Heart failure is a chronic and exacerbating disease, which often significantly decreases patient ... more Heart failure is a chronic and exacerbating disease, which often significantly decreases patient quality of life (QOL). Treatments continue to focus on alleviating the physical symptoms of this disease, and data on QOL factors are limited. The purpose of this study was to explore QOL and associated factors in patients with heart failure. A cross-sectional and correlational research design was conducted using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment. A convenience sample of 200 patients aged 20 years old or above and diagnosed with heart failure were recruited from one medical center and one regional teaching hospital in southern Taiwan. Data were analyzed using SPSS 14.0 software. Results found (1) participants had an average QOL index score of 63.0 (moderate); (2) significant differences in QOL scores for the variables of marriage, occupation type, monthly family income, concomitant diab...
Demoralization is a relatively new diagnosis that has received increased attention in recent year... more Demoralization is a relatively new diagnosis that has received increased attention in recent years. This condition is most frequently diagnosed in hospice, cancer, and critical illness patients. Serious demoralization may induce suicide ideation. The current literature on demoralization primarily elaborates on the history of this condition and on the reliability / validation of scales developed to assess demoralization in patients. The present paper conducts a concept analysis of demoralization in accordance with the concept analysis steps outlined by Walker and Avant. We elucidate the definition of relevant terms and identify the characteristic attributes, antecedents, and consequences of demoralization. Additionally, this paper provides examples of model, borderline, contrary, relevant cases and reviews relevant empirical data. We hope this concept analysis enhances the understanding of demoralization among clinical caregivers, increases the general understanding of the methods av...
Little has been published in the literature regarding how patients self-evaluate their degree of ... more Little has been published in the literature regarding how patients self-evaluate their degree of readiness for hospital discharge. Furthermore, there is currently no self-evaluation tool available in Chinese able to assess the discharge readiness of patients. This study was used to psychometrically test the Chinese version of the readiness for hospital discharge scale (RHDS_C). This study used a cross-sectional design. Two samples were recruited in a two-stage process at two hospitals in Southern Taiwan. Two hundred and twenty-three patients with a diagnosis of either colorectal cancer or hepatic cancer were used to conduct an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) in the first stage of the study. Another 323 patients with a diagnosis of stroke were used conduct a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The instrument used was the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS) developed by Weiss & Piacentine. RHDS_C consists of three subscales: personal status (4 items), coping ability (4 ite...
Women worldwide experience pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting yet tolerate this significant pr... more Women worldwide experience pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting yet tolerate this significant prenatal stressor. The physical and emotional stress caused by pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting may influence maternal psychosocial adaptation yet few studies have examined these relationships. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships between nausea and vomiting, perceived stress, social support and their ability to predict maternal psychosocial adaptation among Taiwanese women during early pregnancy. A correlational, cross-sectional research design. Four prenatal clinics in Taiwan. Women (n=243) who had completed the 6-16 week of gestation consented to participate. Subjects completed four self-report questionnaires in additional to providing demographic data: Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching (INVR), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL), and the Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire (PSEQ). Pregnancy-related nausea and vom...
The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of, and to investigate the risk factors ... more The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of, and to investigate the risk factors for physical abuse against pregnant aborigines in Taiwan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Aboriginal women who had just given birth in hospitals were recruited from January to December 2003. The women were interviewed with a structured questionnaire about the physical abuse and substance use experiences. Participants were 1143 aboriginal women who had just given birth in hospitals. About 175/1143 of the women (15.3%) had ever experienced physical abuse from a husband or intimate partner, and 79/1143 of the women (6.9%) had experienced it during their recent pregnancy. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the women who were more likely to have been physically abused during their pregnancy were: had fewer years of education, husbands who were unemployed, with a patriarchal family situation and had alcohol, cigarette and non-prescription drug use. Based on these resul...
