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Patient participation in healthcare activities is key to producing successful patient‐centered care. However, little is known about both nurses' and patients' perspectives regarding patient participation in East Asia. This paper compared and contrasted perspectives of patient participation in healthcare activities between nurses and patients, using a qualitative study with a purposive sample of 39 nurses and 15 patients. A semi‐structured interview was applied to focus groups for nurses, and to face‐to‐face interviews for patients. Content analysis was utilized to analyze the data, and common themes and subthemes were identified showing three similarities (authoritative culture, participation behaviors, and obstacles to participation), and two differences (sources of acquiring patient‐related health information, and responsible party). Nurses and patients did not entirely view participation in healthcare activities congruently. Relevant clinical practices are also suggested, including respecting patients' autonomy, nurses' using layman's language for explanations, patients' understanding the meaning behind their participation behaviors, recognizing obstacles faced in enhancing patient participation with adjusted nursing workload, actively providing needed health information, and leading patients to realize that they will be responsible for their health behaviors after discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has had a substantial effect on frontline health care workers and caused public health nurses (PHNs) to come under various forms of pressure. PHNs face high‐risk challenges in their work environment, and their professional commitment and adaptability are key concerns. The aim of this qualitative study was to describe the experiences of PHNs during the COVID‐19 outbreak. Methods/Design: Twenty PHNs who worked during the COVID‐19 outbreak were recruited from seven public health centres through posters. Data were collected through in‐depth interviews that comprised semi‐structured and open‐ended questions; subsequently, the data were analysed through content analysis. Results: Three themes emerged from the study findings, namely (1) the disorderliness of COVID‐19 pandemic prevention work, (2) managing stress and fear, and (3) the establishment of a new normal. Because of the severity of the pandemic, the workload and stress associated with epidemic prevention policies continue to increase. PHNs may infect their family members and experience a sense of alienation and distance. They must also deal with irrationality and reactions in the people within their community. Conclusion: Health department directors and policymakers should provide the necessary support and assistance to frontline pandemic prevention workers to increase the efficiency of pandemic prevention efforts. Patient or Public Contribution: The participants agreed to participate in the qualitative study during the study period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loneliness is a negative emotional feeling often experienced by older residents in long‐term care facilities (LTCFs). Previous studies have shown that loneliness is related to depression, inferior quality of life, cardiovascular disease, and suicidal thoughts. Thus, it is important to understand older residents' viewpoints about loneliness to provide better care in the long‐term care context. This study aimed to explore residents' perceptions of loneliness in LTCFs. For this qualitative research, data were collected from two LTCFs in northern Taiwan, and purposive sampling was used. In‐depth interviews with 16 older residents were conducted using a semi‐structured interview guide. Content analysis was performed to analyse the data. Four themes with nine subthemes were generated. The themes were: being cut off from continually meaningful relationships, experiencing tears of pain, feeling alone, and lacking a sense of belonging. The findings of this study can provide information for health care professionals to better understand older residents' views on loneliness and remind them to re‐examine care protocols for psychological health care. Thus, this study found that in order to prevent or alleviate older residents' feelings of loneliness, the LTCFs should maintain continually meaningful relationships, accompany them, and give them a sense of belonging. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) guidelines were used to report this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Family caregivers play an important role for patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), and delirium is a common clinical syndrome. Little is known about the experiences of family caregivers when a relative is a patient with delirium, especially for caregivers in Asian cultures. Aims and Objective: To understand the experience of family caregivers with a family member as a patient with delirium in the ICU in Taiwan. Design: A descriptive qualitative study with in‐depth face‐to‐face semi‐structured interviews. