Purpose Children receiving cancer treatment frequently experience anxiety, mood disturbances, and symptom burden during hospitalization. This study examined structured music therapy in relation to anxiety, mood, and symptom burden among hospitalized pediatric oncology patients aged 6–12 years. Design and methods This quasi-experimental, non-randomized, single-group sequential control-phase/intervention-phase repeated-measures pretest–posttest study was conducted in a pediatric hematology–oncology unit in Türkiye between December 2024 and November 2025. Thirty children were first observed during a routine-care control phase and then participated in a structured music therapy phase. The intervention included four individual sessions delivered twice weekly over two weeks. Outcomes were assessed at matched twice-weekly measurement points across both phases using the State Anxiety Scale for Children, Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire–Child Form, Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire–Parent Form, and Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool. Repeated-measures ANOVA examined condition, time, and condition × time effects. Effect sizes were reported using partial eta squared (ηp2). The study was not prospectively registered. Results Anxiety showed significant condition, time, and condition × time effects (ηp2 = 0.607, 0.136, and 0.226, respectively), suggesting a favorable anxiety-related pattern during the structured music therapy phase. Child-reported mood showed significant condition and time effects, whereas parent-reported mood and symptom burden showed significant condition effects only. Non-significant interaction effects were interpreted cautiously. These findings indicate associations and favorable trends rather than definitive causal effects and require confirmation in larger randomized multicenter studies with follow-up. Practice implications Structured music therapy may be a feasible supportive intervention associated with favorable anxiety-related outcomes and may support holistic, child-centered pediatric oncology nursing care when implemented through interdisciplinary collaboration and standardized protocols.
Background Preterm neonates have an immature skin barrier, increasing their susceptibility to moisture loss and impaired skin integrity. However, evidence regarding the most appropriate topical moisturising agent for this population remains limited. Purpose This trial aims to investigate the effects of applying coconut oil and a moisturising lotion to the skin of preterm neonates on their skin moisture, skin pH, skin integrity, and vital signs. Methods This randomised controlled trial was conducted with 90 preterm neonates with a gestational age of 320/7–376/7 weeks who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit between December 2024 and December 2025. The sample consisted of two intervention groups and one control group [Moisturising Lotion (ML) group (n = 30), Coconut Oil (CO) group (n = 30) and Control group (n = 30)]. The data were collected using an Infant Information and Monitoring Form, a skin moisture meter, a skin pH meter and the Neonatal Skin Condition Score (NSCS). Results Following the application, skin moisture rates in the abdominal, arm and leg regions significantly rose in the intervention groups compared with the control group (p < .05). A significant rise was found in intra-group skin pH values on the 3rd and 5th days in the ML group and on day 5 in the CO group (p < .05). The NSCS score significantly dropped over time in both intervention groups (p < .001). Effect size analyses indicated a more pronounced improvement in skin condition scores in the CO group (p < .001; η2 = 0.551). Conclusion The results of this study indicated that interventions of coconut oil and moisturising lotion may be effective in improving skin moisture and supporting skin integrity in preterm neonates. As coconut oil has a greater effect on the skin integrity of premature infants, using it as a moisturising topical agent is recommended. Practice implications Coconut oil and moisturising lotion may be considered low-cost and safe nursing interventions to support skin hydration and skin integrity in preterm neonates. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT07503457
Objectives This study examined the relationship between e-healthy nutrition literacy, maternal feeding attitudes, and anxiety levels in mothers of children with food allergies. Method This descriptive and correlational study was conducted between November 2024 and May 2025 with 174 mothers of children aged 0–6 years diagnosed with food allergies in western Türkiye. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the Sociodemographic Information Form, the e-Healthy Nutrition Literacy Scale, the Maternal Attitudes Toward Feeding Scale, and the Trait Anxiety Inventory to assess maternal anxiety. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression analyses including allergy-related symptom categories as predictors were performed. Results No significant relationship was found between e-healthy nutrition literacy and maternal anxiety or feeding attitudes. However, maternal feeding attitudes were positively associated with anxiety levels (p < 0.001). Regression analyses showed that e-healthy nutrition literacy was not a significant predictor of maternal anxiety or feeding attitudes. Breastfeeding status and systemic/cardiovascular symptoms were associated with maternal anxiety, whereas breastfeeding status, number of children, income level, and systemic/cardiovascular symptoms were associated with feeding attitudes. Mean scores were 37.23 ± 6.11 for e-healthy nutrition literacy, 71.40 ± 16.86 for maternal feeding attitudes, and 46.39 ± 7.47 for trait anxiety. Conclusion Maternal anxiety and feeding attitudes appear to be influenced more by clinical and caregiving-related factors than by e-healthy nutrition literacy alone. These findings highlight the importance of holistic approaches addressing both clinical and psychosocial dimensions in childhood food allergy management. Practice implications Nursing interventions focusing on symptom management and maternal coping may help reduce anxiety and improve the feeding process.
