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Hemodialysis patients undergo hemodialysis two to three times a week and must live together with the dialysis machine. The patient's self-participation is to combine the patient's own experience and professional knowledge to influence the care. A successful self-participation experience empowers patients to adapt to living with hemodialysis. However, few studies have been conducted regarding the subjective experiences of such patient participation. There is a lack of a self-participation dialysis life scale for hemodialysis patients. Therefore, this study aims to develop and evaluate a self-participation dialysis life scale for hemodialysis patients. The items for the self-participation dialysis life scale were confirmed through qualitative interviews based on grounded theory. After expert content validity evaluation, 435 hemodialysis patients were purposively sampled from hemodialysis centers in two regional teaching hospitals in Taiwan. Descriptive statistics, principal axis factoring, reliability analysis, Pearson's correlation, and one-way ANOVA were used for data analysis. The results show that the item- and scale-content validity indices are 0.96 and 0.73, respectively. This scale is divided into two scales. The first part is "Scale of Perceptions of Hemodialysis", including two factors. The overall can explain 66.34% of the cumulative variances. The second part is the "Scale of Self-Participation in Hemodialysis", including four factors. The overall can explain 58.91% of the cumulative variances. The Cronbach's α is 0.812 for "Perceptions of Hemodialysis" and 0.959 for "Self-Participation in Hemodialysis", respectively. The self-participation dialysis life scale has good reliability and validity and can be used to evaluate the implementation of a patient's self-participation in their hemodialysis life. Discussing or consulting with patients based on their characteristics, life priorities, and their desired life on dialysis is essential for a high-quality of clinical care among hemodialysis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taiwan had the second highest number globally of end-stage renal disease patients undergoing treatment in 2018. A meta-analysis of Chen et al. (2021) showed the incidence and mortality rates of COVID-19 were 7.7% and 22.4%, respectively. Few studies have explored the effects of patients' self-participation and perceptions of hemodialysis on their quality of life. This study aimed to explore the factors related to hemodialysis patients' quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was a descriptive correlational study. Patients were recruited (n = 298) from the hemodialysis unit of a medical center in northern Taiwan. Variables included patients' sociodemographic, psychological, spiritual, and clinical characteristics (i.e., perceived health level, comorbidities, hemodialysis duration, weekly frequency, transportation, and accompaniment during hemodialysis), perceptions of hemodialysis, self-participation in hemodialysis, and health-related quality of life (KDQOL-36 scale). Data were analyzed using descriptive and bivariate and multivariate linear regression. Multivariate linear regression, after adjusting for covariates, showed that anxiety, self-perceived health status, two vs. four comorbidities, and self-participation in hemodialysis were significantly associated with quality of life. The overall model was significant and accounted for 52.2% (R2 = 0.522) of the variance in quality of life during hemodialysis (adjusted R2 = 0.480). In conclusion, the quality of life of hemodialysis patients with mild, moderate, or severe anxiety was poorer, whereas that of patients with fewer comorbidities, higher self-perceived health status, and higher self-participation in hemodialysis was better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the world. Statistics revealed the number of breast cancer patients less than 40 years of age increased over time. Clinical studies found there is a trend of yearly illness happening in younger patients, whose needs related to the illness are different from older patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the uncertainty and needs of patients in different age groups who were newly diagnosed with breast cancer. A descriptive cross-sectional survey study was adopted to recruit 128 patients. The Mishel's Uncertainty in Illness Scale (MUIS, Chinese version) and the Cancer Needs Questionnaire (short-form, CNQ-SF) were used to collect data. The results revealed that a patient's age and religion negatively correlated with illness uncertainty. A patient's age, educational level, work or not, and children's age correlated with needs for care. Age, illness uncertainty, and educational level were important predictors of the needs of care, with an explanatory power of 29.0%. In Conclusion, patients ≤40 years of age had greater illness uncertainty and needs for care than those who were >40 years of age. For younger patients newly diagnosed with cancer, medical professionals should take the initiative to provide detailed and complete information on breast cancer treatment plans, prognosis, and home self-care, which helps clarify the possible future treatments and results and further enables patients to acquire self-care skills and knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver transplantation is a very important surgery. In many cases, it involves two loved ones (receiver and donor in the same family) and causes stress and feelings of burden in family caregivers. The purpose of this study was to investigate post-traumatic growth in primary caregivers of liver transplant patients. A cross-sectional research design was adopted to recruit 84 participants. The Perceived Stress Scale, Short-Form Coping Strategies Scale, and Post-traumatic Growth Scale were used. The results revealed that the total score of perceived stress of the main caregivers of liver transplantation was 27.27 ± 6.63; problem-oriented