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 20 family caregivers of 20 patients with delirium in the ICU of a hospital in northern Taiwan. Results: The core theme describing the phenomenon of family caregivers of a patient with delirium was "Sailing in a sea of perplexity," which described family caregivers' uncertainty of navigating the ICU and providing support for a relative. Three subthemes described the core theme: (a) perplexity of the ICU environment, (b) perplexity of making decisions, and (c) perplexity of Chinese cultural constraints. Conclusion: "Sailing in a sea of perplexity" underscores how uncertainty among family caregivers of patients with delirium in ICUs can lead to feelings of fear and anxiety. Therefore, nursing professionals should not only focus on patient care but also be sensitive to caregivers' feelings of uncertainty and their cultural beliefs. Relevance to clinical practice: Unfamiliarity and lack of knowledge about intensive care and patient treatments were a source of family caregivers' perplexity. To reduce uncertainty, we recommend increased communication between staff and caregivers. Hospitals can also provide information on their websites, including treatment of delirium and visitation hours. Information access could be enhanced by developing a smartphone app linked to a QR code that families can scan to obtain information, which would be useful during restricted visitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the event of a contagious disease outbreak that reaches the level of a pandemic, the responsibility of providing care for patients increases for front‐line nurses. However, being in a nursing role exposes professionals to a range of risks, including but not limited to contagion and mental health impacts. This qualitative study aimed to explore in‐depth nurses' experiences of providing care in the time of the COVID‐19 global pandemic. The study followed the COREQ guidelines. Purposive sampling was applied to recruit participants. Semi‐structured face‐to‐face interviews were used to collect the data from 16 nurses across five hospitals in Taiwan in 2020. Contents were analysed using Colaizzi's seven‐step method. The essential structure that was identified was 'Providing care cautiously and being alert to the changing environment', which reflects the progress of Taiwanese nurses in providing care during the global COVID‐19 pandemic. The essence of the phenomenon is presented through three themes: (i) facing the emerging challenge, (ii) struggling with uncertainty, fear, stigma, and workload, and (iii) adapting to changes in the environment: learning and innovation. The findings identified multi‐dimensional impacts of nursing experiences during the COVID‐19 pandemic, and the study yielded evidence and practices that can be used to guide and support adequate interventions to support nursing professionals. By understanding the various aspects of nurses' experiences, policymakers and administrators can better address nursing care providers' professional and mental health needs during a pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anorexia nervosa (AN), which primarily affects adolescent girls and young women, is characterized by excessive dieting, leading to severe weight loss and a pathological fear of becoming overweight, or unhealthy behaviours that hinder weight gain. Caring for patients who have AN is particularly challenging for nursing staff, who are on the front line and have the closest contact with patients. However, little is known about how nursing staff care for adolescent patients with AN in Taiwan. This study aimed to explore nurses' perceptions on and experiences in conflict situations in caring for adolescents with AN. A qualitative study approach was conducted. Through semi‐structured interviews, ten nursing staff from the paediatric ward at a university‐affiliated medical centre in central Taiwan shared their experiences. Recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed by content analysis. This analysis identified three themes with eight subthemes: (i) struggling to develop therapeutic relationships, (ii) selective focusing, and (iii) difficulty changing minds. The findings of this study indicated a need for ongoing support for nursing staff, the development of therapeutic relationships with adolescent patients with AN, extensive nursing staff preparation, and the development of in‐service training programs to enable nursing staff to care for these patients with greater understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to portray the recovery process of Taiwanese women after stillbirth. Data were generated through individual in-depth interviews with 21 women selected using purposeful sampling. Three stages in an emotional journey of recovery were suffering from silent grief, searching for a way out, and achieving peace of mind and mental stability. Throughout their journey, the women's overarching concern was where the deceased child had gone and whether it was well. Together these stages composed A pathway to peace of mind, a mental journey on which women struggled to spiritually connect with the lost baby and finally sought a personal pathway to emotional peace. Findings can inform healthcare providers in providing culturally sensitive care for Taiwanese women to facilitate healing after a stillbirth. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Until now, caring research has focused on constructs, processes and outcomes of caring traits exhibited mainly by nurses or nursing students in hospitals. Few studies have considered the perspectives of elderly residents of long-term care facilities ( LTCFs). Aims The aim of this study was to elucidate the nature of caring by describing the experience of elderly residents of Taiwan LTCFs. Methods Data collected by semi-structured interviews with 12 elderly residents of LTCFs were analysed by content analysis. Results The caring perceived by the sample was thematically categorized as calming the body, respectful communication and enriching life. Conclusion The findings of this study confirm the need for managers of LTCFs to address the physical and psychosocial needs of their residents. The findings can be used to develop education programmes and clinical protocols for nurses in the caring field and to develop instruments for measuring perceived caring in LTCFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]