The long-term trend in utilization of traditional Chinese medicine and associated factors among older people in Taiwan.

Background: Both the size of the older population and the use of complementary and alternative medicine are increasing worldwide. This study evaluated the long-term trend in utilization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and associated factors among older people in Taiwan.

Methods: Using the database of population-based interview surveys, we evaluated the one-month prevalence of TCM use among 13,945 older people aged over 65 years from 2001-2017.

Effectiveness of flipped teaching on the knowledge and self-efficacy of nursing personnel in non-pharmacological pain management-aromatherapy: a quasi-experiment.

Background: Aromatherapy is effective in treating pain; however, aromatherapy is not offered in formal nursing education in Taiwan. This study designed aromatherapy training courses for nurses using the flipped teaching approach and explored the effectiveness of the method, which can serve as a reference for future aromatherapy courses.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design and convenience sampling were adopted.

Effectiveness of Elastic Band Exercises on the Functional Fitness of Older Adults in Long-Term Care Facilities.

Background: Population aging has caused a rise in the institutionalization, disability, and mortality rates of older adults worldwide. Older adults are able to engage in muscle training. Elastic band exercises can safely and effectively improve the upper and lower muscle strength and balance of older adults.

Exploring the factors affecting preschool educators' health teaching capacity of life skills using the PRECEDE model: a study of preschool educators in northern Taiwan.

Background: The purpose of this study was to apply the Predisposing, Reinforcing, and Enabling Constructs in Educational Diagnosis and Evaluation (PRECEDE) model to analyze the factors influencing preschool educators' ability to teach health education through life skills.

Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized stratified random sampling and administered survey questionnaires to 503 preschool educators in public and private kindergartens in Taipei City and New Taipei City in 2019. Descriptive and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted.

Students' perceptions of school sugar-free, food and exercise environments enhance healthy eating and physical activity.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between students' perceptions of their school policies and environments (i.e. sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) free policy, plain water drinking, vegetables and fruit eating campaign, outdoor physical activity initiative, and the SH150 programme (exercise 150 min/week at school)) and their dietary behaviours and physical activity.

Pregnant women's attitudes and decision-making regarding prenatal Down syndrome screening and diagnosis: scale development and validation.

Background: Down syndrome is a common chromosomal abnormality and prenatal screening can inform parents of the risk of their baby having Down syndrome. Little research has examined how decisions regarding both Down syndrome screening as well as diagnosis are made among women who are currently pregnant and how their decisions are influenced by their social contexts, specifically family and social media, using mixed methods. The study was to test the validity and reliability of a scale that measures pregnant women's attitudes and decision-making concerning prenatal Down syndrome screening and diagnosis in urban areas of Taiwan.

Development and validation of the Taiwan Children's Health Literacy Test.

Background: Currently, health literacy (HL) worldwide is measured primarily among adults from a medical perspective. A children's HL test from a health promotion perspective is needed. This study develops the Taiwan Children's Health Literacy Test (TCHL) targeted at Taiwanese sixth-graders.

Defining Taiwanese children's health literacy abilities from a health promotion perspective.

Background: Health literacy is related to health inequality, health behaviors, and health status. Globally, health literacy has primarily focused on adults and has been based on the medical model. It is necessary to understand children's life experiences as they relate to health; thus, this study attempted to evaluate and describe the health literacy abilities of sixth-graders in Taiwan.

Health literacy and the determinants of obesity: a population-based survey of sixth grade school children in Taiwan.

Background: Health literacy has become an important health policy and health promotion agenda item in recent years. It had been seen as a means to reduce health disparities and a critical empowerment strategy to increase people's control over their health. So far, most of health literacy studies mainly focus on adults with few studies investigating associations between child health literacy and health status.

Expanding school-district/university partnerships to advance health promoting schools implementation and efficacy in Taiwan.

In 2011, the Taiwan government expanded its support of school-district/university partnership programs that promote the implementation of the evidenced-based Health Promoting Schools (HPS) program. This study examined whether expanding the support for this initiative was effective in advancing HPS implementation, perceived HPS impact and perceived HPS efficacy in Taiwan. In 2011 and 2013, a total of 647 and 1195 schools, respectively, complemented the questionnaire.

