Does positive feedback or appraisal about medical providers increase patients' trust and lead to better treatment outcomes? A double-blind randomized control trial.

[Purpose] Trust among patients and clinical suppliers is the foundation for achieving appropriate treatment. This double-blind randomized control trial aimed to determine whether providing patients a pre-treatment physical therapists' introductions and positive appraisal can enhance the trust of patients in therapists. [Participants and Methods] This study included patients diagnosed with lumbar spine spondylosis or non-acute lower back muscle strain who were divided into intervention and control groups.

Effects of different types and frequencies of early rehabilitation on ventilator weaning among patients in intensive care units: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of different types and frequencies of physiotherapy on ventilator weaning among patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to identify the optimal type and frequency of intervention.

Data Sources: PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Airiti Library.

Study Selection: Randomized controlled trials that provided information on the dosage of ICU rehabilitation and the parameters related to ventilator weaning were included.

Investigating the rate of skeletal muscle atrophy in men and women in the intensive care unit: a prospective observational study.

Muscle atrophy greatly affects the prognosis of patients in the intensive care unit, but the rate of change remains unclear. In this prospective observational study, we used ultrasound to measure the change in muscle thickness of the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus intermedius (VI) in 284 patients who were admitted to the SICU of Taoyuan General Hospital between January 1 and June 30, 2020. Patients were excluded if there is a wound at the right thigh which hinders the ultrasonography probe from placing.

Using convolutional neural network to analyze brain MRI images for predicting functional outcomes of stroke.

Nowadays, the physicians usually predict functional outcomes of stroke based on clinical experiences and big data, so we wish to develop a model to accurately identify imaging features for predicting functional outcomes of stroke patients. Using magnetic resonance imaging of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients, we developed and trained a VGG-16 convolutional neural network (CNN) to predict functional outcomes after 28-day hospitalization. A total of 44 individuals (24 men and 20 women) were recruited from Taoyuan General Hospital and China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital to enroll in the study.

Association between weather and utilisation of physical therapy in patients with osteoarthritis: a case-crossover study.

Background: During varied weather conditions, patients with osteoarthritis experience different severity of symptoms and signs. However, weather may also cause barriers or incentives for patients to seek medical services. These factors may result in changes in medical utilisation; however, no studies have investigated whether the probability of physical therapy utilisation among patients with osteoarthritis is associated with changes in meteorological factors.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy With a Modified Technique on Tendon and Ligament for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: There have been no definitive guidelines on the treatment method and specific points in the body.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of extracorporeal shockwave therapy on treating the main tendons and ligaments of knee osteoarthritis.

Method: A total of 36 patients with knee osteoarthritis were enrolled in trial and organized into two groups: 3-wk extracorporeal shockwave therapy for the intervention group and 3-wk sham extracorporeal shockwave therapy for control group.

Long-Term Rehabilitation Utilization Pattern Among Stroke Patients Under the National Health Insurance Program.

Objective: The aim of this study was to understand the frequency of patients receiving rehabilitation services at various periods after stroke and the possible medical barriers to receiving rehabilitation.

Design: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a nationally representative sample in Taiwan. A total of 14,600 stroke patients between 2005 and 2011 were included.

Ambient Air Pollution and the Risk of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion.

Purpose: To investigate whether daily changes in ambient air pollution were associated with an increased risk of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO).

Design: Retrospective population-based cohort study.

Participants: We identified patients newly diagnosed with CRAO between 2001 and 2013 in a representative database of 1 000 000 patients that were randomly selected from all registered beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance program in Taiwan.

Older Age, Low Socioeconomic Status, and Multiple Comorbidities Lower the Probability of Receiving Inpatient Rehabilitation Half a Year After Stroke.

Objective: To determine the predictors of receiving inpatient rehabilitation during 7 to 12 months after stroke.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: A nationally representative sample of 1 million National Health Insurance enrollees.

Amiodarone-Associated Optic Neuropathy: A Nationwide Study.

Purpose: To investigate whether amiodarone use is associated with an increased risk of optic neuropathy.

Design: Retrospective population-based cohort study.

Participants: Patients newly treated with amiodarone between 2005 and 2009 were identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.

Association Between Physical Therapy and Risk of Coronary Artery Disease and Dyslipidemia Among Osteoarthritis Patients: A Nationwide Database Study.

Objective: To provide empirical evidence on the effect of early physical therapy (PT) within the first year of osteoarthritis (OA) diagnosis on reduction in OA-related comorbidities in patients with OA.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: The study was conducted using a nationally representative sample of 1 million National Health Insurance enrollees.

Receipt of physical therapy among osteoarthritis patients and its influencing factors.

Objective: To explore major patient and provider characteristics influencing the receipt of physical therapy (PT) among patients newly diagnosed with osteoarthritis.

Design: A population-based, cross-sectional study on outpatient PT for patients newly diagnosed with osteoarthritis within the period of 2005 to 2010.

Setting: Sample of 1 million National Health Insurance enrollees.

Acute ischemic stroke in low-voltage electrical injury: A case report.

Background: Acute stroke is not a common complication of electrical injury, and only a few cases of acute stroke have been reported for lightning or high-voltage injuries.

Case Report: We present the case of a man who suffered from a low-voltage electrical injury followed by ischemic stroke. Magnetic resonance angiography showed segmental narrowing of the right internal carotid artery and right middle cerebral artery.