Search

Aim: This study investigated the levels of depression and anxiety in nurses and nursing assistants working in long‐term care facilities during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We also explored the potential causes of depression and anxiety in nurses and nursing assistants working in long‐term care facilities during the pandemic. Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic has had a considerable impact on long‐term care facilities. The high infection and mortality rates for COVID‐19 have resulted in an increased workload for caregivers. Introduction: The COVID‐19 pandemic exposed caregivers working in long‐term care facilities to higher risks of anxiety and depression. Additionally, the high risk of infection in the work environment and concerns about spreading COVID‐19 to family members and long‐term care facility residents led to various forms of stress among caregivers. Methods: The present study was a cross‐sectional study. Questionnaires were used to investigate depression and anxiety among regarding nurses and nursing assistants working in long‐term care facilities during the pandemic. Results: The depression and anxiety levels of the nurses were higher than nursing assistants, but had no statistically significant difference (p = 0.551). The factors influencing levels of depression and anxiety in nurses contained facility affiliation and experience working. In terms of nursing assistants, age, marital status, and facility affiliation were correlated with the levels of depression and anxiety. Discussion: The pandemic has severely impacted caregivers. In the process of implementing pandemic prevention measures and providing care for COVID‐19 patients, safeguarding the psychological health of caregivers is also essential. Conclusion: The levels of depression and anxiety in nurses were higher than in nursing assistants working in long‐term care facilities during the pandemic. Implication for nursing and health policy: Long‐term care facilities managers are recommended to enhance the education and training process for caregivers. Managers are also recommended to ensure provision of sufficient amounts of pandemic prevention equipment and resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are patients with chronic diseases requiring long-term care. Unplanned hospitalization of older and frailer residents from LTCFs reduces their mobility and increases the number of infections, complications, and falls that might lead to severe disability or death. This study aimed to identify the critical risk factors associated with unplanned hospitalization among LTCF residents in Taiwan, providing insights that could inform better care practices in similar settings globally. A retrospective study was conducted using inpatient data from a medical center in central Taiwan, covering the period from 2011 to 2019. A total of 1220 LTCF residents were matched with general patients using propensity score matching. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with unplanned hospitalization, controlling for relevant variables. LTCF residents had a significantly higher risk of unplanned hospitalization compared to general patients (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.21–1.73). Key risk factors included advanced age (≥85 years, OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.02–1.54), the presence of comorbidities such as diabetes (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.03–1.33) and renal failure (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.42–1.86), high fall risk (OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 2.30–3.10), and being bedridden (OR = 6.55, 95% CI = 5.48–7.85). The presence of a tracheostomy tube also significantly increased hospitalization risk (OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.15–2.59). LTCF residents are at a higher risk of unplanned hospitalization, particularly those with specific comorbidities, physical limitations, and indwelling medical devices. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to manage these risks, potentially improving care outcomes for LTCF residents globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Patients with terminal cancer often experience physical and mental distress. Signing a do-not-resuscitate order (DNR) is crucial to protect against invalid treatment. This study aims to explore the effect of hospice shared care intervention by medical staff on the completion of a DNR-S (DNR order signed by surrogates) for patients with terminal cancer. Method: The cross-sectional study in this research involved secondary analysis of data from the 2011–2015 clinical cancer case management database of a medical center in central Taiwan. Those with a DNR order signed by patients (DNR-P) or DNR-S before the hospice shared care consultation were excluded from this study; a total of 1,306 patients with terminal cancer were selected. Results: This study demonstrated that the percentage of DNR-S after consultation involving both nurse and physician was 75.4%. With other variables controlled, the number of DNR-Ss after consultation with a nurse was significantly lower [odds ratio (OR) = 0.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.42–0.75] and that of DNR-Ss after consultation involving both nurse and physician was significantly higher (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.01–1.79), than that of DNR-Ss after consultation with only the physician. Significance of results: Joint involvement of the nurse and physician in hospice care provides sufficient information to patients and family with terminal cancer about their condition and enhances doctor–patient communication. This effectively assists patients with terminal cancer and their family members in making the major decision of signing a DNR, alleviates the concerns of patients and family members about signing a DNR, and reduces terminal cancer patients' pain at the end of life to ensure that they die in peace and dignity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Comorbid conditions influence the survival of cancer patients. This study evaluated the influence of comorbidity on survival among lung cancer patients. Methods The authors evaluated the medical records of 1111 lung cancer patients of a medical center in Taiwan. Days of survival were calculated for each patient and mortality hazard ratios were estimated for associations with demographic status, comorbidity and cancer stage at diagnosis. Results On average, the survival time was slightly longer among women than among men (838 ± 689 vs. 749 ± 654 days, p = 0.050). Survival days increased with age (from 580 ± 526 [≤ 50 years] to 803 ± 693 [≥ 71 years] days, p = 0.020) and decreased with stage (from 1224 ± 656 [stage I] to 489 ± 536 [stage IV] days, p p = 0.002) and a higher mortality hazard ratio (1.30, 95% CI: 1.03 - 1.65). A similar trend was observed in lung cancer patients with diabetes. Conclusions Lung cancer patients with comorbid tuberculosis or diabetes are at an elevated risk of mortality. These patients deserve greater attention while undergoing cancer treatment.