The purpose of this study was to explore health promoting lifestyles and related factors in pregn... more The purpose of this study was to explore health promoting lifestyles and related factors in pregnant women. This was a descriptive study using convenience sampling. Altogether, 172 pregnant women were recruited from a medical center in southern Taiwan. Personal data was collected, and the instruments used included perceived health status, self-efficacy of health behaviors, perception of family or peers' health-promoting behaviors, and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP Pi). The results showed that the standardized total score of health promoting lifestyles was 66.88 (moderate level). The subscales of the HPLP Pi in descending order of standardized scores were as follows: "interpersonal relationships," "health responsibility," "psychological wellness," "nutrition," "stress management" and "physical activity." There were significant differences in the total scores of the HPLP Pi among subjects with different educati...
The purpose of this study was to compare physiological and psychological reactions among Taiwanes... more The purpose of this study was to compare physiological and psychological reactions among Taiwanese women with different degrees of severity of nausea and vomiting (NV) during pregnancy. Based on their scores on the Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching (INVR), 59 pregnant women ≥ 18 years of age, with single gestations and without diagnosed pregnancy complications or hospitalizations were divided into two groups: mild or less (scores 0-8, n = 33) and moderate or severe (scores 9-32, n = 26). A single blood sample was obtained early in pregnancy during a prenatal visit to examine the biochemical data related to NV and stress. The INVR and Perceived Stress Scale were also administered at this time. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and leptin levels were significantly different between the two groups, whereas IFN-α, IL-2, TNF-α, adiponectin, perceived stress, and cortisol showed no significant differences. The cutoff point between high and low levels of NV severity was consistent between INVR scores (psychological reactions) and hCG level (physiological reactions). Logistic regression analysis indicated that leptin levels accounted for 24.4% of the variance for NV in early pregnancy. A further multiple linear regression analysis showed that NV, first trimester pregnancy body mass index (BMI), and age explained 72.4% of the variance in leptin levels. The findings of this study add new information to the understanding of the biomarkers and perceived emotional stress in early-stage pregnant women with high and low severities of NV.
Heart failure is a chronic and exacerbating disease, which often significantly decreases patient ... more Heart failure is a chronic and exacerbating disease, which often significantly decreases patient quality of life (QOL). Treatments continue to focus on alleviating the physical symptoms of this disease, and data on QOL factors are limited. The purpose of this study was to explore QOL and associated factors in patients with heart failure. A cross-sectional and correlational research design was conducted using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment. A convenience sample of 200 patients aged 20 years old or above and diagnosed with heart failure were recruited from one medical center and one regional teaching hospital in southern Taiwan. Data were analyzed using SPSS 14.0 software. Results found (1) participants had an average QOL index score of 63.0 (moderate); (2) significant differences in QOL scores for the variables of marriage, occupation type, monthly family income, concomitant diab...
Demoralization is a relatively new diagnosis that has received increased attention in recent year... more Demoralization is a relatively new diagnosis that has received increased attention in recent years. This condition is most frequently diagnosed in hospice, cancer, and critical illness patients. Serious demoralization may induce suicide ideation. The current literature on demoralization primarily elaborates on the history of this condition and on the reliability / validation of scales developed to assess demoralization in patients. The present paper conducts a concept analysis of demoralization in accordance with the concept analysis steps outlined by Walker and Avant. We elucidate the definition of relevant terms and identify the characteristic attributes, antecedents, and consequences of demoralization. Additionally, this paper provides examples of model, borderline, contrary, relevant cases and reviews relevant empirical data. We hope this concept analysis enhances the understanding of demoralization among clinical caregivers, increases the general understanding of the methods av...
Little has been published in the literature regarding how patients self-evaluate their degree of ... more Little has been published in the literature regarding how patients self-evaluate their degree of readiness for hospital discharge. Furthermore, there is currently no self-evaluation tool available in Chinese able to assess the discharge readiness of patients. This study was used to psychometrically test the Chinese version of the readiness for hospital discharge scale (RHDS_C). This study used a cross-sectional design. Two samples were recruited in a two-stage process at two hospitals in Southern Taiwan. Two hundred and twenty-three patients with a diagnosis of either colorectal cancer or hepatic cancer were used to conduct an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) in the first stage of the study. Another 323 patients with a diagnosis of stroke were used conduct a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The instrument used was the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS) developed by Weiss & Piacentine. RHDS_C consists of three subscales: personal status (4 items), coping ability (4 ite...
