Biomedical subjects

Kuei-Ru Chou

Publications and source records attributed to Kuei-Ru Chou.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The evaluation of cognitive-behavioral group therapy on patient depression and self-esteem.

We evaluated the impact of cognitive-behavioral group therapy on the depression and self-esteem of clinically depressed patients. This longitudinal study involved 26 experimental group patients who received 12 weeks of cognitive-behavioral group therapy and 25 comparison subjects. Two weeks before the study, immediately upon therapy completion, and 1 month later, all the participants underwent pretest, posttest, and follow-up, respectively. The experimental group patients experienced greater cognitive improvements (i.e., depression relief, self-esteem increase) as compared with the comparison group subjects. One month after therapy completion, the depressive symptoms and self-esteem of the experimental group patients remained slightly but significantly better than those of the comparison group subjects.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy↗

PubMed2006

[Cognitive behavioral therapy for eating disorders].

Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The former is characterized by failure to maintain a minimum normal body weight, while the latter is typified by recurrent binge eating followed by inappropriate compensating behavior, which may include self-inducing vomiting; abuse of laxatives, diuretics or other medications; fasting; and over-exercise. Because eating disorders are difficult to detect in the early stages and patients frequently try to hide their condition and avoid seeking medical help, medical treatment is sometimes sought only once a patient's condition poses an immediate threat to his/her health, or even life. Some patients suffer from chronic and treatment-refractory disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy, administered through partially-structured guidance and education, has been shown to treat eating disorders effectively by correcting associated maladaptive and distorted cognitions and behaviors. A review of articles published in the domestic and international literature over the past five years show that cognitive behavioral therapy is more effective in treating eating disorders than other traditional approaches. Therefore, we chose to focus this study on the cognitive behavioral therapy model. Nurses can employ cognitive behavioral therapy to help eating disordered patients address and overcome the core beliefs that underpin their disorder (e.g., compulsive concern about body weight or figure) and recover health.

Anorexia Nervosa↗

PubMed2005

Effects of a SARS prevention programme in Taiwan on nursing staff's anxiety, depression and sleep quality: a longitudinal survey.

The aim of this research is to determine the levels of anxiety, depression, and sleep quality a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) nursing staff experienced before and after a SARS prevention program. The 116 subjects were recruited from nursing staff in the largest obligatory SARS designated treatment hospital in Taiwan. Using general estimating equations (GEE) statistical analysis to control possible for affecting factors, we found that the nursing staff's anxiety and depression along with sleep quality started to improve 2 weeks after the initiation of SARS prevention controls. From this research, we determined that nursing staff members were anxious, depressed, and they could not sleep well at the SARS outbreak. However, the systematic SARS prevention program improved these factors. When faced with these types of diseases, related international medical organizations should establish a comprehensive program to help medical professionals cope better.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

The effectiveness of nicotine-patch therapy for smoking cessation in patients with schizophrenia.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of nicotine-patch therapy for smoking cessation in patients with schizophrenia. This was a longitudinal study and sixty-eight schizophrenic patients were assigned to 8 weeks of a nicotine-patch therapy program or a control group. The generalized estimating equation analysis revealed that there were significant reductions in the subjects' nicotine dependence (Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire), the number of cigarettes per day, and CO levels over an 8-week period of nicotine-patch therapy and 3-month follow-up. The point-prevalence rates of abstinence from smoking were an abstinence of 26.9% at 8 weeks and 26.9% at a 3-month follow-up. At the 3-month follow-up, the rate of continuous smoking abstinence in the nicotine-patch group was 23.1%.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

PubMed2004

Evaluation of an assertiveness training program on nursing and medical students' assertiveness, self-esteem, and interpersonal communication satisfaction.

