Nurse-Led Counseling Intervention of Postoperative Home-Based Exercise Training Improves Shoulder Pain, Shoulder Disability, and Quality of Life in Newly Diagnosed Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of the nurse-led counseling intervention (NLCI) of postoperative home-based exercise training (HBET) on functional outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer (NDHNC). Forty NDHNC patients were randomly and equally divided into the control and intervention groups. Both groups received routine care, and were instructed to undergo a HBET program with 40 min moderate-intensity exercise 3-4 times per day for 12 weeks after their surgery.

Evaluation of Guided Respiration Mindfulness Therapy (GRMT) for Reducing Stress in Nurses.

Guided respiration mindfulness therapy (GRMT) is a clinical model of breathwork that has shown promise as a treatment for depression, anxiety, and stress. This study examined the effectiveness of GRMT as a holistically oriented intervention for reducing psychological distress in nurses. Sixty-two nurses were assigned to either five sessions of GRMT or 5 sessions of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) comparison condition which were conducted over 5 weeks.

Development and Validation of Nurses' Well-Being and Caring Nurse-Patient Interaction Model: A Psychometric Study.

Nurses' care nurse-patient interaction (CNPI) competence is critical for improving nursing care quality. The focus is the psychological quality of nurses, which may be derived from their sense of well-being. The purpose of this study was to develop a conceptual model of nurses' well-being and their CNPI competence.

The Concerns and Experience of Decision-Making Regarding Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders Among Caregivers in Hospice Palliative Care.

A do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order is an important end-of-life decision. In Taiwan, family caregivers are also involved in this decision-making process. This study aimed to explore the concerns and experiences regarding DNR decisions among caregivers in Taiwan.

Nurses' Well-Being, Health-Promoting Lifestyle and Work Environment Satisfaction Correlation: A Psychometric Study for Development of Nursing Health and Job Satisfaction Model and Scale.

Although promoting healthy work environments to enhance staff members' health and well-being is a growing trend, no empirical studies on such a model have been conducted in the nursing management field. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate measurement scales and a conceptual model of nurses' well-being, health-promoting lifestyle, and work environment satisfaction (WHS). A cross-sectional survey was conducted to develop a WHS model and Nursing Health and Job Satisfaction (NHJS) scale.

Scale Development and Model Validation for the Process of Exercise Engagement for People with Prediabetes.

Purpose: This study had two objectives: 1) to develop a scale for the process of exercise engagement (SPEE) for prediabetic individuals (PDIs); 2) to validate a structural model for the process of exercise engagement for PDIs.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey with simple random sampling was conducted from September 2013 to December 2015 (in Taiwan). A total of 310 PDIs were enrolled for scale development and model validation via item analysis, factor analyses, and structural equation modeling.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Chinese Comfort, Afford, Respect, and Expect scale of caring nurse-patient interaction competence.

Aims And Objectives: To investigate the construct validity and reliability of the Chinese Comfort, Afford, Respect, and Expect scale, which can be used to determine clinical nurses' competence. The results can also serve to promote nursing competence and improve patient satisfaction.

Background: Nurse-patient interaction is critical for improving nursing care quality.

Hepatitis B virus-related mortality in rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing long-term low-dose glucocorticoid treatment: A population-based study.

Background/purpose: Glucocorticoids (GC) are commonly used in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients which bears a risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk of HBV-related mortality under long-term low-dose GCs in Taiwanese RA patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 45,423 RA patients using National Health Insurance Research Database from January 1999 to December 2011.

Assessment of Educational Needs and Quality of Life of Chronic Hepatitis Patients.

Background: Patient education is crucial in improving the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients. At the same, understanding the concerns and needs of patients is essential in providing appropriate education. This study assessed the educational needs and HRQOL experienced by chronic hepatitis patients.

The suitability of the GERDyzer instrument in pH-test-proven laryngopharyngeal reflux patients.

The use of validated patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments for the treatment outcome measure of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is crucial given the lack of objective markers. However, current symptom-based PRO instruments can only partially capture the impact of LPR. The GERD Analyzer (GERDyzer), an existing disease-specific PRO instrument, which measures multidimensional health-related quality of life (HRQL) affected by the illness rather than by any specific symptoms, has been validated in patients with erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The lived experiences of aboriginal adolescent survivors of childhood cancer during the recovering process in Taiwan: A descriptive qualitative research.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of Taiwanese aboriginal adolescent survivors of childhood cancer during the process of recovery.

Method: A snowball sampling strategy was used to recruit participants from the pediatrics unit of a medical center in the eastern region of Taiwan. In-depth interviews were conducted with 11 aboriginal adolescent childhood cancer survivors.

The effectiveness of regular leisure-time physical activities on long-term glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The objective of this study was to systematically review the effectiveness of different types of regular leisure-time physical activities and pooled the effect sizes of those activities on long-term glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes compared with routine care. This review included randomized controlled trials from 1960 to May 2014. A total of 10 Chinese and English databases were searched, following selection and critical appraisal, 18 randomized controlled trials with 915 participants were included.

