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Purpose The study explores the influences of nutrition-related factors (albumin, hemoglobin, and obesity) and lifestyles (physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, smoking, and drinking) on the length of hospital stay in postoperative colorectal cancer patients. Methods This study is a cross-sectional design. A convenience sample of 106 preoperative colorectal cancer patients was recruited from a medical center in Taiwan. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaires and from patients' medical records. Results The median length of hospital stay was ten days with an interquartile range ( IQR) of 8–11.25 days. The results of the log-link Gamma generalized linear model showed that albumin ( B = −0.16, p = 0.007) and physical activity (B = −0.14, p = 0.001) were significant predictors of the length of hospital stay after controlling for demographics and disease characteristics. The influences of anemia, obesity, fruit and vegetable intake, smoking, and drinking on the length of hospital stay were insignificant. Conclusions Patients with hypoalbuminemia and a low level of physical activity undergo a more extended postoperative hospital stay. The study findings inform clinicians of the influencing factor of the patients' recovery and provide a foundation for developing interventions to decrease hospital stay length.

Purpose The study purpose is to test the efficacy of a decision support intervention for reducing decisional conflict, increasing prostate biopsy knowledge, and enhancing decision self-efficacy in patients with elevated serum prostate-specific antigen. Method The study is based on a randomized pre-post test design. A convenience sample of men with elevated prostate-specific antigen was recruited and 1:1 randomized to the intervention and control groups. The intervention group received the decision support intervention and the control group received health education. Data were collected at the baseline and post-test by using self-reported questionnaires, including the Prostate Biopsy Knowledge Scale, the Decision Self-Efficacy Scale, the Decisional Conflict Scale, and questions regarding the prostate biopsy decision (post-test only). Data on prostate-specific antigen levels were collected from the patients’ medical records. Results A total of 110 patients participated in the study. At baseline, the intervention group had significantly higher knowledge scores than the control group. The analysis of the covariance model with the baseline score as a covariate was used to analyze the intervention effect. After controlling for the baseline scores, the mean differences (95% CI) between the two groups were 11.75 (11.17–12.32), 76.45 (72.52–80.37), and −23.53 (−26.31–20.20) for knowledge, decision self-efficacy, and decisional conflict, respectively. The between-group difference in willingness to accept prostate biopsy at the post-test was not statistically significant ( χ 2 = 1.704). Conclusions The decision support intervention significantly reduced patients' decisional conflict while improving their knowledge and self-efficacy. However, the intervention did not affect patients’ biopsy decision.

Purpose The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of a mouth-opening intervention for postoperative trismus and remote support provided via telephone following hospital discharge for intervention adherence in patients with oral cancer. Methods The study is a parallel randomized trial. Patients admitted at a general hospital for oral cancer surgery were recruited and randomly assigned to either the experimental or the active control group. Both groups underwent a 12-week intervention program, including warm compress , masticatory muscle massage, and jaw exercise. Subjects in the experimental group received additional support via telephone following hospital discharge. Data on intervention adherence maximum interincisal opening and mandibular function impairment were collected at baseline, week 4, and week 12. Results Sixty subjects (30 in each group) that completed the study were included in the analysis. At week 12, the intervention practice time in the experimental group was 299.67 min (95% CI: 223.44–357.89) more than that of the active control group. From baseline to week 12, the change in maximum interincisal opening was 10.30 mm (95% CI: 8.22–12.37) greater in the experimental than in the active control group. The change in mandibular function impairment score was −0.36 (95% CI: −0.44 to −0.28) greater in the experimental than in the active control group. Conclusions The study results support the effect of remote support via telephone for enhancing adherence to the intervention protocol, and the effect of the intervention program for alleviating trismus and mandibular function impairments in patients who receive curative surgery for oral cancer.

Purpose There are many challenges that patients face when dealing with the side effects of chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to describe the key tasks and behaviors that contribute to symptom management and the difficulties relating to self-care in the context of chemotherapy in Taiwanese outpatients with breast cancer. Method This qualitative study included a purposive sample of 17 women with breast cancer, aged 30–64 years, and who had undergone chemotherapy. Data were collected via face-to-face semi-structured tape-recorded interviews. Qualitative content analysis was performed for the identified themes. Results Four main categories of tasks were identified that reflected the patient's experience with the behaviors required for chemotherapy symptom management. These task domains included communicating chemotherapy-related concerns, managing chemotherapy-related symptoms, managing emotional and interpersonal disturbances, and acquiring relevant resources. In particular, the results indicated many challenges with behaviors related to self-management under these tasks. Conclusions Systematic information regarding symptoms relating to chemotherapy and self-management strategies should be put into practice at the beginning of chemotherapy and following assessment, in addition to the individual support of patients during their treatment.