Biomedical subjects

Li-Ling Hsu

Publications and source records attributed to Li-Ling Hsu.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Importance of amino acid alterations and expression of penicillin-binding protein 5 to ampicillin resistance of Enterococcus faecium in Taiwan.

The importance of the amino acid sequence in the C-terminal domain of penicillin-binding protein 5 (PBP5) and the levels of PBP5 expression to ampicillin resistance of Taiwan clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecium were studied. Sequence data revealed the existence of 12 amino acid sequence variants within the C-terminal domain of PBP5 in the 33 tested isolates (ampicillin minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) 1 mg/L to >256 mg/L). Western blot analyses of the levels of PBP5 showed that, with few exceptions, lower amounts of PBP5 were present in the susceptible strains than in the resistant strains. More importantly, a significant correlation (P=0.004, Fisher's exact test) between the expression of PBP5 and ampicillin resistance was detected. Point mutations in PBP5, including addition of aspartic acid or serine after position 466 and change of methionine to alanine or threonine at position 485, alanine or isoleucine to threonine at position 499 and glutamate to valine at position 629, were found to be significantly associated with ampicillin resistance. A significant correlation was obtained for the combined mutation (alleles 10 and 11), suggesting that combined mutation of PBP5 can be a marker for ampicillin resistance of E. faecium.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

An exploration of scenario discussion in a Web-based nursing course.

Complexity in nursing education has increased as it is challenged to meet the needs of diverse populations in rapidly evolving and highly technical health care settings. To accomplish or meet these societal wants, needs, and demands, nursing educators must prepare students successfully to become active, independent learners and problem solvers. The purpose of this study was to design a nursing course on the basis of scenario discussion, Web-based instruction (WBI), and the assessment of learning outcomes. The design of the study involved two stages. The first, beginning in 2001, developed the scenario discussion with the WBI system. The second evaluated learning outcomes within the context of a scenario discussion. Two instruments were examined in this study: a nursing assessment score and learning effectiveness survey. The target population in this study consisted of students enrolled in a two-year nursing program and registered for the course, Nursing I, during the fall semester of 2002. Using simple random sampling, 43 students were recruited and agreed to participate in the study. Most of the students chose "good" for learning effectiveness. Overall, the students gave higher learning effectiveness survey scores and nursing assessment scores. Due to their lack of previous exposure to scenario discussion, the students here felt frustration and anxiety while taking this course. Faculty should devote more time explaining the advantages of scenario discussion. In addition, in comparison with traditional teaching, Web-based instruction (WBI) imposes a heavier burden on the instructors and institutions involved. Nurse educators must continue to use innovative strategies to enhance student learning. Students registered both positive and negative feedback in open-ended questions on Web- based instruction. However in the future, special attention should be given to the learning software, Internet access speed, synchronous and asynchronous meetings, and the interaction interface.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

An analysis of clinical teacher behaviour in a nursing practicum in Taiwan.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify and assess the teaching behaviours (knowledge, attitudes and skills) observed in nurse educators as they taught in the clinical setting. BACKGROUND: Many quantitative studies have defined and evaluated teaching effectiveness in the clinical area. Some of these studies established instruments to evaluate faculty effectiveness in the clinical setting; however, they tended to be so broad that they were of limited use in understanding clinical teaching behaviours in nursing education. DESIGN: This study explored clinical teaching behaviours in a nursing practicum. Ten nurse educators taught 10 students in the medical-surgical unit at a hospital in Taiwan for about four weeks. Each teacher was observed by the researcher and one other observer for two days during regularly scheduled clinical teaching time. METHODS: Data collection and analysis were done by a qualitative approach. Content analysis is a process of identifying, coding and categorizing the themes in the data. CONCLUSION: The themes of clinical teaching that emerged from data analysis included teaching aims (task-oriented and learner-centred), teacher competence (teacher knowledge, instructional strategies, planning learning experience, teaching priorities, feedback and caring) and teaching commitment (professional identity and giving of self). These findings offer a holistic blueprint of clinical teaching for nursing faculty members, which will enhance the quality of nursing education. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Complexity in nursing education has increased as it is challenged to meet the needs of diverse populations in rapidly evolving and highly technical health-care settings. Clinical teachers must be enabled and empowered to provide students with appropriate knowledge and skills to meet the needs of patients. To develop students' professional nursing identity now and in the future, nurse educators have to commit themselves to both nursing and teaching in clinical settings. More nurses need to be prepared for careers in education at the master's and doctoral levels.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2006

[Qualitative research: an introduction to focus group methodology and its application].

The focus group interview, an increasingly popular method in qualitative research, is used to obtain information that is highly accurate and relevant through a dynamic group interactive technique. Focus groups are used to gather ideas, opinions, perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs based on participants experiences in a defined area of interest. Focus groups can be used during the preliminary or exploratory stage of a study; during the course of a study (e.g., to develop or evaluate a particular / interesting program of activities); or after a program has been completed (e.g., to assess impact or generate further avenues of research). Focus group interviews can be used either as a method in their own right or as a complement to other methods, especially to check triangulation and validity. While our study concluded that focus group interviews are an "easy and cost efficient" method to collect quality data, validity and relationship issues between focus group data and other data must be determined and considered in the results. This article introduces the background, definitions, focus group process, participants, interview guidelines, moderator responsibilities, and data collection and analysis related to the focus group methodology.

