Lived experiences and illness perceptions of older adults with age-related hearing loss before the use of hearing aids: An interpretative phenomenological study.

Age-related hearing loss is a chronic health condition. This qualitative study applied the Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation to explore the lived experiences and illness perceptions of older adults with age-related hearing loss. Twenty older adults ≥ 65 years of age with hearing loss were recruited by purposive sampling.

Determinants of Quality of Life in Individuals With a Dual Diagnosis of Resectable Pancreatic Cancer and Diabetes Mellitus.

Objectives: To explore the associations among clinical characteristics, fatigue, diabetes mellitus (DM) self-care activities, and quality of life (QOL) in individuals with resectable pancreatic cancer and DM.

Sample & Setting: 57 individuals with resectable pancreatic cancer and DM from an outpatient pancreatic surgical department in Taiwan were included in the final analysis.

Methods & Variables: A cross-sectional, correlational design was used.

The multiple mediating effects of cancer threat appraisal and quality of life on the association between mindfulness and depression for colorectal cancer survivors.

Objective: This study explored the multiple mediating effects of cancer threat appraisal, functional status, and symptom distress on the association between mindfulness and depression in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients at the transition stage after completing cancer treatments.

Methods: A total of 90 CRC survivors who received cancer treatments within 3 months participated in this cross-sectional study. The functional status and symptom distress (EORTC-C30 and EORTC CR29), dispositional mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire), cancer threat appraisal ( Constructed Meaning Scale), and depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II scale) were collected.

Comorbidity as a mediator of depression in adults with congenital heart disease: A population-based cohort study.

Background: The population of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) has increased dramatically with a high prevalence of acquired cardiac and non-cardiac comorbidities. However, the relationship among congenital heart disease, physical comorbidities, and psychological health in this population is not well studied.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate (a) the association between adult congenital heart disease and the occurrence of depression and (b) whether physical comorbidities mediated the association between congenital heart disease and the occurrence of depression.

Comparison of Fatigue and Quality of Life in Individuals With Pancreatogenic Diabetes After Total or Partial Pancreatectomy.

Objectives: To compare fatigue and quality of life (QOL) between individuals with pancreatogenic diabetes after total pancreatectomy (TP) and pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

Sample & Setting: 50 individuals (14 after TP and 36 after PD) were recruited from a pancreatic surgical outpatient department. A final sample of 39 matched individuals (13 after TP and 26 after PD) were included in the final analysis.

Dispositional mindfulness, self-compassion, and compassion from others as moderators between stress and depression in caregivers of patients with lung cancer.

Objective: The present study aimed to identify the most important protective factors predicting caregivers' depressive symptoms among factors of caregivers' dispositional mindfulness, self-compassion, compassion from others, and patients' dispositional mindfulness and their moderator effects on the relationship between caregiving stress and depressive symptoms.

Methods: A total of 72 lung cancer outpatients and their family caregivers participated in this study. Family caregivers completed the Kingston Caregiver Stress Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Self-Compassion Scale, and Compassion from Others Scale.

Reliability and Validity of a Chinese-Version Normalization Assessment Measure for Primary Caregivers of Children With Cancer.

Background: "Normalization" refers to the process whereby a household with a chronically ill member returns to a normal life to reduce its distress. There has been no valid and reliable instrument to investigate such normalization in Taiwan.

Objective: The aims of this study were to develop and validate a Chinese version of the Normalization Assessment Measure for Caregivers of Children With Cancer (NAM-CCC).

Investigating the association between familial hypercholesterolemia and perceived depression.

Background And Aims: Inherited familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) increases cardiovascular risks, but perceived depression in FH is unknown. This study aims to explore the association between the FH and perceived depression.

Methods: This study was a hospital-based design, we started to recruit clinical diagnosis of phenotypic FH since 2014 for the Ten Countries Study in the Asia-Pacific region.

Meta-Analysis of Polymorphisms with Air Pollution on the Risk of Ischemic Heart Disease Worldwide.

The purpose of this updated meta-analysis was to investigate the effect of nitric oxide synthase-3 ( G894T polymorphisms, air pollution and their interaction on ischemic heart disease (IHD) risk across populations worldwide. Recursive partition trees, nonlinear association curve fit and geographic information system maps were incorporated to verify results of conventional pooled analyses for sources of heterogeneity. Results from 61 studies (16,219 cases, 12,222 controls) revealed a significant increased relative risk (RR) of IHD associated with 894 polymorphisms TT (RR = 1.

Prevalence and Predictors of Depression Among People Living With HIV/AIDS: A National Study.

Background: Depression is prevalent among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), but there are few longitudinal studies investigating the prevalence of depression among HIV respondents in Taiwan.

Objectives: This study examined the trend in the prevalence of depression and its main predictors among PLWHA in Taiwan.

Methods: This study analyzed the 2-million random-sample data set of the Taiwanese longitudinal health research database using data from 2000 to 2011and applied the Internal Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification diagnostic codes for the detection of HIV infection and depression.

The incidence and factors of hip fractures and subsequent morbidity in Taiwan: An 11-year population-based cohort study.

Hip fractures are a major problem to elder population, but subsequent morbidity is unclear about environmental factors and socioeconomic conditions. The study aims to investigate the incidence of hip fractures treated by the surgery; to compare the sequelae and temporal trends of hip fractures; to evaluate the seasonal effects in the subsequent short-term and long-term morbidities after hip fractures. A cohort study design is conducted using national health research datasets between 2000 and 2010.

