Taiwan's community health care evolution: Navigating pandemic challenges and shaping the future.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly shaped population dynamics and healthcare systems. Primary care clinics in Taiwan demonstrated remarkable resilience in managing the pandemic. This adaptability is reflected in rigorous screening processes, proactive vaccination efforts, and the seamless integration of telehealth services.

The seroepidemiology of isolated core antibody against hepatitis B among Taiwanese adults - A large hospital-based study.

Background/purpose: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of isolated core antibodies against hepatitis B (IAHBc) in different birth cohorts using a large medical record database.

Methods: Hepatitis B viral serological test data were collected from a chart cloud database at a medical center in Taiwan between January 2006 and December 2018. The data collected included birth year, sex, hepatitis B viral markers (HBsAg, anti-HBs or anti-HBc), and hepatitis B vaccination records.

Ten years' trend analysis for Taiwanese youth high school students' health behaviors.

Purpose: To delineate the 10 years' trend regarding Taiwanese adolescents' health perspectives and compare the differences of six adolescent health aspects between Taiwan and the U.S.

Methods: The anonymous structured questionnaire was done every other year with representative sampling methods as Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System in the United States.

The potential prolonged effect at one-year follow-up after 18-month randomized controlled trial of a 90 g/day low-carbohydrate diet in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect at a one-year follow-up after an 18-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 90 gm/day low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) in type 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: Eighty-five poorly controlled type 2 diabetic patients with an initial HbA1c ≥ 7.5% who have completed an 18-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) on 90 g/day low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) were recruited and followed for one year.

Factors influencing the willingness of primary care physicians to provide care during the coronavirus disease pandemic: a nationwide survey in Taiwan.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to advance worldwide with tremendous impact on public health, economy and society. Primary healthcare is crucial in every country during the pandemic for an integrated and coordinated healthcare delivery system; hence, it is of paramount importance to maintain a sufficient frontline workforce. This study aimed to identify factors influencing the willingness of primary care physicians to provide care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact of team-based community healthcare on preventable hospitalisation: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore the impact of Taiwan's Family Practice Integrated Care Project (FPICP) on hospitalisation.

Design: A population-based cohort study compared the hospitalisation rates for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) among FPICP participating and non-participating patients during 2011-2015.

Setting: The study accessed the FPICP reimbursement database of Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) administration containing all NHI administration-selected patients for FPICP enrolment.

Team-based care improves quality of diabetes care -Family Practice Integrated Care Project in Taiwan.

Background: The Family Practice Integrated Care Project (FPICP) is a team-based program in Taiwan initiated in 2003. This study investigates the influence of FPICP on the quality of diabetes care.

Methods: This population-based cohort study used Taiwan's National Health Insurance Administration data on FPICP (fiscal year 2015-2016, with follow-up duration of one year).

Effect of a 90 g/day low-carbohydrate diet on glycaemic control, small, dense low-density lipoprotein and carotid intima-media thickness in type 2 diabetic patients: An 18-month randomised controlled trial.

Aim: This study explored the effect of a moderate (90 g/d) low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) in type 2 diabetes patients over 18 months.

Methods: Ninety-two poorly controlled type 2 diabetes patients aged 20-80 years with HbA1c ≥7.5% (58 mmol/mol) in the previous three months were randomly assigned to a 90 g/d LCD r traditional diabetic diet (TDD).

Awareness of, attitude toward, and willingness to participate in pay for performance programs among family physicians: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The National Health Insurance Administration of Taiwan has introduced several pay-for-performance programs to improve the quality of healthcare. This study aimed to provide government with evidence-based research findings to help primary care physicians to actively engage in pay-for-performance programs.

Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey among family physicians with age-stratified sampling from September 2016 to December 2017.

Family physician system in Taiwan.

Following economic development and increasing healthcare demand, Taiwan has not only built a universal healthcare coverage payment system in 1995, but has also developed an accountable family physician system, called the Family Practice Integrated Care Project (FPICP), to deal with the pressures of an ageing society, since 2003. The community healthcare group-based family physician system is not only an important milestone for the development of family medicine in Taiwan but may also even serve as a global example for future family doctor systems. In this review, we aim to review the development of family medicine in Taiwan, the implementation and achievement of the FPICP, as well as the future prospects of system-based healthcare system.

Doses of hepatitis B revaccination needed for the seronegative youths to be seropositive to antibody against hepatitis B surface antigen.

Objectives: To determine the required hepatitis B vaccine doses for subjects who were seronegative for three hepatitis B seromarkers during their youth who wish to have seroprotective antibodies against the hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study. From 2012 to 2015, graduate school students born after 1986 who were seronegative for three hepatitis B virus seromarkers at college entrance (n = 1037) were recruited.

The effect of different retraining intervals on the skill performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in laypeople-A three-armed randomized control study.

Aim: Our study aimed to compare cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performance among laypeople with different retraining intervals.

Methods: Ninety-six non-medical university students were randomly allocated into 3 groups after receiving initial CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) training. Sixty participants completed the study.

A 10-year review of health care reform on Family Practice Integrated Care Project-Taiwan experience.

