INTRODUCTION: There is no current data on the number and qualifications of the academic nursing work force in the mental health and psychiatric field in Turkey. The purpose of this research, therefore, is to construct a profile of academics who are working in the field of mental health and psychiatric nursing in Turkey.
METHODS: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between January–May 2018 via a digital questionnaire form. Of the 227 teaching staff with internet access who were invited to participate in the study, 177 filled out the questionnaires. The questionnaire consists of 42 questions about personal and professional experience. Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of the data.
RESULTS: Among the participants, 5.6% were professors; 16.9% were associate professors; 31.3% were doctoral faculty members, 14.6% were faculty members and 31.6% were research assistants. The percentage of those with master of science degrees in Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing was 73.4%, while those with a doctorate in this field was 55.4%. It was further found that 89.8% of the participants worked full time, 34.5% had 1–5 years of academic experience, 45.2% taught outside the field of mental health, 20.9% had clinical experience in the field of mental health and 12.4% had never worked in a clinical area before. Finally, 34.5% stated that they had visited or studied in an institution abroad and 63.8% had participated in congresses abroad, with the mean number of international congresses attended being 3.92 (Max: 43).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The fact that about one-third of the academics were at the beginning of their academic experience and that half had no doctorate degree can be seen as characteristics posing possible risks to reaching goals. In contrast, the high number of those with clinical experience in the field of mental health can be viewed as a strong quality of the academic profile.

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) aims to neutralize obsessions and improve insight, in consideration of the information that OCD patients have positive beliefs about anxiety and do not rely on their attention and memory. Nevertheless, there are a limited number of studies about the relationship of insight with metacognitions and types of obsessive beliefs among OCD patients. This study aims to investigate those relationships.
METHODS: This study was conducted with a patient group, 101 OCD patients, and 52 healthy volunteers in the control group. All participants were given the Sociodemographic Data Form, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Obsessional Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ-44) and Metacognition Questionnaire (MCQ-30). The patient group also received the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and the Overvalued Ideas Scale (OVIS). According to OVIS scores, the patient group was separated into two groups; poor insight and good insight.
RESULTS: The average scores of positive beliefs and cognitive confidence subscales of MCQ-30 were credible among the patient and healthy control groups. Patients with poor and good insight did not differ with regard to severity of obsessions, compulsions, depression, duration and beginning type of the disorder and other clinical and demographic variables and average scale scores. Patients with poor insight had higher average scores of MCQ positive beliefs than patients with good insight; however, the difference was not significant despite being close to the statistical significance verge. Depression severity of patients was higher than controls.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Study results demonstrates that, contrary to common belief, certain metacognitions of patients and controls were comparable. No significant relationship was found between insight and metacognition in OCD. There is a need for qualitative studies with larger samples and more demographic and clinical data regarding insight. Additionally, the role of insight in OCD is arguable and the deterministic role of the level of insight in clinical approach and treatment should be questioned.

INTRODUCTION: This study was conducted methodologically to adapt the Pictorial Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PPSC) into Turkish and test its validity and reliability. The adaptation of the PPSC into Turkish will ensure the early diagnosis at risk children aged 6–16, directing families and children to necessary health institutions in a timely manner for detailed diagnosis and treatment; it shall also mean that nationwide studies can be conducted at a lower cost, as well as more effectively and more easily.
METHODS: This methodological study was completed using 799 parents whose children, aged 6–16 years, were studying in two different primary schools in Istanbul.
RESULTS: Content and construct validity were used to validate the PPSC, while internal consistency and test-invariance technique were used for reliability. The Content Validity Index was found to be 92.2%. Within the item-total correlations, only one item’s correlation (item 20) was found to be below 0.30 and it was removed from the scale. Thus, the factor analysis of the scale was applied to a total of 34 items. A four-factor structure emerged as a result of the factor analysis and the factor loadings of the items were found to be between 0.33 and 0.72. The total variance of the four-factor structure is 37.63%. The Cronbach alpha value of the PPSC was calculated as 0.89.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The Turkish version of the PPSC was found to be a valid and reliable surveying tool that provides the opportunity to examine children’ psychosocial and behavioral problems.

