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Convenience sampling and purposive sampling are two different sampling methods. This article first explains sampling terms such as target population, accessible population, simple random sampling, intended sample, actual sample, and statistical power analysis. These terms are then used to explain the difference between "convenience sampling" and purposive sampling." Convenience sampling is a non-probabilistic sampling technique applicable to qualitative or quantitative studies, although it is most frequently used in quantitative studies. In convenience samples, subjects more readily accessible to the researcher are more likely to be included. Thus, in quantitative studies, opportunity to participate is not equal for all qualified individuals in the target population and study results are not necessarily generalizable to this population. As in all quantitative studies, increasing the sample size increases the statistical power of the convenience sample. In contrast, purposive sampling is typically used in qualitative studies. Researchers who use this technique carefully select subjects based on study purpose with the expectation that each participant will provide unique and rich information of value to the study. As a result, members of the accessible population are not interchangeable and sample size is determined by data saturation not by statistical power analysis.

Evidence-based practice has become a dominant trend in the healthcare with the objective of providing efficient, high quality health care, and policy making. Traditional problem-solving methods may not adequately address consumer needs in the rapidly changing modern healthcare system. In order to make correct decisions, a systematic and scientific approach to the collection, assessment, and interpretation of clinical information is essential for the health care provider. Creating an evidence-based practice nursing culture is the most fundamental way for nurses to recognize the importance of evidence-based nursing and, subsequently, adapt to solving clinical problems. This paper elaborates the strategy for incorporating evidence-based nursing into the clinical ladder system used at the authors' affiliated medical center. Three strategies are introduced. These are: (1) including the EBN concept in newcomer in-service training; (2) adopting evidence-based nursing practice competence as a criterion in the clinical ladder system, with various evidence-based, ladder-related reports required for promotion; and (3) providing support to nurses through centralized and decentralized education as well as individual consultation. The proposed strategy is provided as a practical reference for educators and policy makers working to foster evidence-based practice nursing cultures.

Disasters, natural and man made, devastate individuals and society through severe injury, death, property damage, public health problems, and later psychological issues. Emergency nurses are often the first professionals to arrive at the scene of a disaster incident. As such, they must be equipped with knowledge and skills related to disaster management. Training for disaster preparedness has become an important trend for emergency nurses in order to respond immediately to various disasters and to crisis management needs. The purposes of this article were to (1) describe concepts, knowledge and skills related to disaster nursing and (2) describe the disaster nursing experience and training content / protocol of emergency nurses working at the National Cheng Kung University Hospital in Taiwan. Issues related to training, work assignments, practical training, and staff management are also discussed.

The Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) is still in its infancy in Taiwan. It has many advantages, including safety, simplicity, and few complications during the insertion process. It is suitable for patients who need long-term parenteral administration of medication or chemotherapy. However, the duration of PICC implantation is around six months, or even up to one year. As a result, it is very important to educate patients to take care of themselves throughout the implantation period in order to prevent complications. This report describes the experience of nursing a forty-four-year old male patient who suffered from acute lymphocytic leukemia and received a PICC implantation while undergoing chemotherapy treatment. As a PICC case manager, the author utilized self-efficacy theory and devoted herself to nursing care, interviews and phone calls to collect valuable information. During the process of PICC implantation, the author analyzed the characteristics of this case and assisted the patient and his primary care giver in choosing a suitable catheter and self-care techniques to achieve minimal complications during implantation. It is hoped that, by sharing in her experience, nursing staff may enhance their ability to assist patients with PICC and to help them to maintain their quality of life.

This study was conducted from March 1985 to September 1987 among the pupils of Chung-Ying Primary School of Hsia-Ying township in Tainan Country, Southern Taiwan. Health education revealed the preferred control method against Fasciolopsis infection in this study. The education method included lectures, demonstrations of parasites and home visits at regular intervals. The subjects included the staff and children of the school and all family members. At the same time, the children infected with Fasciolopsis were treated with praziquantel in June, 1986. Fecal material of the all primary school children of Hsia-Ying township was examined with the antiformin-ether concentration method. One year before control the positive rate of Fasciolopsis was 25.1%. One year after control in March 1986, it was decreased to 9.5%. Two and a half years after control in September 1987, it was farther brought down to 1.0%. The x2-test of positive rate showed statistically different. Health education with medication is recommended for the control of fasciolopsiasis.

Stool samples of 817 children (grades 4-6) from 3 primary schools, were collected and examined by the antiformin-ether concentration technique. Results showed no cases of Fasciolopsis were found from Liu-Ying primary school (Liu-Ying Hsiang), but infection rates of this fluke were found to be 13.0% and 3.5% for Ho-Chien and Tung-Hsing primary schools (Hsia-Ying Hsiang) respectively. Fourteen infected children had recent experience of eating raw water caltrops. On the other hand, only 8(21.6%) of 37 non-infected children had eaten raw water caltrops. Examination of intermediate host (Segmentina hemisphaerula, Trapa bispinosa) results showed that neither cercaria nor metacercaria was found. Intestines and stool samples from pigs were examined for worms and eggs of Fasciolopsis, the results were also negative.