This study's objective was to evaluate the effect of an assertiveness training program on nursing and medical students' assertiveness, self-esteem, and interpersonal communication satisfaction. Using a longitudinal research design, 69 participants whose scores on the Assertive Scale were < or = 50% (i.e., low assertiveness) and who were willing to participate were included and assigned to an experimental group (33 subjects) or comparison group (36 participants; participants were matched with the experimental group by grade and sex). Participants in the experimental group received eight 2-h sessions of assertiveness training once a week. Data were collected before and after training and again one month after the end of the training using the Rotter's Internal versus External Control of Reinforcement Scale, Sex Role Inventory, Assertive Scale, Esteem Scale, and Interpersonal Communication Satisfaction Inventory. The generalized estimated equation (GEE) method was used for statistical analysis. The assertiveness and self-esteem of the experimental group were significantly improved in nursing and medical students after assertiveness training, although interpersonal communication satisfaction of the experimental group was not significantly improved after the training program.

Assertiveness↗

PubMed2003

Effects of social skills training on improving social skills of patients with schizophrenia.

This study examined the effect of conversation and assertive skills training on social skills of schizophrenic patients. Patients who met the study criteria were randomly assigned to the experimental or control group. The experimental group received eight group training sessions and the control group received routine nursing care treatment. Data were collected at pretreatment (before group treatment), intratreatment (after fourth group treatment), posttreatment (after eighth group treatment), and follow-up (1 month after the end of group treatment). Conversation and assertive skills of the experimental group improved significantly with treatment and were superior to the control group at intratreatment, posttreatment, and follow-up. We suggest incorporating social skills training into treatment plans for patients with schizophrenia to improve their social skills ability.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

The effects of support groups on caregivers of patients with schizophrenia.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of support groups on caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. This was a time series nonequivalent control group design. Subjects were evaluated in three waves of data collection: before intervention, after intervention and one-month follow-up. The support group's effects were measured using changes in the subjects' perceived levels of burden, depression status and satisfaction about their participation in the program. Professionally led support group had a close and time-limited format. The GEE (generalized estimated equation) revealed differences in caregivers' level of burden and depression status between the support and control groups in the post-test and one-month follow-up. The differences highlighted the fact that participation in support groups provides more effective assistance to caregivers than the control group.

Caregivers↗

PubMed2002

Factors relevant to patient assaultive behavior and assault in acute inpatient psychiatric units in Taiwan.

The purpose of this article was to explore patient assault in acute inpatient psychiatric units and to examine the interplay between the patients, environmental staff factors related to assaults. A log system for recording assault occurrences was used. Four trained research assistants conducted a chart review and interviewed the nursing staff to complete the overt aggression scale, staff observation aggression scale, and environmental assessment questionnaire separately at the four hospitals. The data showed 855 episodes of assaults from 287 patients. The assault incident density ranged from 1.11 to 1.95 per 1,000 patient days. Patient factors (diagnosis, history of assaultive behavior, the duration of admission, and smoking history), environmental factors (patient/nurse ratio and space density) and staff factors (age, length of work experience, training program received in assault prevention and management) were contributing variables to patients' assaultive behavior. This reinforces the complexity of models in predicting assaults among psychiatric in-patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the caregiver burden inventory.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of burden has become a challenging task for most researchers because cultural, ethical, religious, and other personal values may influence perceptions of the meaning and consequences of burden. The lack of examination of the psychometric properties of the burden measures across studies limits the scientific rigor for generating additional research into "burden." OBJECTIVE: To examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Caregiver Burden Inventory for its utility in clinical and research practice. METHOD: The first investigation evaluated the consistency between the Chinese and English versions of the Caregiver Burden Inventory. The second investigation established the internal consistent reliability, test-retest reliability, content validity, concurrent validity, and construct validity. RESULTS: A paired -test and intra-class correlation indicated that the Chinese version of the Caregiver Burden Inventory was a very good reflection of the English version and demonstrated item equivalence. It also showed adequate internal consistency reliability, appropriate content validity, and concurrent validity. Factor analysis revealed moderate intercorrelations between subscales and high factor loadings also helped to clarify the psychometric meaning. DISCUSSION: The reliability and validity information presented in this paper support using the Chinese version of the Caregiver Burden Inventory as a research instrument in measuring the caregiver burden in the Chinese population. Further study is needed to discriminate the developmental, emotional, and social burden constructs.

Activities of Daily Living↗