Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of basic electrocardiography (ECG) training on the knowledge levels of final-year nursing students.
Method: The study, conducted using a quasi-experimental design with a single-group pre-test–post-test and 6-month follow-up measurement, included 92 final-year nursing students from a university in western Turkey. Students received a total of 8 hours of basic electrocardiography training, utilizing active teaching methods such as lectures, question-and-answer sessions, and practical applications. Data were collected using a "Descriptive Characteristics Form" and a "Basic Electrocardiography Knowledge Form." Descriptive statistics, numbers, and percentages were used in the analysis of the data. The STROBE checklist was used for reporting the findings.
Results: Post-training evaluations revealed a significant increase in students' ECG knowledge levels compared to the pre-test. The correct response rates regarding the sequencing of P-Q-R-S-T waves, the definition of the RR interval, electrode placement, rhythm assessment, and the recognition of some rhythm abnormalities increased significantly in the 1st month after training, and this increase was largely maintained in many areas in the 6th month evaluation. However, partial knowledge loss was determined in some areas at 6 months.
Conclusion: It was determined that basic electrocardiography training is effective in increasing the knowledge level of final-year nursing students regarding ECG. While the gains obtained after the training were largely maintained, it is recommended that periodic refresher training be planned for the continuity of knowledge. It is thought that the results of the study will contribute to basic ECG training in nursing education programs.

Objective: Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. This descriptive study aimed to examine the relationship between adults’ knowledge levels of cardiovascular disease risk factors, risky health behaviors, and selected biophysiological measurements.
Methods: The study was conducted with adults registered at five family health centers (n=487). Data were collected using a “Questionnaire Form” and the “Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Knowledge Level Scale,” and biophysiological measurements were also obtained. To balance the number of women and men in the study, a random secondary dataset was created based on the minimum required sample size, and relational analyses were performed using this secondary dataset (n=120).
Results: According to the first dataset (n=487), 91% of the participants were female, and 41.7% had a chronic disease. Among the participants, 20.1% were smokers, 39.4% consumed more than one heaping teaspoon of salt per day, 34.1% consumed fewer than five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, 48.3% frequently felt stressed, 45.7% engaged in less than 150 minutes of physical activity per week, 32.4% were overweight, and 41.5% were obese. In the evaluation conducted using the second dataset (n=120), knowledge levels regarding cardiovascular disease risk factors differed according to systolic blood pressure and colon screening status.
Conclusion: Risky health behaviors and obesity prevalence were observed to be high among the participants. Therefore, initiatives to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors are needed in the region.

Objective: During the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation and worldwide calls to stay at home may have limited physical activity among patients with implanted cardiac devices. This study aimed to determine the physical activity levels of patients with implanted cardiac devices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: This study had a descriptive design. Data were obtained from the accelerometer records of 77 patients followed up at a university hospital.
Results: A significant difference was found between the mean physical activity durations of the patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2.90±1.25 vs 2.68±1.37 hours/day, respectively; p=.007). A greater decrease in physical activity was observed among older patients, male patients, patients who reported receiving an implantable cardiac device shock, and those with implantable cardiac devices.
Conclusion: Interventions should be planned to ensure continuity of home follow-up, especially in situations in which physical activity is limited by various factors, such as pandemic conditions. Interventions should also be planned to increase physical activity levels in patients with implantable cardiac devices. Encouraging patients with implantable cardiac devices to engage in physical activity through remote monitoring systems may be beneficial.

