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Background: A considerable number of studies have identified the risk factors attributable to job-related stress among nurses. However, studies investigating psychological symptoms among hospital nurses is still lacking, especially in Taiwan, where the average patient to nurse ratio is among the highest in the world. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of self-rated health status, self-reported diseases, and utilization of occupational health checks in psychological symptoms among Taiwanese nurses.Methods: A cross-sectional design was conducted from September through December 2013. Data were collected through online self-administered questionnaire among 697 registered nurses in seven regional hospitals governed by the Taipei City Government.Results: Nurses with fair or poor self-rated health, lower education, <30 years of age, and low back pain were more likely to suffer from psychological symptoms. A trend toward significance was also noticed for those aged 30-39. Importantly, low back pain was the most common disease among nurses in self-reported diseases and half of the nurses reported not utilizing the occupational health examination for the last 5 years.Conclusions: To alleviate or prevent the psychological symptoms, psychosocial support, and awareness program on prevention of occupational injuries should be offered to nurses younger than 39 years old and having lower educational levels. Moreover, underutilization of occupational health examination among nurses deserves more attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the association of social support, social factors, and maternal complications with caesarean deliveries in native and immigrant women, and to explore the association between acculturation and caesarean deliveries in immigrant women in Taiwan. This prospective panel study was conducted from August 2012 through April 2014 and included 222 native and 147 immigrant pregnant women in Taiwan. Caesarean rates did not differ significantly between native and immigrant women, including the overall caesarean rate (28.8%, 32.0%), medically indicated caesarean (22.5%, 24.5%), and caesarean without medical indications (6.3%, 7.5%). Results of multiple logistic regression models revealed that maternal complications and household activity support were positively associated with caesarean deliveries. Both native and immigrant women with high levels of informational support were less likely to receive caesareans. Immigrant women who were older than 35 years, had a middle level socioeconomic status, and perceived a high level of acceptance of caesarean in Taiwan were more likely to have caesarean deliveries. Informational support was a protective factor for caesarean delivery, whereas household activity support offered by the family was positively associated with caesarean delivery. Perceived acceptance level in mainstream society could affect immigrant women’s use of caesarean delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: In light of the known impacts of obesity on well-being, we regularly work to promote weight loss programs in community settings. However, we found that a gap exists between the need for weight loss and the utilization of healthy weight loss programs among BMI (body mass index) ≥ 27 kg/m 2 adults. The low utilization of healthy weight loss programs may lower the overall benefit of these programs., Purpose: We reexamined access to health services and developed an accessible weight loss program for BMI ≥ 27 kg/m 2 adults that would improve the overall utilization of healthy weight loss programs., Resolution: A telephone survey for obese adults was conducted to explore the reasons that discouraged persons in this group to not use our weight loss programs. The main reasons identified were: program schedules did not fit with respondent's daily schedule, the unsuitable services provided, and the overly long distance to the weight loss class. The social-cognitive-theory-based 1-year weight loss program that was developed provided immediate and accurate information about weight loss, inspiring words, weight management advice, and immediate and convenient consultation services. Moreover, this program established an incentives system on a social networking platform (Facebook) and was marketed under a creative slogan., Results: The developed weight loss program increased not only program utilization (from 54.7% to 78.1%) but also reduced the average weight of obese adult participants by 3.4 kg., Conclusions: Conclusions: This program adjusted existing weight loss programs and improved the utilization of weight loss programs. These results may be applied elsewhere to increase weight-loss efficacy and to maximize health.