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Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is one type of renal replacement therapy. If patients have problems during the dialysis process, healthcare providers may not be able assist the patients immediately. mHealth can provide patients with information and help them to solve problems in real-time, potentially increasing their willingness to choose PD. Objective: The objectives of this study were to conduct a comprehensive review of free mobile applications for patients with PD on the Internet and to recommend suitable mobile applications to facilitate patient self-management and health. Methods: We conducted a systematic search for PD mobile applications on Google Play and the Apple iTunes Store from 3 to 16 June 2023. Results: A total of 828 identifiable mobile applications were initially identified, and ultimately, 21 met the inclusion criteria. The Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) assessment of the applications revealed the highest score in the functionality domain, followed by the aesthetics, information, app-specific, subjective quality, and engagement domains, respectively. In the comprehensive self-management of PD, the highest percentage was related to disease-related information. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that some applications, with the highest quality, can be recommended to patients for use in English or traditional Chinese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the impact of epidemic prevention and isolation policies on residents' health and well-being and assess the effectiveness of implementing intervention measures to maintain their quality of life. This mixed-methods research study involved a retrospective record review of residents' daily life diaries and descriptive statistical analysis. Data were collected between March 2021 and June 2022, and epidemic-prevention measures were implemented using Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control guidelines. Three interventions were developed to address residents' health, social, and rehabilitation needs. Despite an overall infection rate of 10% at various times between 2021 and 2022, there were no reported outbreaks of nosocomial infections. The concept of reablement proved effective in helping residents maintain their independence and physical function, with a maintenance rate of 66.6%, thereby improving their quality of life. By implementing epidemic-prevention measures, we found that proper hand washing and the use of surgical masks were effective in controlling infections. Furthermore, the decline in physical function is a continuous and gradual process for older adults. Even under the restriction of social interaction, it is essential to incorporate rehabilitation plans into residents' daily activities and encourage their active participation, as this promotes improved physical function and enhances their overall quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-acting antipsychotic injections require that psychiatric nurses choose the proper injection site and technique to avoid harming patients. This research conducted a mixed-method study to examine the long-acting injectable antipsychotic (LAI) knowledge, practice, and administrative barriers in a sample of 269 psychiatric nurses from 3 public psychiatric hospitals in Taiwan. Self-report questionnaires showed female nurses exhibiting higher scores and older nurses demonstrating more knowledge. The dorsogluteal (DG) site was the most widely used for injections, with 57.6% of nurses using the Z-track method. Qualitative data analysis was performed on 20 psychiatric nurses who chose the DG site as their preferred injection site. There were two key themes. The first was a gap between the nurses' knowledge of LAI administration and their actual practice. The second needed more confidence and training in using the ventrogluteal injection site. These results highlight the need for continued education and training to improve LAI practice among psychiatric nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this study, the aim of conducting the network meta-analysis (NMA) was to explore the efficacy of different exercises and their respective ranks in the context of reducing cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in women with breast cancer (BC) during the inter-treatment and post-treatment periods. We found that yoga, resistance exercise, and aerobic resistance were the top three recommended exercise modes for the purposes of reducing CRF during the inter-treatment period among women with BC; moreover, Qigong ranked last in terms of efficacy. Yoga, aerobic yoga, and aerobic resistance were the top three exercise options that should be performed in order to relieve CRF during the post-treatment period; conversely, relaxation ranked last in this respect. Aerobic plus resistance, resistance exercise, and yoga were conducted via using a supervisor, as well as short-time sessions. Objective measures are recommended in order to examine the causal relationship of vigorous exercise or yoga on physical functions. This was performed in order to obtain clarity in respect to the optimal therapeutic management strategies that will best aid with the reduction in CRF among women with BC. Context: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most common cause of physical powerlessness in women with breast cancer (BC). The practice of continuous effective exercise is beneficial with respect to reducing CRF. Objective: To explore exercise efficacy and respective ranks with respect to reducing CRF in women with BC within the inter-treatment and post-treatment periods. Methods: Throughout this systematic review and network meta-analysis, articles published from 2000 to March 2022 were included. Article searches were conducted on the MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and CENTRAL databases. Adult women with BC and different exercise programs were compared with those involved in regular care as a control during or after treatment. In addition, randomized controlled trials (RCT) were also included. A risk-of-bias