Focus Groups↗

PubMed2005

An exploratory study of Taiwanese consumers' experiences of using health-related websites.

It is manifest that the rapid growth of Internet use and improvement of information technology have changed our lifestyles. In recent years, Internet use in Taiwan has increased dramatically, from 3 million users in 1998 to approximately 8.6 million by the end of 2002. The statistics imply that not only health care professionals but also laypersons rely on the Internet for health information. The purpose of this study was to explore Taiwan consumers' preferences and information needs, and the problems they encountered when getting information from medical websites. Using simple random sampling and systematic random sampling, a survey was conducted in Taipei from August 26, 2002 to October 30, 2002. Using simple random sampling and systematic random sampling, 28 boroughs (Li) were selected; the total sample number was 1043. Over one-quarter (26.8 %) of the respondents reported having never accessed the Internet, while 763 (73.2%) reported having accessed the Internet. Of the Internet users, only 396 (51.9%) had accessed health-related websites, and 367 (48.1%) reported having never accessed health-related websites. The most popular topics were disease information (46.5%), followed by diet consultation (34.8%), medical news (28.5%), and cosmetology (28.5%). The results of the survey show that a large percentage of people in Taiwan have never made good use of health information available on the websites. The reasons for not using the websites included a lack of time or Internet access skills, no motivation, dissatisfaction with the information, unreliable information be provided, and inability to locate the information needed. The author recommends to enhance health information access skills, understand the needs and preferences of consumers, promote the quality of medical websites, and improve the functions of medical websites.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Developing concept maps from problem-based learning scenario discussions.

AIMS: This paper reports a study examining the effects of adopting concept mapping in problem-based learning scenario discussions on the improvement of students' learning outcomes in a nursing course. BACKGROUND: Students in Taiwan usually have a high degree of anxiety about whether or not they have learned enough. Problem-based learning is a method of teaching that uses a patient situation or scenario to stimulate students to acquire and apply information to solve problems. Concept mapping can promote problem-solving and critical thinking to help students organize complex patient data, process complex relationships and offer holistic care to patients. METHODS: An experimental design was used, with participants randomly assigned either to a control or experimental group. The experimental group participated in six problem-based learning scenario discussions during the 16-week semester, while the control group attended a traditional course. RESULTS: The experimental group had significantly higher proposition and hierarchy scores for their concept maps compared with the control group. There were no significant differences in the cross-link and example scores between the two groups. In general, the total score difference between the groups did not reach statistical significance levels. Only one student in the experimental group obtained a high score; most participants in both groups (over 50%) obtained low scores. CONCLUSIONS: Concept mapping strategies may be useful for analysis of individual student's thinking processes for (1) emphasizing key concepts or main ideas, (2) understanding relationships between different concepts, including cause-effect and part-whole relationships, (3) reviewing propositions, hierarchies and cross-links in a logically scientific way, and (4) revising concept structures to agree with theory and experience.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Establishing evaluation indicators in health and medical Websites].

The internet has become one of the most popular and frequently used sources of information in Taiwan, where over one-third of the population has online access (at total of 8.8 million users). Health and medical Websites have become important information sources for professional care providers, but few evaluations have been made of the more commonly used medical Websites in Taiwan. Evaluation criteria for assessing accuracy based on critical thinking skills is required to reduce the amount of misleading information that might be transmitted. The purpose of this paper is to make suggestions for medical Website evaluation. Concepts include access, author status, content, information structure and design, and links quality. It is hoped that this information will help Taiwanese medical professionals better assess the quality of currently available healthcare-related Websites.

Internet↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Health-related behavior and adolescent mothers.

OBJECTIVE: To explore health-related behaviors among adolescent mothers living in the rural area of Taoyuan, Taiwan. DESIGN: A cross-sectional descriptive design and nonrandom survey method were used. SAMPLE: The sample consisted of 37 adolescent mothers, identified by public health nurses. MEASUREMENTS: Standardized interview and Adolescent Health Promotion (AHP) questionnaire. RESULTS: Findings revealed a pattern of economic disadvantage. Nearly half of the participants still lived with their biological parents. Two-thirds needed economic support from their parents (generally coming from their biological mother). Thirty-five percent of participants reported never using contraceptives, two-thirds had never had a Pap smear, and 44% did not breast-feed their infants. Nearly 60% of the children were cared for by the biological mothers of the participants. Adolescent mothers with high school education, and who were employed, married, and received parental economic support had better health-related behaviors than adolescent mothers without these characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Although the study sample has geographic limitations, future international studies with similar populations of adolescent mothers in rural settings will help public health nurses understand adolescent mothers' stressors and needs which in turn affect their health-related behaviors. Intervention strategies are needed to encourage behaviors to keep this population healthy.

Adolescent↗