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the self-protective attitudes of individuals with first-degree relatives diagnosed with hypertension.
Method: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between June 11 and September 11, 2024, using the snowball sampling method via social media. Data were collected using the “Personal Information Form” and the “Attitudes Scale Toward Prevention of Hypertension (ASPH).”
Results: Of the 161 individuals who participated in the study, 99 (61.5%) were female, 94 (58.4%) were university graduates and had an income equal to their expenses, 114 (70.8%) had never smoked, and 96 (59.6%) had a mother or father with hypertension. ASPH mean scores were higher among women, individuals with higher education levels, those whose relatives had been diagnosed with hypertension less than 6 months ago or 7 months to 5 years ago, those who correctly knew the blood pressure value used for the diagnosis of hypertension, those whose relatives had experienced cardiovascular complications due to hypertension, and those whose mother or father had hypertension; these differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Individuals with first-degree relatives diagnosed with hypertension were found to have good attitudes toward protecting themselves from hypertension.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a nurse-guided Tai Chi exercise program on cardiac function and quality of life in patients with heart failure (HF) as part of the Tai-Heart randomized controlled trial.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 46 patients with HF who were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention consisted of a 12-week Yang-style Tai Chi program. The primary outcomes were left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and NT-proBNP levels, and the secondary outcomes were six-minute walking distance (6MWD) and quality of life. Data were analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle, with ANCOVA used for baseline adjustments.
Results: After 12 weeks, the intervention group showed significant improvements compared with the control group. NT-proBNP levels decreased (MD: -4.38; 95% CI: -5.80 to -2.97; p=.008), LVEF increased (MD: 4.09; 95% CI: 3.22 to 4.97; p<.001), and 6MWD improved (MD: 38.58; 95% CI: 32.78 to 44.38; p<.001). No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in quality-of-life scores (MD: -5.94; 95% CI: -8.68 to -3.20; p=.064).
Conclusion: Tai Chi, as a low-intensity and accessible form of exercise, may serve as a practical public health approach in HF nursing.

Objective: This observational, cross-sectional study evaluated the responses of three artificial intelligence–powered chatbots (ChatGPT, Gemini 3, and Microsoft Copilot) to the Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale in terms of information quality, reliability, and readability.
Methods: On January 15, 2026, all scale items were entered into the three chatbots. The responses were evaluated by 11 experts specializing in internal medicine nursing using the Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (EQIP) and DISCERN tools. Readability was assessed using the Average Reading Level Consensus (ARLC) calculator.
Results: A statistically significant difference was found among the chatbots in EQIP scores (p=0.040), with Gemini 3 achieving the highest quality score (55.00±13.23) and Microsoft Copilot the lowest score (42.13±18.41). DISCERN scores also differed significantly among the groups (p<0.001), with ChatGPT demonstrating the highest information reliability (57.42±8.19). Readability levels were similar across the chatbots and were generally difficult to read.
Conclusion: AI-powered chatbots have notable potential to support patient education in hypertension; however, due to limitations in content accuracy, reliability, and readability, they are not sufficient as standalone tools in nursing practice. Their use should be guided and supervised by nurses and supported by further multicenter experimental studies evaluating patient outcomes.

Natural disasters occur in many regions of the world and produce adverse outcomes at both national and international levels. These events lead to significant negative consequences for affected populations during and after the disaster period. Individuals exposed to disasters experience substantial physical and emotional stress resulting from familial and economic losses. Post-traumatic stress responses trigger various long-term pathophysiological processes. Recent epidemiological and clinical studies demonstrate that natural disasters are associated with both acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases. Evidence indicates that post-disaster stress disrupts physiological homeostasis, elevates blood pressure, alters circadian blood pressure variability, increases blood viscosity and catecholamine levels, and accelerates platelet activation. Consequently, the incidence of cardiovascular events increases in both the short and long term. In the acute phase immediately following a disaster, nurses, as frontline health professionals, must coordinate available resources with appropriate health services to prevent the development of acute health conditions, particularly cardiovascular complications. Regardless of the type or magnitude of the disaster, implementing timely and appropriate preventive interventions for cardiovascular events should be a priority, as this approach can substantially reduce post-disaster morbidity and mortality. Further research is needed in this field. Disaster nursing practices should be expanded, and greater awareness should be promoted. Study findings should also be communicated to relevant institutions and organizations. This review discusses natural disasters and their effects on the cardiovascular system. It also examines the concept of disaster cardiology, the physiological mechanisms underlying disaster-related cardiovascular effects, the relationship between disasters and cardiovascular events, and the roles of nurses in this context.