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Aims: The aims of this study of people with oral cavity cancer were to compare the social support, depression, nicotine dependence, physical function and social-emotional function of those who continued smoking with those who quit smoking, by matching age and survival time and to identify the predictors of continued smoking during the survival period. Background: People who continue to smoke after cancer treatment may have an impact on treatment response and survival. Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Methods: This study compared 92 people with oral cavity cancer who continued smoking with 92 people who quit smoking, with matching for age and survival time between January 2015 - November 2015. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to compare the two groups. Results: The quit smoking group had significantly more social support, less depression and greater social-emotional function than the continued smoking group. People who were unmarried, received surgery without reconstruction, had poor social support and had poor social-emotional function were more likely to continue smoking. Conclusions: People with oral cavity cancer were more likely to continue smoking after the treatment if they had low social support, depression, greater nicotine dependence and poor social-emotional function. Healthcare professionals should pay more attention to social support, psychological status and nicotine dependence of people who were treated for oral cavity cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/purpose: The purposes of this three-phase study were to: (1) translate and evaluate the burden, content, and face validity of the Chinese version of the University of Washington Quality of Life Scale, version 4 (UWQOL-v4-C); and (2) examine the psychometric properties of the UWQOL-v4-C in oral cancer and laryngeal cancer patients in Taiwan.Methods: This instrument translation and validation study was part of a major research project. The first phase of this study developed and validated the content of the UWQOL-v4-C. The second phase sought to validate the internal consistency, reliability, and construct and discriminant validity in two major groups of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients: oral cavity cancers (n=109) and laryngeal cancer (n=102). Construct validity was measured using theoretically supported correlations between the UWQOL and related constructs. Discriminant validity was also assessed. In the third phase, test-retest reliability of UWQOL-v4-C was examined through the 1-week interval in another group of HNC patients (n=50).Results: The translated UWQOL-v4-C demonstrated satisfactory face validity, content validity, and minimal patient burden. Additionally, the UWQOL-v4-C showed excellent construct validity in patient testing, supported by significant correlations between the UWQOL-v4-C and hypothesized constructs, including generic measures of QOL and performance status. The developed scale correlated inversely with symptom severity and psychological distress. Discriminant validity was seen in patients with different cancer diagnoses, stages, and treatments. Finally, excellent stability was supported by a 1-week test-retest reliability of 0.88.Conclusion: The UWQOL-v4-C was a brief, low-burden, and valid instrument to measure the QOL in Chinese-speaking HNC patients in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Primary family caregivers (PFCs) of children with cerebral palsy have many worries and concerns when their children face orthopedic surgery. Levels of PFC stress about the upcoming surgery is related to the child's level of gross motor function as well as the support they receive from medical professionals. PURPOSE: The purposes of the present study were to (1) explore the levels of concern about orthopedic surgery; and (2) explore the predictive factors associated with concerns about orthopedic surgery among PFCs of children with cerebral palsy during the preoperative period. METHODS: A cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted. Primary family caregivers were assessed preop-eratively using the Single-event Multilevel Surgery Scale, Social Support Scale, Gross Motor Function Classification System-Expanded and Revised, and background information form. Primary family caregivers were recruited from the outpatient department of orthopedic surgery and pediatric rehabilitation of a medical center in northern Taiwan. Data were analyzed by descriptive analysis, Pearson product-moment correlation, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 63 eligible subjects were enrolled in this study. Primary family caregivers had moderate levels of concern and mild-to-moderate levels of social support. The higher severity of motor function impairment in children with cerebral palsy, prior caregiving by PFCs for another family member, and PFCs' lower level of social support from healthcare providers were associated with higher levels of PFC concern. CONCLUSIONS: Concerns about orthopedic surgery is an overlooked issue that needs more attention from healthcare providers. This study determined that PFCs who perceived a lack of social support from their healthcare providers and those with children who had limited gross motor function were more concerned and anxious about their children's upcoming orthopedic surgery. Health professionals should provide adequate health education and counseling to help PFCs of children with cerebral palsy in the decision-making process prior to orthopedic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a major concern for family caregivers (FCs) caring for patients with head and neck cancers (HNCs). Purpose: This study (a) investigated the FCR experience of HNC FCs, (b) compared the differences in the FCR levels of FCs while taking care of patients with different lengths of time since completing major treatments (posttreatment durations), and (c) examined the correlation between FCR and quality of life (QOL) in these FCs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the radiation outpatient department of a medical center in northern Taiwan. A set of questionnaires, including the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-Caregiver version and the Medical Outcomes Short-Form Health Survey, and a background information form were employed. One-way analysis of variance was used to examine the differences in the FCR and QOL among groups of FCs taking care of patients with different posttreatment durations (typically concurrent chemoradiotherapy). Pearson's correlation was used to identify the relationship between FCR and QOL. Results: Two hundred fifty FCs were recruited in this study. The FCs used several coping and reassurance strategies to address their FCR experiences. Those FCs who cared for patients with short posttreatment durations (3-6 and 6-12 months) showed significantly higher overall FCR levels and higher FCR severity levels than those who cared for patients with long posttreatment durations (more than 5 years). High FCR was negatively correlated with physical and mental QOL. Conclusions/Implications for Practice: The results suggest that FCs caring for patients with a relatively short posttreatment duration experience higher levels of FCR than those caring for patients with a longer posttreatment duration. In clinical settings, healthcare providers should use posttreatment duration as an indicator of risk of FCR in caregivers to address FCR and provide appropriate support. Future research should develop and examine interventions to help HNC FCs cope effectively with their FCR and improve their QOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was to examine the effects of acupressure on fatigue and depression in HCC patients undergoing TACE. A quasiexperimental study design was used. Patients were evaluated at five time points: before treatment (T1) and 2, 3, 4, and 5 days after treating TACE (T2, T3, T4, and T5). Fatigue and depression were assessed by a VAS fatigue scale and a VAS depression scale at each time point. TFRS and BDI were administered at T1 and T5. Patients' fatigue and depression were significantly higher at T5 than at T1 in two groups. Fatigue and depression increased in both the experimental and control groups' patients over the five days of hospitalization during which TACE and chemotherapy were administered.The experimental group had significantly less fatigue than the control group, with lower subscale scores on physical, psychosocial, daily, and overall fatigue. There were no differences between the groups on depression. At posttest, the experimental group experienced lower physical, psychosocial, daily, and overall fatigue than the control group. Acupressure can improve fatigue in HCC patients during treatment with TACE but did not alleviate depression. Discharge planning should include home care for management of fatigue and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This study developed a model of customer store loyalty for retail service based on a value-based market orientation practice, staff performance and customer satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach - A comprehensive qualitative study was undertaken to develop measurements, derived from both perspectives of firms and consumers. The model was then tested empirically in a retail setting in Taiwan, using a dyadic data collection approach. For each service provider from a random sample of hairdressing salons in Taiwan included in our survey, a matched set of customers provided information concerning their expectation and evaluation of service. Findings - Our findings provide an insight into the effect of perceived customer value in market orientation practice as well as its impact on customer retention. The model indicates that marketing practitioners should manage customer satisfaction and perceptions of value in their implementation of market orientation as they are directly related to customer store loyalty. Research limitations/implications - This study involved only one service industry (hairdressing salons) in one country (Taiwan). However the scales and methodology described here could and should be replicated in other settings. Practical implications - By using our scale and results, service providers may be able to enhance their customers' perception of value and increase their degree of store loyalty. Originality/value - Despite the importance of customer value for organizations seeking to become market oriented, customer value measures are not included in market orientation scales. This study shows how including customer value into market orientation measurements can assist in enhancing business performance via customer retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]