Evaluation of the Health-Promoting School Supporting Network in Taiwan.

Background: Taiwan has advocated health-promoting schools (HPS) since 2001 and established the Health-Promoting School Supporting Network (HPSSN) in 2005 to offer administrative support and consultation. Respondents' opinions about HPSSN and the relationship between these perceptions and HPS implementation were examined.

Methods: In 2011, 800 primary and middle schools were selected through stratified random sampling.

An eHealth education intervention to promote healthy lifestyles among nurses.

Background: Nurses often do not adhere to health-promoting lifestyles, compromising their health status and quality of care. This study aimed to evaluate health-promoting effects of an eHealth intervention among nurses compared with conventional handbook learning.

Methods: This controlled before/after study enrolled 105 nurses, 55 in an experimental group and 60 in a control group, for 3 months of intervention.

Facilitating the implementation and efficacy of health-promoting schools via an action-research approach in Taiwan.

Taiwan launched its evidence-based health-promoting school (HPS) program via an action-research approach in 2010. The program featured a collaborative partnership between schools, local education authorities and university support networks. This study was focused on examining whether an HPS action-research approach was effective in advancing HPS implementation, perceived HPS impact and perceived HPS efficacy in Taiwan.

Factors and symptoms associated with work stress and health-promoting lifestyles among hospital staff: a pilot study in Taiwan.

Background: Healthcare workers including physicians, nurses, medical technicians and administrative staff experience high levels of occupational stress as a result of heavy workloads, extended working hours and time-related pressure. The aims of this study were to investigate factors associated with work stress among hospital staff members and to evaluate their health-promoting lifestyle behaviors.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from May 1, 2010 to July 30, 2010 and recruited 775 professional staff from two regional hospitals in Taiwan using purposive sampling.

Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of short-form Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adolescents.

Aims And Objectives: The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of short-form Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adolescents.

Background: Assessing health literacy is vital to design health education programme; however, there are no measurement tools exist for use specifically in Chinese adolescents.

Design: A non-experimental design was used to test the psychometric properties of the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adolescents.

The effectiveness of pelvic floor exercises, digital vaginal palpation and interpersonal support on stress urinary incontinence: an experimental study.

Background/aims: The objective of this study is to examine if interpersonal support and digital vaginal palpation (DVP) as part of the pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) training is more effective for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) than PFME with a printed handout instruction.

Methods: 108 women who presented to the family medicine outpatient clinic without having urine leakage as a chief complaint were selected. They were randomized to either the group who received interpersonal support and DVP as part of the PFME training (experimental group), or the group who received PFME with a printed handout instruction (control group).

Urinary incontinence among Taiwanese women: an outpatient study of prevalence, comorbidity, risk factors, and quality of life.

The objective of this study was to evaluate comorbidity and risk factors associated with female urinary incontinence and to assess quality of life for women with different types of urinary incontinence. Subjects included 551 consecutive females who attended the outpatient clinic from 9 March to 8 July 2006 and did not have a chief complaint of incontinence. A four-item incontinence questionnaire and a Chinese version of the Incontinence-Quality of Life (I-QOL) questionnaire were completed in the waiting room.

Effects of an empowerment-based education program for public health nurses in Taiwan.

Aim And Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of an empowerment-based education program (EBEP) on employee empowerment, job satisfaction, job productivity and innovative behaviours for public health nurses (PHN) in Taiwan.

Background: Empowerment is an important consideration among nurses trying to function in ever-changing health care and education settings. Several studies focused on the trend of public health nursing revealed that PHN have experienced a severe feeling of powerlessness.

Employee empowerment, innovative behavior and job productivity of public health nurses: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey.

Background: Employee empowerment is an important organizational issue. Empowered employees with new ideas and innovative attributes may increase their ability to respond more effectively to face extensive changes in current public health care work environments.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between employee empowerment, innovative behaviors and job productivity of public health nurses (PHNs).