Incidence of ambulatory care visits after needlestick and sharps injuries among healthcare workers in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based study.

Healthcare professionals have a high risk of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs), which have a high potential for disease transmission. Ambulatory care follow up is essential, but is usually overlooked. This study aimed to investigate the annual and cumulative (age-, sex-, and subtype-specific) incidences of ambulatory care visits after NSIs.

Assessment of health-related quality of life in antiviral-treated Taiwanese chronic hepatitis C patients using SF-36 and CLDQ.

Background: Interferon (IFN) therapy can cause significant side effects in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients; however, the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of antiviral-treated CHC patients has not been established in Taiwan. This study evaluated domains and the degree to which antiviral treatment affects the HRQOL in CHC patients and identifies factors associated with variations between patients.

Methods: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) in 108 antiviral-treated CHC patients.

Exercise engagement in people with prediabetes--a qualitative study.

Aims And Objectives: To explore the experiences of people with prediabetes who engage in exercise, from the initiation of exercise to the discontinuation or continuation of exercise.

Background: People with prediabetes are the high-risk group for developing type 2 diabetes. Engaging in exercise is an important health behaviour to prevent or delay this.

Effects of group music intervention on psychiatric symptoms and depression in patient with schizophrenia.

Objectives: To examine the effects of a group music therapy on psychiatric symptoms and depression for patient with schizophrenia in a psychiatric nursing home.

Subjects And Methods: Eighty patients with schizophrenia were randomly assigned to a music intervention group (MIG) or usual care group (UCG). Both groups received similar medical and routine care.

Risk of nonpsychotic mental disorders development in antiviral-treated mentally healthy chronic hepatitis C patients: A population-based study.

Background/purpose: Interferon (IFN) is able to induce significant psychiatric side effects in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients, whereas the risk of nonpsychotic mental disorder (NPMD) development in antiviral-treated mentally healthy CHC patients remains obscure. We used a population-based study to assess the risk of NPMD development in patients who had undergone antiviral treatment compared with untreated chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients.

Methods: Data were retrieved from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database cohort consisting of 1 million individuals for a longitudinal analysis.

The Drosophila GOLPH3 homolog regulates the biosynthesis of heparan sulfate proteoglycans by modulating the retrograde trafficking of exostosins.

The exostosin (EXT) genes encode glycosyltransferases required for glycosaminoglycan chain polymerization in the biosynthesis of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs). Mutations in the tumor suppressor genes EXT1 and EXT2 disturb HSPG biosynthesis and cause multiple osteochondroma (MO). How EXT1 and EXT2 traffic within the Golgi complex is not clear.

Risk of musculoskeletal disorder among Taiwanese nurses cohort: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) represent the leading causes of occupational injuries among nursing staff. This population-based study was designed to assess the incidence and age-specific incidence of MSDs among a Taiwanese nurse cohort compared with non-nurses.

Description: Data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database were used to identify MSDs in the study population.

Evaluating the supports intensity scale as a potential assessment instrument for resource allocation for persons with intellectual disability.

This study evaluated the potential of using the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) for resource allocation for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) in Taiwan. SIS scores were compared with those obtained from three tools that are currently used in Taiwan for homecare services: the medical diagnosis issued by local authorities and two scales measuring Activities of Daily Life (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Life (IADL). Data were collected on 139 persons with ID aged 16 or older.

A Tai Chi exercise programme improved exercise behaviour and reduced blood pressure in outpatients with hypertension.

This two-group pretest and posttest quasi-experimental study aimed to evaluate the effects of a Tai Chi exercise programme on exercise behaviour and blood pressure (BP) in outpatients with hypertension. The experimental group (n = 27) received the Yang-style Tai Chi exercise programme three times a week for 8 weeks. The control group (n = 31) received routine care with no Tai Chi exercise.

Comparison of respiratory parameters and plasma cytokine levels between treatment with Salmeterol/fluticasone and ipratropium/terbutaline/budesonide in mechanically ventilated COPD patients.

Background: It is unknown whether the bronchodilation and anti-inflammatory effects of inhaled salmeterol and fluticasone (SF) are better than those of traditionally inhaled ipratropium, terbutaline and budesonide (ITB) in mechanically ventilated patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: Nineteen stable COPD patients with respiratory failure were randomly enrolled into two groups. Patients were treated with inhaled SF delivered by a metered-dose inhaler with a spacer or with inhaled nebulized ITB.

Psychometric testing of the Chinese evidence-based practice scales.

Aim:   This article is a report of the psychometric testing of the Chinese version of Evidence-Based Practice Implementation and Beliefs, and Barriers to, and Facilitators of Research Utilization scales.

Background:   Investigations into the effect of evidence-based practice on clinical care could be facilitated by instruments for measuring the levels of evidence-based practice implementation; the strength of beliefs in evidence-based practice; the barriers to, and the facilitators of research utilization. An English version of the scales measuring the above constructs has been tested whereas the Chinese one has not.