Physical function mediates the effects of sensory impairment on quality of life in older adults: Cross-sectional study using propensity-score weighting.

Aims: To investigate the effect of sensory impairment on quality of life in older adults and to assess the role of physical function as a mediator of the effect of the sensory impairment on quality of life.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: Older adults aged ≥65 years (N = 600) were recruited from January 2019 to May 2020.

Patient willingness to undergo a two-week free trial of a telemedicine service for coronary artery disease after coronary intervention: A mixed-methods study.

Aim: To understand the factors affecting willingness to use telemedicine in patients with coronary artery disease after coronary intervention.

Background: Telemedicine is a relatively new service provided to discharged patients in Taiwan, therefore, public acceptance is low.

Method: This mixed-methods study conducted between January and June 2014 used convenience sampling.

Quality of life in older adults with sensory impairments: a systematic review.

Purpose: Sensory impairments are common in older adults. Hearing and visual impairments affect their physical and mental health and quality of life adversely. However, systematic reviews of the relationship between hearing impairment, visual impairment, dual sensory impairment, and quality of life are scarce.

The influence of renal dialysis and hip fracture sites on the 10-year mortality of elderly hip fracture patients: A nationwide population-based observational study.

Hip fractures in older people requiring dialysis are associated with high mortality. Our study primarily aimed to evaluate the specific burden of dialysis on the mortality rate following hip fracture. The secondary aim was to clarify the effect of the fracture site on mortality.

Creative approach for successful aging: A pilot study of an intergenerational health promotion program.

Aim: To develop and evaluate the effectiveness of an intergenerational health promotion program.

Methods: This was an action research project. A total of 34 participants attended the 12-week program and completed the pre-test and post-test.

Health status and quality of life of survivors of extra corporeal membrane oxygenation: a cross-sectional study.

Aims: To understand the influential factors related to quality of life for adult patients who have undergone extra corporeal membrane oxygenation.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is an invasive treatment for critically ill patients requiring temporary cardiac or respiratory support. Most studies have focused on survival outcomes for patients; few have evaluated health-related quality of life.

Sleep Quality and Emotional Correlates in Taiwanese Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Patients 1 Week and 1 Month after Hospital Discharge: A Repeated Descriptive Correlational Study.

Background: Poor sleep quality is a common health problem for coronary artery bypass graft patients, however few studies have evaluated sleep quality during the period immediately following hospital discharge.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate changes in sleep quality and emotional correlates in coronary artery bypass graft patients in Taiwan at 1 week and 1 month after hospital discharge.

Methods: We used a descriptive correlational design for this study.

[An Investigation of the Role Responsibilities of Clinical Research Nurses in Conducting Clinical Trials].

Background: Clinical research nurses (CRNs) play an important role in improving the quality of clinical trials. In Taiwan, the increasing number of clinical trials has increased the number of practicing CRNs. Understanding the role responsibilities of CRNs is necessary to promote professionalism in this nursing category.

A Qualitative Study of Family Caregiver Experiences of Managing Incontinence in Stroke Survivors.

Background: Incontinence is a common problem faced by family caregivers that is recognized as a major burden and predictor of institutionalization. However, few studies have evaluated the experiences of family caregivers caring for stroke survivors with incontinence.

Purpose: To describe experiences of caregivers managing incontinence in stroke survivors.

High short-term and long-term excess mortality in geriatric patients after hip fracture: a prospective cohort study in Taiwan.

Background: Hip fracture has a high mortality rate, but the actual level of long-term excess mortality and its impact on population-wide mortality remains controversial. The present prospective study investigated short- and long-term excess mortality after hip fractures with adjustment of other risk factors. We calculated the population attributable risk proportion (PARP) to assess the impact of each risk factor on excess mortality.

Symptom distress and quality of life after stereotactic radiosurgery in patients with pituitary tumors: a questionnaire survey.