coping and emotion-oriented coping were used as the main coping strategies, and the traumatic growth score was 42.01 ± 13.84. All three variables were significant predictors of post-traumatic growth (F = 13.71, p < 0.05), explaining 38% of the total variance. This study can help nurses understand the post-traumatic growth status and related factors of the main caregivers of liver transplant patients. It can also help caregivers understand their own perceived pressure and then take relevant care measures to reduce the degree of physical and mental load and achieve a balanced state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: This study aimed to test the feasibility of utilizing the screening tool for fall risk assessment in adult inpatient and verify its accuracy in a medical center in Taiwan. (2) Methods: This study retrospectively collected all adult fall cases among inpatients occurring in the general wards of a medical center between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2015. This inpatient fall risk screening scale was measured by the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. (3) Results: There were 1331 (0.4%) falls among a total of 357,395 inpatients during this period. Factors predictive of falling risk included: age, consciousness, body shift assistance, use of fall risk medications, fall history, dizziness or weakness, toileting, and impaired mobility. Using the eight-factor assessment, two was the best cutoff point for identifying the fall risk group, with area under Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) = 0.817, sensitivity = 80.93%, specificity = 73.0%, accuracy = 73.03%, and likelihood ratio = 11.48. (4) Conclusions: The accuracy of the eight-item fall risk assessment tool created for this study was validated. These results can serve as a reference for institutions to develop more effective fall risk assessment scale for inpatients, enabling clinical nurses to identify and more comprehensively assess the groups at highest risk for falling during their hospital stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Dust explosion that injured 499 patients occurred on June 27, 2015 in Taiwan. This tragedy inundated hospitals across northern Taiwan with an unprecedented number of burn patients. It caused extreme pressure and challenges for nurses. The purpose of this study is to investigate factors associated with nurses' work stress, resilience, and professional quality of life in caring for dust exposure patients. A cross-sectional survey data was collected from nurses in caring for dust explosion patients. A total of 83 nurses in burn unit, plastic surgery ward, and reconstructive microsurgery unit returned valid data for analysis. Structured questionnaires included demographic inventory, Nurse Stress Checklist, Connor Davidson Resilience Scale, and Professional Quality of Life Scale version 5. The study results showed that work stress deteriorated the professional quality of life, while resilience was a protective factor. Significant positive relationships were observed between work stress, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. Results of hierarchical regression analysis indicated that resilience helps to ease the deterioration effect of secondary traumatic stress. Results confirm the importance of both work stress and resilience in explaining aspects of professional quality of life. More importantly, resilience was shown as a significant variable impacting level of secondary trauma stress. Intervention in promoting resilience should be targeted in order to reduce secondary trauma among nurses after facing disastrous mass causality incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of music listening on the level of anxiety and physiological responses for awake craniotomy.Methods: An experimental design with randomization was applied in this study. Participants in experimental group (19 patients) selected and listened music at their preferences in the waiting room and throughout the entire surgical procedure in addition to usual care while control group (19 patients) only gave usual care. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure were collected for analysis.Results: The results of this study showed that after music listening, there was significant decrease in the level of anxiety (p<.001). The findings also showed that the music intervention significantly reduced heartbeat rate 84.5 (p<.004), systolic pressure 42 (p<.001), and diastolic pressure 38 (p<.001) over time. We concluded that music listening is associated with a decreased level of anxiety and distress after awake craniotomy patients.Conclusion: The results of this study can provide perioperative nursing care in providing music listening when patients were in the waiting room and during surgery to reduce the anxiety so as to reach the goal of human care and improve perioperative nursing care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the effects of listening to music on the anxiety levels and physiological responses of surgical patients receiving spinal anesthesia.Methods: An experimental design was used in the study with an experimental group (n=50) and a control group (n=50). The experimental group received 30min of musical intervention and routine nursing care in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) while the control group received only routine nursing care.Results: The study found significant differences in both anxiety and physiological indices between the two groups. The mean score of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in the study group decreased from a pre-test score of 59.0 to a post-test score of 31.20 (t=28.63, p<0.001). Physiological indices such as heart rate (t=2.61, p=0.012), respiration rate (t=2.29, p=0.026), systolic blood pressure (t=2.30, p=0.026), and diastolic blood pressure (t=3.02, p=0.004) decreased significantly as well. Control group was not seeing significant changes from pre-op values.Conclusion: Listening to music while