Objective: Taiwan has launched a Family Practice Integrated Care Project (FPICP) to develop an accountable family doctor system since March 2003. We aim to report the effectiveness of this nationwide demonstration programme over a 10-year period.

Methods: Papers and reports related to the FPICP published both in English and in Chinese from 2003 to 2015 were collected systematically based on keywords including 'family doctor', 'primary care', 'integrated care' and 'Taiwan'.

Higher disappearance rate of anti-HBs in Taiwanese freshers neonatally vaccinated with recombinant yeast hepatitis B vaccine.

Background & Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the long-term efficacy of infant recombinant yeast hepatitis B vaccine (Recombinant group) and infant plasma-derived one (Plasma group) in Taiwanese freshers.

Methods: Recruited were a total of 38 377 freshmen who underwent university entrance health examinations from 2003 to 2015. Subjects were assigned into two groups-plasma type and recombinant type, according to the national neonatal hepatitis B immunization program.

Continuing Decrease in Hepatitis B Virus Infection 30 Years After Initiation of Infant Vaccination Program in Taiwan.

Background & Aims: Taiwan began a universal hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination program for infants in July 1984. The seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) decreased from 9.8% before the vaccination program to less than 1% by 25 years afterward.

Combine body mass index and body fat percentage measures to improve the accuracy of obesity screening in young adults.

Introduction: Obesity screening among young adult groups is meaningful. Body mass index (BMI) is limited to discriminate between fat and lean mass. Asian young adult group tends to have lower BMI and higher body fat percentage (BFP) than other ethnic groups.

Incomplete hepatitis B immunization, maternal carrier status, and increased risk of liver diseases: a 20-year cohort study of 3.8 million vaccinees.

Unlabelled: Hepatitis B immunization has been documented to prevent fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by historical comparison studies in Taiwan. This study aimed to assess long-term risks and predictors of various liver diseases associated with incomplete immunization in 3.8 million vaccinees.

Self-efficacy affects blood sugar control among adolescents with type I diabetes mellitus.

Background/purpose: Self-management is crucial to diabetes control. To investigate the effectiveness of self-management in reaching target hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level, we conducted a study among Taiwanese adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: Patients aged 12-20 years with type 1 DM participated in an annual integrated DM care clinic at a medical center in Taiwan.

Determination of immune memory to hepatitis B vaccination through early booster response in college students.

Unlabelled: The long-term protection of hepatitis B (HB) vaccination has been debated for years. The purpose here was to evaluate the kinetic changes of antibody to HB surface antigen (anti-HBs) and define immune memory of the HB vaccine among college students who had previously received full neonatal immunization against HB. In all, 127 college students aged 18-23 years born after July 1984 who had completed HB vaccination and were seronegative for all three HB viral markers, including HB surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to HB core protein (anti-HBc), and anti-HBs, were recruited.

Economic, social, and psychological factors associated with health-related quality of life of chronic hemodialysis patients in northern Taiwan: a multicenter study.

This study evaluated the associations between economic, social, psychological factors, and health-related quality of life of hemodialysis patients. Cross-sectional study design was used. End-stage renal disease patients who had received maintenance hemodialysis for more than 2 months at 14 centers in northern Taiwan were invited to participate.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B viral markers among freshmen--20 years after mass hepatitis B vaccination program in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: The nationwide hepatitis B vaccination program in Taiwan was well known for its efficacy in reducing the carrier rate of hepatitis B and the morbidity and mortality of hepatitis B-related diseases among children. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis B 20 years after this program was implemented.

Methods: A total of 7592 freshmen from one university in Northern Taiwan participated in this study during their school entry health exam in September 2003 and September 2004.

Association between abnormal liver function and risk factors for metabolic syndrome among freshmen.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome among freshmen and to find the association between abnormal liver function and risk factors for metabolic syndrome in Taiwan.

Methods: A total of 515 freshmen who were less than 22 years of age and negative for hepatitis B surface antigen marker from one general university in North Taiwan participated in this study during their school entry health examination in September 2004. Demographic characteristics, body height, body weight, biochemistry values such as alanine aminotransferase, and risk factors for metabolic syndrome such as blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and waist circumference were recorded for statistical analysis.

Nationwide hepatitis B vaccination program in Taiwan: effectiveness in the 20 years after it was launched.

The national hepatitis B vaccination program in Taiwan is considered one of the most successful and effective public health programs to control chronic hepatitis B infection in the past 20 years. This review illustrates how to implement a successful hepatitis B vaccination program based on Taiwan's experience. Several important controlled randomized clinical trials on hepatitis B immunoglobulin and vaccine in Taiwan demonstrated an 80-90% protective effect among infants of mothers who were positive for either hepatitis B envelope antigen or hepatitis B surface antigen.

Causes of increased mortality from hepatocellular carcinoma in high incidence country: Taiwan experience.

Background: Since 1991, a rapid rise in mortality from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been observed in Taiwan in subjects aged >/=20 years. The aim of the present study was to assess whether poor survival or excess incident cases pertaining to a cohort effect or a time-period effect accounted for such a rise.

Methods: A total of 41 150 deaths and 51 201 incident HCC patients (International Classification of Diseases = 155.