Biomedical subjects

Hua Yun Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Hua Yun Chen.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

The outcomes of using self-study modules in energy conservation education for people with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there were any differences in the outcomes of individuals with multiple sclerosis who attended all six sessions of an energy conservation education programme compared with people who missed a session and received a self-study module. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data from two naturally occurring groups emerging from a randomized control trial--compliers who received the intervention as intended (group 1) and noncompliers who received a modified intervention with self-study modules (group 2). SETTING: Community settings in Chicago, Illinois and Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-two community-dwelling people with multiple sclerosis who were participating in an energy conservation education programme. INTERVENTION: Energy conservation education groups based on the 'Managing Fatigue' programme, which were facilitated by an occupational therapist. Self-study modules were sent to participants who missed a session. OUTCOME MEASURES: Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), Self-Efficacy for Performing Energy Conservation Strategies Assessment, Energy Conservation Strategies Survey (ECSS), six subscales from the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). RESULTS: When comparing individuals who attended all six sessions with individuals who missed one or more sessions and received a self-study module, no significant differences were found after adjusting for multiple comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: Participants who used the self-study modules because they missed sessions of the Managing Fatigue programme experienced benefits from the course similar to those experienced by participants who fully complied with the intervention as intended. A new prospective study to validate the findings of this secondary analysis is required.

Energy Metabolism↗

PubMed2005

Randomized controlled trial of an energy conservation course for persons with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the short-term efficacy and effectiveness of a six-week energy conservation course on fatigue impact, quality of life and self-efficacy for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, we randomly assigned 169 persons with MS to an immediate intervention group or a delayed control group using a crossover design. The outcome measures: Fatigue Impact Scale, SF-36 Health Survey and Self-Efficacy for Performing Energy Conservation Strategies were measured before and after courses and no intervention control periods. We performed intent-to-treat analysis and compliers-only analyses using mixed effects analysis of variance models. RESULTS: Taking the energy conservation course had significant effects on reducing the physical and social subscales of Fatigue Impact Scale and on increasing the Vitality subscale of the SF-36 scores compared with not taking the course. Additional subscales were significant depending on methods of analyses. Self-Efficacy for Performing Energy Conservation Strategies Assessment increased significantly (P <0.05) postcourse compared to precourse. CONCLUSIONS: Results support the efficacy and effectiveness of the energy conservation course to decrease fatigue impact, and to increase self-efficacy and some aspects of quality of life.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Effectiveness of community health workers for promoting use of safety eyewear by Latino farm workers.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate The Community Health Worker "promotor de salud" (CHW) model is evaluated as a tool for reducing eye injuries in Latino farm workers. METHODS: In 2001, 786 workers on 34 farms were divided into three intervention blocks: (A) CHWs provided protective eyewear and training to farm workers; (B) CHWs provided eyewear but no training to farm workers; (C) eyewear was distributed to farm workers with no CHW present and no training. RESULTS: Pre- and post-intervention questionnaires demonstrated greater self-reported use of eyewear in all blocks after the intervention (P < 0.0001), with Block A showing the greatest change compared to B (P < 0.0001) and C (P = 0.03); this was supported by field observations. Block A showed the greatest improvement in knowledge on questions related to training content. CONCLUSION: CHWs were an effective tool to train farm workers in eye health and safety, improving the use of personal protective equipment and knowledge.

Accidents, Occupational↗

PubMed2004

Estimation and classification of fMRI hemodynamic response patterns.

In this paper, we propose an approach to modeling functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data that combines hierarchical polynomial models, Bayes estimation, and clustering. A cubic polynomial is used to fit the voxel time courses of event-related design experiments. The coefficients of the polynomials are estimated by Bayes estimation, in a two-level hierarchical model, which allows us to borrow strength from all voxels. The voxel-specific Bayes polynomial coefficients are then transformed to the times and magnitudes of the minimum and maximum points on the hemodynamic response curve, which are in turn used to classify the voxels as being activated or not. The procedure is demonstrated on real data from an event-related design experiment of visually guided saccades and shown to be an effective alternative to existing methods.

Bayes Theorem↗