Effect of socioeconomic inequalities on cholecystectomy outcomes: a 10-year population-based analysis.

Background: Although numerous epidemiological studies on cholecystectomy have been conducted worldwide, only a few have considered the effect of socioeconomic inequalities on cholecystectomy outcomes. Specifically, few studies have focused on the low-income population (LIP).

Methods: A nationwide prospective study based on the Taiwan National Health Insurance dataset was conducted during 2003-2012.

Outcomes in the Utilization of Single Percutaneous Cholecystostomy in a Low-Income Population.

Numerous studies have investigated the applicable populations for percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) procedures, but the outcomes of PC in low-income populations (LIPs) have been insufficiently studied. Data for 11,184 patients who underwent PC were collected from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan during 2003 and 2012. The overall crude rate of single PC for the LIP was 64% higher than that for the general population (GP).

Outcome comparison between percutaneous cholecystostomy and cholecystectomy: a 10-year population-based analysis.

Background: Controversy surrounding the role of percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is fed by the absence of large amounts of data concerning its outcomes, and many authors have maintained that there is no evidence to support a recommendation for PC rather than cholecystectomy (CCS) in elderly or critically ill patients with acute cholecystitis (AC).

Methods: We conducted this study by tracking trends in the utilization and outcomes of PC and CCS using longitudinal health research data in Taiwan.

Results: Analyses were conducted on 236,742 patients, 11,184 of whom had undergone PC and 225,558 of whom had undergone CCS.

Retrospective one-million-subject fixed-cohort survey of utilization of emergency departments due to traumatic causes in Taiwan, 2001-2010.

Background: Epidemiological study was needed to evaluate trends in emergency department (ED) utilization that could be taken into account when making policy decisions regarding the delivery and distribution of medical resources.

Methods: A retrospective fixed-cohort study of emergency medical utilization from 2001 to 2010 was performed based on one-million people sampled in 2010 in Taiwan. Focusing on traumatic cases, the annual incidences in various groups split according to sex and age were calculated, and further information regarding location of trauma and type of trauma was obtained.

Emergency visits among end-of-life cancer patients in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: An increased number of emergency visits at the end of life may indicate poor-quality cancer care. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence and utilization of emergency visits and to explore the reasons for emergency department (ED) visits among cancer patients at the end of life.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed by tracking one year of ambulatory medical service records before death.

Epidemiology of hospitalized traumatic pelvic fractures and their combined injuries in Taiwan: 2000-2011 National Health Insurance data surveillance.

Background: From the viewpoint of prehospital emergency medicine, a greater proportion of pelvic fractures not of a life-threatening status but combined with other injuries need more comprehensive recognition.

Methods: A 12-year nationwide health database of inpatients was reviewed. All cases diagnosed as pelvic fractures were enrolled.

Epidemiology of orthopedic fractures and other injuries among inpatients admitted due to traffic accidents: a 10-year nationwide survey in Taiwan.

To investigate the major injury patterns associated with traffic accidents and evaluate the risk factors of the main injury, a survey of Taiwan's national insurance admission data between 2002 and 2011 was performed. The incidence of traffic-accidents-related hospitalization was between 9.17% and 11.

Invasively-treated incidence of lower extremity peripheral arterial disease and associated factors in Taiwan: 2000-2011 nationwide hospitalized data analysis.

Background: Lower extremity (LE) peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is associated with a reduced quality of life and increased mortality from atherosclerotic cardio-/cerebro-vascular occlusion, is a significant public health problem, especial for an aging society such as that of Taiwan.

Methods: Specific datasets of the 2000-2011 nationwide inpatient databases were analyzed. Two inclusion criteria, including one of the major diagnosis codes of PAD and one of three categorical invasive treatments of LE PAD, were used consecutively to select cases diagnosed as LE PAD and receiving invasive treatment.

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.

Comparisons of medical utilizations and categorical diagnoses of emergency visits between the elderly with catastrophic illness certificates and those without.

Background: In Taiwan, the policy of catastrophic illness certificates has benefited some populations with specific diseases, but its effect on the use of medical services and the sequence of public health has not been examined. As a pilot of a series of studies, focused on emergency department (ED) visits, the present study aimed to compare medical utilization and various diagnostic categories at EDs between the elderly with an identified catastrophic illness and the elderly without.

Methods: A cross-sectional study, based on a large-sample nationwide database (one million of the population, randomly sampled from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD)), was performed in Taiwan.

Nationwide retrospective cohort survey of orthopedic injuries in members of the Taiwanese population with psychiatric disorders, 2000-2005.

Background: The relationship between psychiatric disorders and musculoskeletal injuries is interesting but has not been investigated in depth.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study, based on a large-sample nationwide database, was performed during 2000-2005 in Taiwan.

Methods: All subjects matching the inclusion criteria of psychiatric-associated ICD9-CM diagnostic codes in 2000 were selected as the inception cohort population.

The impact of falls and fear of falling on health-related quality of life in Taiwanese elderly.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship among falls, fear of falling (FOF), and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in elderly people living in the community. The study was a community-based surveillance with residents aged 65 or over in Taipei, Taiwan. Data were collected in face-to-face interviews.