Biomedical subjects

Hung-Ru Lin

Publications and source records attributed to Hung-Ru Lin.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Death and help expected from nurses when dying.

This project was undertaken to ascertain the perceptions of a group of Taiwan's fourth-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) students regarding death and help expected from nurses during the dying process. Within the Chinese culture, death is one of the most important life issues. However, in many Chinese societies it is difficult for people to reveal their deepest feelings to their significant others or loved ones. It was in this context that this project was developed because little is known about how Taiwan's nursing students perceive death and the dying process. Using an open-ended, self-report questionnaire, 110 senior BSN students recorded their thoughts on: (1) their fears before physical death; (2) afterlife destinations; and (3) the help they would expect from nurses when dying. The data were analyzed using a three-layer qualitative thematic analysis. The students' reported needs during the dying process were directed towards three main goals: (1) help in reaching the 'triple targets of individual life'; (2) help in facilitating in-depth support so that both the dying person and significant others can experience a blessed farewell; and (3) help in reaching a destination in the afterlife. The results support the belief of dying as a transition occurring when life weans itself from the mortal world and prepares for an afterlife.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Impacts of illness experiences on middle-aged health care: a cancer example].

Middle-aged couples play multiple family roles. In addition to supporting each other, they also act as caregivers for their children and elderly parents. When they are diagnosed with a severe illness such as cancer, the impacts on the psycho-spiritual aspects of their lives include fear of death and loss of control. While dealing with these and other disease-related issues, they must maintain intimate relationships with their spouses and try to communicate with their children about their health status. In addition to providing individual care, nurses must make the effort to help their patients make adjustments in their family relationships.

Delivery of Health Care↗

PubMed2003

Psycho-spiritual well-being in patients with advanced cancer: an integrative review of the literature.

PURPOSE: An integrative literature review was undertaken to examine the research on psycho-spiritual well-being in terminally ill people, specifically patients with advanced cancer. METHOD: A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, CancerLit and PsycINFO using relevant keywords produced 43 primary research studies that investigated psycho-spiritual well-being in patients with advanced cancer. Each report was read, critiqued and systematically assessed for purpose statement or research questions, study design, sample size, characteristics of the subjects, measurement of independent and dependent variables, sample attrition, method of data analysis and results. Major themes and findings were identified for each of the studies. FINDINGS: Psycho-spiritual well-being is an area of interest to researchers all over the world. Retrieved studies had been conducted in 14 countries by researchers in a variety of disciplines, including nursing, medicine, psychology and theology. Six major themes repeatedly emerged as essential components of psycho-spiritual well-being: self-awareness, coping and adjusting effectively with stress, relationships and connectedness with others, sense of faith, sense of empowerment and confidence, and living with meaning and hope. CONCLUSION: Patients with an enhanced sense of psycho-spiritual well-being are able to cope more effectively with the process of terminal illness and find meaning in the experience. Prognostic awareness, family and social support, autonomy, hope and meaning in life all contribute to positive psycho-spiritual well-being. Emotional distress, anxiety, helplessness, hopelessness and fear of death all detract from psycho-spiritual well-being. The research indicated that health professionals can play an important role in enhancing psycho-spiritual well-being, but further research is needed to understand specific interventions that are effective and contribute to positive patient outcomes.

Adaptation, Psychological↗