OBJECTIVES Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is possibly associated with reduced acute pain and narcotics consumption when compared to open surgery, but little is known about the long-term effect. The goal of our study was to evaluate whether narcotics consumption is consistently lower after VATS for early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as compared to open surgery, during one-year follow-up. METHODS This nationwide retrospective cohort study was conducted using data relating to cancer registry and national compulsory comprehensive claims in Taiwan. Our study cases were those newly diagnosed with clinical Stage I NSCLC, who underwent primary lung resection in the year 2007. The date of the admission during which index surgery was performed was used as the index date. We compared the use of narcotics, between the VATS and open surgery groups, over a period of one year following the index date. We defined narcotics as either Level 1 or 2 drugs as regulated in Taiwan. We also used an equiananalgesic dose chart to convert drug consumption into a uniform narcotics equivalent dose. Chi-square and t-tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS We identified 329 cases (114 for VATS and 215 for open surgery). These two groups were balanced for most clinical variables. VATS was associated with lower narcotics consumption during the index admission (mean equivalent dose of intravenous morphine: 54.6 vs 71.4 mg) and this trend extended to the period covering the 2nd to 12th month after index date (73.8 vs 149.5mg). CONCLUSIONS Narcotics consumption is consistently lower after VATS for early stage NSCLC, as compared to open surgery. Further prospective studies would be of great value in validating this finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although no benefits of extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass surgery in preventing secondary stroke have been identified previously, the outcomes of initial symptomatic ischemic stroke and stenosis and/or occlusion among the Asian population in patients with or without bypass intervention have yet to be discussed. The authors aimed to evaluate the subsequent risk of secondary vascular disease and cardiac events in patients with and without a history of this intervention., Methods: This retrospective nationwide population-based Taiwanese registry study included 205,991 patients with initial symptomatic ischemic stroke and stenosis and/or occlusion, with imaging data obtained between 2001 and 2010. Patients who underwent EC-IC bypass (bypass group) were compared with those who had not undergone EC-IC bypass, carotid artery stenting, or carotid artery endarterectomy (nonbypass group). Patients with any previous diagnosis of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, moyamoya disease, cancer, or trauma were all excluded., Results: The risk of subsequent ischemic stroke events decreased by 41% in the bypass group (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.59, 95% CI 0.46-0.76, p < 0.001) compared with the nonbypass group. The risk of subsequent hemorrhagic stroke events increased in the bypass group (adjusted HR 2.47, 95% CI 1.67-3.64, p < 0.001) compared with the nonbypass group., Conclusions: Bypass surgery does play an important role in revascularization of the ischemic brain, while also increasing the risk of hemorrhage in the early postoperative period. This study highlights the fact that the high risk of bypass surgery obscures the true benefit of revascularization of the ischemic brain and also emphasizes the importance of developing improved surgical technique to treat these high-risk patients.

Using a retrospective cohort study design, we report empirical evidence on the effect of parental socioeconomic status, primary care, and health care expenditure associated with preterm or low-birth-weight (PLBW) babies on their mortality (neonatal, postneonatal, and under-5 mortality) under a universal health care system. A total of 4668 singleton PLBW babies born in Taiwan between January 1 and December 31, 2001, are extracted from a population-based medical claims database for a follow-up of up to 5 years. Multivariate survival models suggest the positive effect of higher parental income is significant in neonatal period but diminishes in later stages. Consistent inverse relationship is observed between adequate antenatal care and the three outcomes: neonatal hazard ratio (HR) = 0.494, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.312 to 0.783; postneonatal HR = 0.282, 95% CI = 0.102 to 0.774; and under-5 HR = 0.575, 95% CI = 0.386 to 0.857. Primary care services uptake should be actively promoted, particularly in lower income groups, to prevent premature PLBW mortality., (© 2015 APJPH.)

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive alternative to conventional surgery (CS). We aimed to estimate the short-term cost-effectiveness of VATS vs. CS for clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC-c-stage-I) patients from the payer's perspective (National Health Insurance)., Methods: We identified NSCLC-c-stage-I patients diagnosed and received surgery within 2007-2009 through a comprehensive population-based database containing cancer and death registries, and reimbursement data. The duration of interest was 1 year. We included potential confounding covariables through literature searching and our own experience, and used a propensity score to construct a 1:1 population for adjustment., Results: Our study population constituted 966 patients. The mean hospital stay [days, standard deviation (SD)] were 14.4 [7] and 16.1 (7.7) for VATS and CS respectively (P=0.002). The mean cost (2013 USD) and survival (year) was $22,316 vs. $21,976 and 0.98 vs. 0.974 for VATS vs. CS. The probability for VATS to be cost-effective (i.e., positive net benefit) was 0.49 & 0.56 at willingness-to-pay (WTP) 50,000 & 100,000 USD/life-year, respectively., Conclusions: We provide the first empirical evidence that when compared to CS, VATS was potentially cost-effective in the short term (1 year) within the common WTP levels in Taiwan.

Background: Polymorphisms (1082A>G, - 819C>T, and -592G>A) in the interleukin-10 (IL10) promoter are associated with its transcriptional activity. IL10 induction by cigarette smoking plays a role in smoking-related lung tumor progression. We therefore expected to find a difference in impact of IL10 haplotypes on overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) between squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and adenocarcinomas (ADC) of lung., Materials and Methods: Normal lung tissues adjacent to resected tumors from 439 lung cancer patients were collected to determine IL10 haplotypes (ATA and non-ATA) by direct sequencing and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression models were used to assess the impact of IL10 haplotype on OS and RFS. Resluts: The non-ATA haplotype was more prevalent in patients with nodal metastatic tumors (N1 and N2) than in those with non-nodal metastatic tumors (N0). This observation was only made for patients with SCC and not ADC. Patients with SCC with the non-ATA haplotype had poorer OS and RFS when compared to those with the ATA haplotype, whereas IL10 haplotype was not associated with the clinical outcome of patients with ADC., Conclusion: The IL10 haplotype may independently predict survival and relapse in patients with surgically resected SCC, but not ADC.