Exploring the efficacy of a case management model using DOTS in the adherence of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Aim: To explore the efficacy of hospitals using case management with Directly Observed Treatment - Short course (DOTS) to monitor the adherence of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Taiwan.

Background: Non-adherence to anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy is the major problem in treating patients with tuberculosis. Community-based case management coupled with DOTS has been applied to patients with tuberculosis and has resulted in good results in some countries.

Chromium yeast supplementation improves fasting plasma glucose and LDL-cholesterol in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Chromium yeast supplementation has been studied for its ability to improve carbohydrate and lipid abnormalities. There have been some earlier literature-reported studies involving chromium supplementation amongst patients suffering diabetes, but the results would appear to be somewhat varied. Forty male Wistar rats (ten weeks old, 300 g in average body mass) were divided into one of four groups, namely (i) controls; (ii) controls treated with chromium yeast; (iii) diabetic controls; and (iv) diabetic rats treated with chromium yeast.

The relationships between disability level, health-promoting lifestyle, and quality of life in outpatients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between disability, health-promoting lifestyle and quality of life in SLE outpatients. Cross-sectional research design and purposive sampling were used in this study. One hundred and twenty-nine SLE outpatients from a medical center were sampled.

Effects of a range-of-motion exercise programme.

Aim: This paper reports an evaluation of a range-of-motion exercise programme aimed at improving joint flexibility, activity function, perception of pain, and depressive symptoms in a sample of stroke survivors in long-term care facilities.

Background: The benefits of physical rehabilitation for stroke survivors have been well established. There is, however, little empirical data on the effects of a simple nurse-led range-of-motion exercise programme in improving function for these people.

[Study of stress and coping behaviors in families of hospitalized pregnant woman undergoing tocolysis].

Because of tocolysis intervention, families of pregnant woman undergoing tocolysis face stresses beyond the physical and psychological challenges of normal pregnancy. The lifestyle of the family and the relationship between family members will change significantly. The purpose of this study was to explore the stresses and coping behaviors of families of pregnant woman undergoing tocolysis in the hospital.

A study of nurses' spiritual intelligence: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey.

Background: Nurse's spiritual well-being may assure a positive attitude toward spiritual care, and assist patients in overcoming spiritual distress. Spirituality is often related to one's belief system. Spirituality on the part of nurses is yet largely unheard of in a society with materialism which is one of the most destructive belief systems on the world.

The spiritual intelligence of nurses in Taiwan.

The purposes of the study included: (1) defining the profile of nurses' spiritual intelligence; (2) examining the relationship between nurses' demographic characteristics and spiritual intelligence; and (3) exploring the mode of nurses' spiritual intelligence and related factors, among nurses in Taiwan. A cross-sectional descriptive study was designed and administered to 299 hospital registered nurses, who were distributed throughout metropolitan Taipei. Wolman's (2001) PsychoMatrix Spirituality Inventory, a 4-point scaled, self-reported, 49-item questionnaire covering seven spiritual factors (divinity, mindfulness, extrasensory perception, community, intellectuality, trauma, and childhood spirituality) was used to measure nurses' spiritual intelligence.

[Core of the philosophy of management: self-management].

Philosophy is an aspect of metaphysics; while management, by contrast is a practical matter. In this century, this is especially crucial that management philosophy focuses on value and spiritual intelligence. However, the core of pragmatic management is the manager's emotional intelligence.

The effects of staff nurses' morale on patient satisfaction.

This study, designed by descriptive and inferential methods, study aimed to examine staff nurses' morale and its effect on patient satisfaction, the most commonly used variable to measure patient outcomes. Data were collected with structured questionnaires from 332 nurses and 265 inpatients in 21 medical-surgical units of a medical center in Taiwan. All registered nurses (RN) among the 21 sample units were recruited and administered with Litwin and Stringerm's (1968) Work Morale Scale, which was modified by Hsu in 1981.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for primary insomnia: a systematic review.

Aim: This paper reports a systematic review of seven studies evaluating the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for persistent primary insomnia.

Background: Insomnia is one of the most common health complaints reported in the primary care setting. Although non-pharmacological treatments such as the CBT have been suggested to be useful in combating the persistent insomnia, the efficacy and clinical utility of CBT for primary insomnia have yet to be determined.

[Activities programs for institutionalized elderly patients with dementia].

Formal caregivers often play an important role in leading activities programs and arranging appropriate therapeutic activities in institutions. Studies have shown that, when elderly patients with dementia have participated in more structured activities, agitated behaviors have been significantly decreased. Also, structured activities have helped in the performance of ADL, as well as improved quality of sleep, decreased anxiety, improved self-expression and social interaction, enhanced caregiver's morale, and resulted in a more positive caring attitude on the part of caregivers.

Relationships between nurse staffing and patient outcomes.

Nursing studies have shown that nursing care delivery changes affect staff and organizational outcomes, but the effects on client outcomes have not been studied sufficiently. The purpose of this study was thus to examine the effect of nurse staffing variables- daily average hours of care, ratio of RNs to average patient census, workload, and skill mix- on patient outcomes as measured by five adverse occurrences. The adverse patient occurrences included unit rates of patient falls, pressure ulcers, respiratory and urinary tract infections, and patient/family complaints.

Direct effect of propylthiouracil on progesterone release in rat granulosa cells.

1. The present study was to investigate the direct effect and action mechanism of propylthiouracil (PTU), an antithyroid drug, on the production of progesterone in rat granulosa cells. 2.