assessment, with the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool regarding RCT and probability-based ranking, was established based on the surface under the cumulative rank (SUCRA) method via network meta-analysis. Results: a total of 5747 women with BC followed seven exercise interventions. Yoga (SMD = −0.54, 95% CI [−0.86, −0.22]) was ranked first (94.5%), with significant effects in respect of mitigating CRF, followed by resistance exercise (66.2%), and aerobic resistance (63.3%), while Qigong ranked last (22.2%) among the 36 RCT in inter-treatment. Aerobic resistance exercise (SMD = −0.52, 95% CI [−0.98, −0.07]) induced significant effects in respect of mitigating CRF in the 38 RCTs in the post-treatment period. Yoga, aerobic yoga, and aerobic resistance exercise ranked as the top three (75.5%, 75.0%, and 72.4%, respectively), whereas relaxation ranked last (38.8%) in the post-treatment period. Conclusion: Yoga, aerobic resistance, and aerobic yoga are recommended for the purposes of inter- and post-treatment exercise to reduce CRF in women with BC by enhancing their physical resilience and long-term quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the difference in the structural composition of salivary flora between chronic periodontitis patients with and without diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods: Thirty salivary samples of 15 chronic periodontitis patients with DN (DN group) and 15 chronic periodontitis patients with diabetes but without DN (DM group) were subjected to pyrosequencing of polymerase chain reaction-amplified 16 s ribosomal RNA genes. After diversity testing, the differential flora were analyzed. The sequencing results were compared with GenBank database to determine the type of differential flora using species composition analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, principal co-ordinate analysis, and species difference analysis. Results: There were significant between-group differences with respect to Gemella, Selenomonas spp, Lactobacillales_unclassified, Bacteria-unclassified and Abiotrophia (p < 0.05). Compared with DM group, the relative abundance of Selenomonas spp. in DN group was significantly higher; the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of Selenomonas spp. was 0.713 (P < 0.05). Multi-level biological identification and feature maps indicated that Selenomonas spp. might be used as a potential biomarker for DN patients. On binary logistic regression analysis, increase of Selenomonas spp. was related with DN. Conclusions: We found significant between-group differences in the structural composition of oral flora. The increase in the relative abundance of Selenomonas spp. may be associated with DN in patients with chronic periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung cancer is the most prevalent cancer, and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in China. The aim of this study was to estimate the direct medical expenditure incurred for lung cancer care and analyze the trend therein for the period 2002–2011 using nationally representative data in China Methods: This study was based on 10-year, multicenter retrospective expenditure data collected from hospital records, covering 15,437 lung cancer patients from 13 provinces diagnosed during the period 2002–2011. All expenditure data were adjusted to 2011 to eliminate the effects of inflation using China's annual consumer price index. Results: The direct medical expenditure for lung cancer care (in 2011) was 39,015 CNY (US$6,041) per case, with an annual growth rate of 7.55% from 2002 to 2011. Drug costs were the highest proportionally in the total medical expenditure (54.27%), followed by treatment expenditure (14.32%) and surgical expenditure (8.10%). Medical expenditures for the disease varied based on region, hospital level, type, and stage. Conclusion: The medical expenditure for lung cancer care is substantial in China. Drug costs and laboratory test are the main factors increasing medical costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), glycemic control is usually suboptimal. Methods: This study compared the risks of mortality and cardiovascular events in insulin-treated patients adding or not adding alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs). Results: This cohort study included data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. In total, 17,417 patients newly diagnosed as having T2DM and undergoing insulin therapy during 2000–2012 were enrolled. Overall incidence rates of all-cause mortality, hospitalized coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, and heart failure were compared between 4165 AGI users and 4165 matched nonusers. The incidence rates of all-cause mortality were 17.10 and 19.61 per 1000 person-years in AGI nonusers and users, respectively. Compared with nonusers, AGI users had a higher mortality risk [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05–1.40; p = 0.01]. Regarding AGI use, aHRs (95% CI) for cardiovascular death, non-cardiovascular death, hospitalized CAD, stroke, and heart failure were 1.20 (0.83–1.74), 1.27 (1.07–1.50), 1.12 (0.95–1.31), 0.98 (0.85–1.14), and 1.03 (0.87–1.22) respectively. Conclusion: AGI use was associated with higher risks of all-cause mortality and non-cardiovascular death in insulin-treated patients with T2DM. Therefore, adding AGIs in insulin-treated patients may not be appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) as an intervention for anxiety, psychotic symptoms, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Design and methods: Eighty patients were recruited from a Taiwanese psychiatry ward. The intervention group received group PMR; control group received treatment‐as‐usual. Results: The results indicated that PMR might have a short‐term effect on reducing anxiety, improving psychotic syndromes, and QOL among patients with chronic schizophrenia; however, the effectiveness at the 3‐month follow‐up was not evident. Practice Implications: Both the psychiatric patients and the health institutions may be able to list PMR as a clinical routine care, and then become a mental health practice strategy