in the recovery room may decrease the level of anxiety in surgical patients receiving spinal anesthesia. The results of this study can serve as a reference for PACU nurses in utilizing music listening programs to achieve the goal of holistic care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional study explored the relationship between professional commitment and job satisfaction among nurses. A total of 132 registered nurses were recruited from a hospital in northern Taiwan. A self-reported structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Findings revealed significant differences among nurses in willingness to make an effort and their marital status, appraisal in continuing their careers, job level, and goals and values related to working shifts. Significant differences were found between inner satisfaction and work sector and marital status. Nurses’ professional commitment was strongly related to job satisfaction; aspects of professional commitment explained 32% of the variance in job satisfaction. Study results may inform health care institutions about the importance of nurses’ job satisfaction and professional commitment so hospital administration can improve these aspects of organizational environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Healthcare workplace violence has been a focused issue in the whole world. The rate of the occurrence is pretty high in every country. The emergency room is a high risk and high frequency place for violence to occur. Under the medical service demands from people, it is quite easy to bring about conflicts. This leads to serious physical and mental harm to nurses. When suffering from physical and mental injuries, resilience is a protective factor away from negative influence. It is rare to explore and study how the nurses' resilience ability, workplace violence and turnover intention are related. Thus, the aim of this study is to understand resilience as a mediator effect in emergency nurses toward the workplace violence. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was used to collect information from emergency room nurses of a medical center in northern Taiwan. There were 132 samples in total. Three research instruments were included as follows: Hospital Workplace Violence Prevention Questionnaire, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and Turnover Intention Scale. Statistical analysis using t-test, ANOVA, Correlation, as well as Sobel test were used in this study. (3) Results: The results revealed that the average age was 29.5 ± 5.6. Almost 58% of nurses experienced workplace violence. Twelve percent of nurse had experienced physical violence and 53.8% had experienced mental violence. There was significant relationship between shift personnel and religious believers. To the people who suffered physical violence, there was a significant relationship between emergency room working years and the total working years. There was significant difference between those who had suffered mental violence and religious believers. Female nurses suffered mental violence to a much higher extent than male nurses. There was a significant relationship between nurses' working years, the total working years, resilience, and turnover intention. Resilience was not the mediator for workplace violence toward turnover intention in this study. (4) Conclusions: The outcome of this study suggested that on an individual level, nurses can enhance self-protection and communication skills to decrease workplace violence. For emergency environment settings, designing a good working environment, visitors' restriction, avoiding working alone, and enhancing supervising alarm system are recommended. As for hospital administrators, fitness for work and to set up a project team is necessary. These can be references in planning prevention on workplace violence and promoting quality of workplace and patient safety in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of utilizing the established perimenopausal fatigue self-management scale (P-MFSMS) to evaluate perimenopausal Taiwanese women's vulnerability to fatigue syndrome. A cross-sectional study design was adopted to survey 220 perimenopausal Taiwanese women with a mean age of 51.8 ± 4.64 years and a mean body mass index of 23.07 ± 3.04 kg/m2, 75.9% of whom were married, 52.3% had a college education or above, 80.4% had salaries, 81.3% had small families, and 96.4% were not using hormone therapy. The P-MFSMS consists of 25 questions based on six categories: (1) strive to maintain work energy and efficiency; (2) seek self-help from medical resources (doctor shopping); (3) strive to maintain the normal operation of the family (seeking help and support from family or significant other); (4) make time for activities or exercise in busy life; (5) slow down or adjust lifestyle; (6) frustration. For all of these six categories, the minimum loading of each question on the factor was calculated to be over 0.50, with a Cronbach's α of 0.78 and a corrected total-item correlation of >0.50. The goodness of fit of the model was determined to be acceptable, with a chi-square/df value of <3.0 (χ2 = 503.45 and df = 260), a root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) value of 0.065 (<0.08), as well as a Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) value of 0.892. The Tucker–Lewis index (TLI = 0.91), Comparative Fit index (CFI = 0.92), and Incremental Fit index (IFI = 0.92) were all >0.90. There was no statistically significant difference in the difficulty between perimenopausal and postmenopausal women utilizing differential item function (DIF) analysis. Taken together, the 25-question P-MFSMS may be a potentially valid and reliable instrument for suitably evaluating perimenopausal Taiwanese women's vulnerability to fatigue syndrome. Future studies will be conducted to test the effectiveness of the P-MFSMS for evaluating perimenopausal Taiwanese women's vulnerability to fatigue syndrome in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]