Background Parents of children with immunodeficiency disorders may experience emotional difficulties prior to diagnosis. For this reason, the present study aims to examine the pre-diagnosis emotions and experiences of parents of children with immunodeficiency disorders by using a phenomenological approach. Methods This qualitative study employed a descriptive phenomenological design. The study was conducted between January and April 2026 with parents of children receiving treatment for immunodeficiency disorders at the Pediatric Day Treatment Unit of a university hospital. Nineteen parents were recruited using purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews, all of which were audio-recorded. The data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's six-step inductive thematic analysis method. Results The thematic analysis revealed six interconnected themes reflecting parents' experiences before the diagnosis of immunodeficiency: helplessness during the prediagnostic period, anxiety during the prediagnostic period, perceived inadequacy and guilt, protective responses to recurrent infections, social isolation and being judged, and the burden of prolonged caregiving. Overall, parents' experiences were characterized by a perceived lack of control over their children's recurrent illnesses, uncertainty surrounding the diagnostic process, self-questioning and guilt, intensive efforts to prevent infections, feelings of being misunderstood and judged, and substantial physical and emotional caregiving burden. Conclusion It was found that parents of children with immunodeficiency disorders experienced negative emotions and experiences prior to diagnosis. Application to practice Identifying the emotions and experiences of parents of children with immunodeficiency disorders prior to diagnosis can facilitate the individualization of nursing care and the planning of appropriate psychosocial support interventions.
Background Nocturnal enuresis adversely affects school-aged children and family quality of life. Aim To evaluate the effect of the empowerment program on mothers' knowledge, self-reported practices, and quality of life. Design Two-arm randomized controlled trial with assessments at baseline, four weeks, and three months post-intervention. Methods At the outpatient urinary incontinence clinic of the Center for Social and Preventive Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt, 200 purposively recruited mothers were randomly assigned 1:1 using a computer-generated sequence with allocation concealed in numbered, sealed envelopes. Outcomes were assessed using two researcher-developed, content-validated instruments and a modified Arabic Pediatric Enuresis Module on Quality of Life, Short Form. Linear mixed models compared groups over time. Results Groups were comparable at baseline. Group × time interactions favored the intervention for knowledge (F(2, 396) = 124.5), practices (F(2, 396) = 68.9), and quality of life (F(2, 396) = 92.3); all p < 0.001. At three months, improvements in intervention versus control groups were 8.23 versus 1.30 points for knowledge, 3.84 versus 0.72 for practices, and 19.9 versus 3.5 for quality of life. Between-group effect sizes were large (Cohen's d = 2.12, 1.17, and 1.78, respectively). Conclusion The program improved mothers' knowledge, self-reported practices, and quality of life, with effects maintained at three months. These mother-reported outcomes do not demonstrate improvement in children's enuresis. Recommendations The program may be considered an adjunct to standard care in outpatient settings. Multicenter trials with longer follow-up and objective child outcomes are needed before routine implementation.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07753304 (retrospectively registered).