for mental patients to improve the quality of mental care. Implications for Nursing Practice: Our studies suggest that prevention of severe mental illness among patients with schizophrenia requires PMR interventions. PMR had an immediate effect, and it is possible that a shorter intervention period using this approach would also be successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore the efficacy of community rehabilitation for facilitating daily function among patients with mental illness. Design and Methods: A quasi‐experimental design was used. Two hundred and sixty‐four participants completed a daily living function scale questionnaire and provided disease‐related information. Findings: Community rehabilitation was shown to be efficient in helping to stabilize mental illness and enhance daily function. Daily function had a significant and positive correlation with disease stability. Practice Implications: Community rehabilitation for patients with mental illness can effectively stabilize and prevent disability among those with mental illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xiao-chai-hu-tang (XCHT) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine which has been demonstrated to exhibit antioxidant and hepatoprotective functions. To reduce the unpleasant dark brown color and precipitates during storage, the performances of membrane process on the clarification and antioxidant capability of XCHT was evaluated. A membrane system equipped with either a microfiltration membrane (0.45 urn) or one of four ultrafiltration membranes (UK 200, UK 50, UP 20 and UK 10) was used. Our results indicated that less total solid was filtered through the membranes and thus a higher degree of clarification degree was achieved in permeates. Higher concentrations of active compounds, such as total phenolic compounds, saikosaponins, glycyrrhizin and baicalin, were detected in permeate using membranes of smaller pore-size of membranes. Antioxidant capabilities, including scavenging of free radicals, reducing power and total antioxidant activity of permeates, increased as compared to those of feed, particularly of permeates obtained with a UK. 10 ultrafiltration membrane. Taken together, membrane process clarified aqueous herbal extract and selectively partitioned bioactive components in permeates, thus enhancing the feasibility of XCHT to be a commercial health drink product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Culture serves as an adhesive to bind the lives of people. There are no objective, useful tools to assess cultural competence and practice. In this study, we evaluated whether the cultural competence of nurses was strengthened through the Cultural Competence Cultivation Programme. Methods: A quasi-experimental research design was used to evaluate nurses working at a medical centre in Taiwan. They were randomly allocated into an experimental group (n = 47), which received the Cultural Competence Cultivation Programme, or a control group (n = 50), which did not receive the educational programme. After the intervention, learning efficacy of the participants was assessed using an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). The research data were statistically analysed on SPSS. Results: The average score of the experimental group was significantly higher in the 'communication ability and skill' category. Furthermore, OSCE scores and Standardised Patient Survey assessment and total scores were significantly and positively correlated. Conclusion: The findings of this study can serve as a reference for designing future clinical education programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient activation has been described as a potential strategy to improve chronic disease self-management. However, the effects of patient activation interventions on psychological and behavioral outcomes have not been systematically evaluated. Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of patient activation interventions on physiological, psychological, behavioral, and health-related quality of life outcomes in patients with chronic diseases. Methods: We systematically searched four databases (PubMed, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Embase) from inception to September 1, 2017. We identified English- and Chinese-language published reports of randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effects of patient activation interventions for adults with chronic diseases. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by two reviewers independently. We summarized the intervention effects with Hedges's g values and 95% confidence intervals using a random-effects model. We used the Cochrane Handbook to assess the methodological quality of the randomized controlled trials. Results: Twenty-six randomized controlled trials were included in the qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis. In terms of overall study quality, most of the included studies were affected by performance and detection bias. Patient activation interventions produced significant effects on outcomes related to physiological, psychological, behavioral, and health-related quality of life in the context of chronic diseases. The following effect sizes were obtained: (a) physiological, namely, glycated hemoglobin = −0.31 (p <.01), systolic blood pressure = −0.20 (p <.01), diastolic blood pressure = −0.80 (p =.02), body weight = −0.12 (p =.03), and low-density lipoprotein = −0.21 (p =.01); (b) psychological, namely, depression = −0.16 (p <.01) and anxiety = −0.25 (p =.01); (c) behavioral, namely, patient activation = 0.33 (p <.01) and self-efficacy = 0.57 (p <.01); and (d) health-related quality of life = 0.25 (p =.01). Conclusions: Patient activation interventions significantly improve patients' physiological, psychosocial, and behavioral health statuses. Healthcare providers should implement patient activation interventions that tailor support to the individual patients' level of patient activation and strengthen the patients' role in managing their healthcare to improve chronic-disease-related health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]