INTRODUCTION: The research was conducted to determine the post-12 month frequency of traumatic stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms and related risk factors in individuals who were exposed to terrorist incidents in areas experiencing prolonged armed conflict.
METHODS: The research was carried out using a cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational design. The research sample consisted of 331 individuals who voluntarily agreed to participate in the research, lived in areas experiencing prolonged armed conflict, and were exposed to terrorist attacks. For data collection, a personal information form, the Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale (TSSS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Beck Anxiety Scale (BAS) were used. In the data analysis, descriptive analysis, Mann Whitney U Test, Kruskal Wallis Test, multiple regression and Spearman correlation were used.
RESULTS: It was determined that 79.2% of the individuals participating in the study had potential traumatic stress symptoms, and that in 52% of the individuals, depression accompanied the traumatic stress symptoms. Furthermore, it was found that 70.7% of the individuals had symptoms indicating depressiveness and anxiety. Results of the correlation analysis at the 0.01 level showed that there was a positive-high level correlation between TSSS and BDI, a positive-moderate level correlation between TSSS and BAS, and a positive-moderate correlation between BDI and BAS. A statistically significant difference was found between the mean total scale scores on the TSSS, BDI and BAS in terms of the economic status of the individuals Finally, it was determined that there was a statistically significant relationship between the mean total scores on the TSSS, BDI and BAS and the individuals’ status of being in need of immediate psychological support.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It was observed that all the participants had anxiety, and that most of them had depressive symptoms and a high level of traumatic stress.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to adapt the Nurse Codependency Questionnaire (NCQ) into Turkish and to ensure its validity and reliability.
METHODS: This study was conducted with 538 nurses working at five state hospitals and one university hospital in Gaziantep Province from March 3 to 29 August 29, 2014. The data were collected using a personal information form and the Nurse Codependency Questionnaire after ensuring the equivalency of the questionnaire’s items in the Turkish language. The statistical analysis of the data was done using SPSS 22 for Windows. The analysis of factor groups used confirmatory factor analysis. The analysis of data conformity used Barlett’s test and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test in the determination of internal consistency. Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient and test-retest correlation tests were used to determine internal consistency.
RESULTS: The linguistic validity of the NCQ was determined to be sufficient after translation and back-translation, and consulting expert opinion. For the NCQ, sample size was calculated using the KMO (0.81) and Barlett’s test (1,965.419). The root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) of the questionnaire was 0.051, the comparative fit index (CFI) was 0.88, the normed fit index (NFI) was 0.84, and the standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) was 0.046. The Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient for the 15 items in factor 1 was 0.74. For the 9 items in factor 2 it was 0.50, and it was 0.77 for all 24 items on the questionnaire. The test-retest correlation value was r=0.79, and there was a significant correlation between the results of the both tests (p<0.000).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The Nurse Codependency Questionnaire has high levels of validity and reliability and can be used to determine levels of nurse codependency in Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to determine the level of knowledge and stigma about HIV/AIDS in adults without a history of HIV/AIDS. Additionally, it aims to evaluate the related factors and to examine the relationship between the level of knowledge and stigma.
METHODS: This study was conducted with 185 people between the ages of 18–70 who were present in a university hospital for reasons other than health problems. The sociodemographic characteristics of the individuals were recorded and the level of knowledge and stigma related to HIV/AIDS was evaluated using a literature questionnaire consisting of 34 items prepared using expert opinions.
RESULTS: The median knowledge score (min-max) of the participants regarding HIV/AIDS was 9 (0–15) and the median score (min-max) regarding HIV/AIDS stigma was 5 (0–15). The three most frequently preferred sources of information about HIV/AIDS were media, school, family and friends. It was determined that the knowledge of university graduates about HIV/AIDS was higher than that of high school graduates. HIV/AIDS related stigmatization level was found to be higher in males than in females, and in those with lower levels of education. It was determined that the increase in the level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS was associated with a decrease in stigmatization level.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The most striking result of the research is that the stigmatization level related to HIV/AIDS is affected by both the level of knowledge of the participants and the level of education. Based on these results, interventions directed toward education will reduce stigma related to HIV/AIDS and that men especially, and people with lower education levels need to be selected as the target group for information.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Healthy Families Parenting Inventory (HFPI) developed by Krysik and LeCroy.
METHODS: This methodological study was carried out over the period April–May 2018 with 370 parents in Istanbul. The back-translation technique was employed in creating the Turkish language version of the inventory. In testing the validity of the scale, content and construct validity were examined. Content validity was assessed with the content validity index (CVI) after consultation with ten experts. Construct validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The scale’s reliability was assessed by examining internal consistency and item-total correlations.
RESULTS: The CVI of the scale based on the items was 0.80–1; this was found to be 95% on the basis of the overall scale. In the assessment of construct validity, the t-values of all items tested in the CFA displayed a value of 0.01, which was significant. The fit indices were found to be well matched and the scale had a nine-factor structure. The inventory’s internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and found to be 0.93. Cronbach’s alpha values of the subscales ranged from 0.66 to 0.85.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The healthy families parenting inventory was found to be valid and reliable.