Background: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a common treatment for recurrent or residual pituitary adenomas. The persistence of symptoms and treatment related complications may impair the patient's quality of life (QOL).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine symptom distress, QOL, and the relationship between them among patients with pituitary tumors who had undergone SRS.

Epidemiological study of orthopedic injuries in hemodialysis patients in Taiwan: a fixed cohort survey, 2004-2008.

Background: The burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing concern worldwide. The prevalence of hemodialysis in Taiwan is the highest in the world, and this may increase the prevalence of orthopedic fractures. The aim of this study was to explore the incidences of various orthopedic injuries and the related risk factors.

Factors associated with low bone mass in the hemodialysis patients--a cross-sectional correlation study.

Background: Low bone mass is common in end-stage renal disease patients, especially those undergoing hemodialysis. It can lead to serious bone health problems such as fragility fractures. The purpose of this study is to investigate the risk factors of low bone mass in the hemodialysis patients.

Asthma care issues in kindergarten teachers: an evaluation on knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy of asthma.

As frequently there is no school nurse in a kindergarten setting, teachers receiving non-medical training take the primary roles of symptom assessment and management of young children with asthma. This article presents the knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy of asthma in kindergarten teachers in Taiwan. A total valid sample of 460 teachers was recruited from 70 kindergartens.

Effects of a walking intervention on fatigue-related experiences of hospitalized acute myelogenous leukemia patients undergoing chemotherapy: a randomized controlled trial.

The purpose of this randomized, controlled clinical trial was to preliminarily examine the effects of a three-week walking exercise program (WEP) on fatigue-related experiences of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients receiving chemotherapy. Eligible AML patients were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n=11), which received 12 minutes of WEP per day, five days per week for three consecutive weeks, or to a control group (n=11), which received standard ward care. Effects of the WEP were assessed by seven indicators: worst and average fatigue intensities, fatigue interference with patients' daily life, 12-minute walking distance, overall symptom distress, anxiety, and depressive status.

Nutritional status and health outcomes for older people with dementia living in institutions.

Aim: This paper is a report of a study to determine changes over a 3-month period among older people with dementia living in long-term care settings, related to: (1) changes in body mass index, and (2) health outcomes and associated factors.

Background: Nutritional deficiencies are common problems among older people, but frequently unrecognized, both in long-term care settings and in the community.

Method: A cross-sectional design with repeated measures of body weights and medical record reviews was adopted.

Identifying the most efficient items from the Mini-Mental State Examination for cognitive function assessment in older Taiwanese patients.

Aims: The purpose of the study was to identify the most efficient items from the Mini-Mental State Examination for assessment of cognitive function.

Background: The Mini-Mental State Examination is the most frequently used cognitive screening instrument. However, the Mini-Mental State Examination has been criticized for insensitivity to mild cognitive dysfunction, limited memory assessment and variability in level of difficulty of the individual items.

Predicting post-surgical cognitive disturbance in older Taiwanese patients.

The purpose of this study was to test a theoretical model to understand the influences of six predicting variables in post-surgical cognitive disturbance in older Taiwanese patients after elective surgery. The data were collected in a medical center in Taipei, Taiwan. Ninety-three patients were included in the final analysis.

Postoperative cognitive changes among older Taiwanese patients.

The purpose of the study was to describe variations in cognitive/behavioural changes during the course of delirium among older Taiwanese patients after elective surgery. A total of 106 patients assessed four times (admission, onset of delirium, delirium day 3 and delirium day 5) by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) were included in the analysis to understand the neurocognitive/behaviour change during the course of delirium. Repeated measures anova was used to analyse within-subject differences across these four time points for those who became delirious and those who did not.

Functional recovery after hip fracture: six months' follow-up of patients in a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program.

Background And Purpose: Hip fracture is a major source of disability among the elderly. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an in-hospital multidisciplinary rehabilitation program (MRP) on basic activities of daily living (BADL) and mobility 6 months after hospital discharge in patients with hip fractures.

Methods: A before and after quasi-experimental design was used.