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To date, many efforts have been made to explore how to support driver's decision-making process with advisory information. Previous studies mainly focus on a single modality, e.g. the visual, auditory or haptic modality. In contrast, this study compares data from two simulator studies with 50 participants in total, where the visual vs. the auditory modality was used to present the same type of advisory traffic information under the same driving scenarios. Hereby we compare the effect of these two modalities on drivers' responses and driving performance. Our findings indicate that modality influences the drivers' behaviour patterns significantly. Visual information helps drivers to drive more accurately and efficiently, whereas auditory information supports quicker responses. This suggests that there are potential benefits in applying both modalities in tandem, as they complement each other. Correspondingly, we present several design recommendations on Advisory Traffic Information Systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To investigate the effectiveness of systematic nursing instruction on a low-phosphorus diet, serum phosphorus level and pruritus of haemodialysis patients. Background A high number of end-stage renal disease patients on haemodialysis are bothered by pruritus. Hyperphosphataemia was reported to be related to pruritus. Design An experimental design was applied. Methods Ninety-four patients who received haemodialysis between September 2013 and December 2013 at a medical centre in Taipei, Taiwan, were recruited. An experimental group received individual systematic nursing instruction by the investigator through a nursing instruction pamphlet and reminder card for taking medication. A control group received traditional nursing instruction. The pruritus, blood phosphorus level and five-day diet records were evaluated before and after intervention. Results The experimental group had a low-phosphorus diet intake compared with the control group ( p < 0·001). A significant difference in serum phosphorus level was observed between the experimental and control groups ( p = 0·002). Incidence of pruritus was lower in the experimental group than in the control group ( p < 0·001). Conclusion A systematic nursing instruction included using a pamphlet, pictures and reminder cards, the patients' blood phosphorus levels decreased, the patients consumed more low-phosphorus food, and pruritus decreased. Relevance to clinical practice This study recommends that clinical nursing staff include systematic nursing instruction as a routine practice for dialysis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a music intervention on hospitalised psychiatric patients with different levels of anxiety. Background In clinical practice, psychiatric inpatients and nurses routinely suffer from anxiety. A music intervention may possibly be useful, but knowledge as to how useful and how effective it is in patients with different levels of anxiety is limited. Design The study design was a three-group, repeated-measures experimental study. Methods Subjects were 22 psychiatric patients who were divided into three groups based on their level of anxiety. They listened to 20 minutes of music each day for 10 days and were assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory before and after the music intervention and at a one-week follow-up; an electroencephalogram and finger temperature were monitored before and during the music intervention. Results Anxiety levels of all three groups showed a significant difference ( p = 0·0339) after the intervention. The difference alpha and beta electroencephalogram percentages for all three groups showed a significant difference ( p = 0·04; p = 0·01). The finger temperature showed a non-significant difference ( p = 0·41). Conclusions A music intervention can effectively alleviate the anxiety of hospitalised psychiatric patients who suffer from all levels of anxiety. Relevance to clinical practice The study recommends a practice in alleviating anxiety. Effective lower-cost interventions to reduce anxiety in psychiatric inpatient settings would be of interest to nurses and benefit patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed and psychometrically tested four scales for measuring the perceptions of parental smokers and family members’ influences on smoking behavior in the presence of children in Taiwan. Data were collected from 309 parental smokers with school-aged children. The results of factor analysis revealed two to three factors within each scale, and the reliability was between 0.63 and 0.91, based on Cronbach’s alpha. Our findings provide preliminary support for the reliability and validity of the scales. The collective application of the scales is comprehensive that may constitute a feasible approach for preventing parental smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]