Women worldwide experience pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting yet tolerate this significant pr... more Women worldwide experience pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting yet tolerate this significant prenatal stressor. The physical and emotional stress caused by pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting may influence maternal psychosocial adaptation yet few studies have examined these relationships. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships between nausea and vomiting, perceived stress, social support and their ability to predict maternal psychosocial adaptation among Taiwanese women during early pregnancy. A correlational, cross-sectional research design. Four prenatal clinics in Taiwan. Women (n=243) who had completed the 6-16 week of gestation consented to participate. Subjects completed four self-report questionnaires in additional to providing demographic data: Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching (INVR), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL), and the Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire (PSEQ). Pregnancy-related nausea and vom...
The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of, and to investigate the risk factors ... more The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of, and to investigate the risk factors for physical abuse against pregnant aborigines in Taiwan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Aboriginal women who had just given birth in hospitals were recruited from January to December 2003. The women were interviewed with a structured questionnaire about the physical abuse and substance use experiences. Participants were 1143 aboriginal women who had just given birth in hospitals. About 175/1143 of the women (15.3%) had ever experienced physical abuse from a husband or intimate partner, and 79/1143 of the women (6.9%) had experienced it during their recent pregnancy. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the women who were more likely to have been physically abused during their pregnancy were: had fewer years of education, husbands who were unemployed, with a patriarchal family situation and had alcohol, cigarette and non-prescription drug use. Based on these resul...
The purpose of this study was to explore health promoting lifestyles and related factors in pregn... more The purpose of this study was to explore health promoting lifestyles and related factors in pregnant women. This was a descriptive study using convenience sampling. Altogether, 172 pregnant women were recruited from a medical center in southern Taiwan. Personal data was collected, and the instruments used included perceived health status, self-efficacy of health behaviors, perception of family or peers' health-promoting behaviors, and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP Pi). The results showed that the standardized total score of health promoting lifestyles was 66.88 (moderate level). The subscales of the HPLP Pi in descending order of standardized scores were as follows: "interpersonal relationships," "health responsibility," "psychological wellness," "nutrition," "stress management" and "physical activity." There were significant differences in the total scores of the HPLP Pi among subjects with different educati...
The purpose of this study was to compare physiological and psychological reactions among Taiwanes... more The purpose of this study was to compare physiological and psychological reactions among Taiwanese women with different degrees of severity of nausea and vomiting (NV) during pregnancy. Based on their scores on the Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching (INVR), 59 pregnant women ≥ 18 years of age, with single gestations and without diagnosed pregnancy complications or hospitalizations were divided into two groups: mild or less (scores 0-8, n = 33) and moderate or severe (scores 9-32, n = 26). A single blood sample was obtained early in pregnancy during a prenatal visit to examine the biochemical data related to NV and stress. The INVR and Perceived Stress Scale were also administered at this time. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and leptin levels were significantly different between the two groups, whereas IFN-α, IL-2, TNF-α, adiponectin, perceived stress, and cortisol showed no significant differences. The cutoff point between high and low levels of NV severity was consistent between INVR scores (psychological reactions) and hCG level (physiological reactions). Logistic regression analysis indicated that leptin levels accounted for 24.4% of the variance for NV in early pregnancy. A further multiple linear regression analysis showed that NV, first trimester pregnancy body mass index (BMI), and age explained 72.4% of the variance in leptin levels. The findings of this study add new information to the understanding of the biomarkers and perceived emotional stress in early-stage pregnant women with high and low severities of NV.
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Papers by Fan-hao Chou