The mean PSQI scores of the elderly group were lower than those of adult subjects (P = 0.055). Patients in remission and those with knee involvement had significantly lower PSQI scores (P < 0.05). Mean PSQI scores of elderly single patients and subjects with sleep disorders and restless leg syndrome were significantly higher (P < 0.05). In elderly subjects, the pain and HAQ scores were positively correlated with the PSQI. Sleep quality of elderly rheumatoid arthritis patients was determined to be worse than that of adults; however, the difference was not statistically different. Factors negatively affecting sleep included pain, joints involved, high disease activity, and restless leg syndrome.