INTRODUCTION: This study was conducted to explore the impact of a domestic violence course on nursing students’ knowledge of domestic violence against women, their ability to recognize signs of violence, and their attitudes toward combating domestic violence against women.
METHODS: This study used pre-test post-test quasi-experimental design with control groups and was conducted between September 2015 and December 2017 in the nursing department of a university in Ýstanbul. Participants in the intervention group attended a Domestic Violence Course (for 2 hours a week for 14 weeks; totaling 28 class hours). Study data were gathered using the Domestic Violence Against Women Test of Knowledge, the Scale for Recognizing the Signs of Violence, and the Attitudes Toward Domestic Violence Scale during both pre-training and post-training. Data collected from a total of 200 study participants (intervention=100; control group=100) were the evaluated.
RESULTS: An examination of the findings of the study demonstrates that participants in both the intervention and the control group displayed significantly higher scores (p<0.05) in their knowledge about domestic violence against women after the training compared to their scores prior to the intervention. The participants in the intervention group displayed significantly higher levels in recognizing signs of physical violence (p<0.05) and in identifying the signs of emotional violence (p<0.01) after they had received the education compared to their scores before the intervention. The intervention group’s attitudes were also found to be significantly different before and after the education (p<0.05).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that a domestic violence course may increase nursing students’ knowledge of domestic violence against women, as well as increase their ability to recognize signs of violence. Such a course may also be effective for developing positive attitudes toward combating domestic violence against women. Therefore, a domestic violence course should be included in nursing curricula.

The concept of compassion inherent in the nursing profession is a significant value. It motivates nurses to act ethically and in a sensitive way while providing care. Compassion is an essential element of good nursing care. Thus, compassionate care is not only a significant part of modern patient care but also a vital function of professional nursing. Although it is known as a fundamental characteristic of nursing, there are limited data about the characteristics of compassion. More data is needed regarding whether and how often compassion is included in nursing practices. As with the concept of compassion, there are difficulties with the exact definition of compassionate care, what compassionate care behaviors include, and how provision of compassionate care can be proven or measured. This review comprehensively discusses information regarding the concept of compassion and its significance in nursing, compassionate care, and compassionate care behaviors. We also discuss measurement of compassionate care in accordance with the current literature.

Mishel’s Theory of Uncertainty in Illness (1988-1990) explains how patients and caregivers interpret the uncertainty about the course of an illness. Additionally, it provides a framework for selecting of interventions that will improve the psychological and behavioral outcomes of uncertainty. This manuscript provides an example of the care provided to a caregiver of an individual with schizophrenia based on Mishel’s Theory of Uncertainty in Illness. A caregiver referred to as GC is staying with the patient who has been hospitalized at the clinic for one and a half months as her attendant. GC had been providing care for the patient in her home for the last five years and has experienced psychosocial problems. The main concepts of the Theory of Uncertainty in Illness are: antecedents of uncertainty, appraisal of uncertainty and coping with uncertainty. GC’s statements such as “While we were thinking that she was almost well, now we are back to the beginning and I am confused about it” as well as reporting her lack of understanding about the course of the illness shows the uncertainty that she experienced and the antecedents of this uncertainty. The caregiver needed information about the course of the chronic illness and perceived uncertainty as a negative situation. Her crying and feelings of helplessness illustrated she had an emotion-focused coping mechanism. Having knowledge about the situations that create uncertainty in the caregiver, the researcher used the interventions to improve knowledge about the disease, cognitive reframing, problem solving and communication skills in managing uncertainty. The theory is thought to explain the uncertainties caregivers have with managing a patient with schizophrenia. This theory supports the interaction between caregivers and nurses. There are few studies based on UIT in Turkey, therefore further studies are needed to test the UIT.