Standardized patients' experiences of portraying characters in difficult communication scenarios: Narrative inquiry.

BACKGROUND: There are limited studies that explored the preparation and challenges faced by standardized patients (SPs) in portraying characters in difficult communication scenarios, and the strategies used to overcome these challenges. The purpose of this study was to understand the experience of SPs in interpreting difficult communication situations and the learning needs of performing similar scenarios. And it allows the researchers to explore the meaning, beliefs, values, and aspiration associated with their role as SPs. The findings could shade light on the significance of their experiences and provide valuable insights for the development of future SP training programs. METHODS: The design of this study is framed by a narrative inquiry, using semi-structured guidelines to conduct in-depth interviews with 11 SPs who have participated in the performances of difficult communication situations. Research data were analyzed by Polkinghorne narrative analysis, and Riessman's four criteria were used to establish rigor. RESULTS: Analysis revealed the following five themes: scenarios to real life connections, process of preparing for a performance, methods to detach from character, obtaining unexpected rewards, and needs for performance training. There are two to three subthemes that are subsumed under each theme. CONCLUSIONS: To strengthen training in difficult communication for healthcare professionals, the use of SPs to interpret challenging difficult communication scenarios will continue to increase. Educators need to ensure that SPs are fully prepared physically and emotionally before, during and after their performance. Offering of continuing education and training in feedback techniques are crucial to extend the tenure of SPs, reduce their frustration, prevent attrition, and ultimately, reduce training costs. In the future, SP training should also include detachment and feedback techniques to alleviate SPs' stress.

Training perinatal nurses in palliative communication by using scenario-based simulation: A quasi-experimental study.

AIM: This study aimed to assess the impact of two educational modules on enhancing the communication confidence, competence and performance of perinatal nurses in the context of palliative care. BACKGROUND: Concerns have arisen regarding the preparedness of perinatal nurses in delivering palliative care, especially in terms of deficiencies in communication skills and negative attitudes toward making life-support decisions for parents facing neonates with terminal conditions. Bridging this gap necessitates improved perinatal palliative care education for healthcare providers. Research has shown that simulation-based teaching effectively enhances procedural competence, communication skills and confidence among healthcare professionals. However, comprehensive curricula focusing on perinatal palliative communication remain limited. DESIGN: This study used a quasi-experimental design employing a two-group repeated measure approach. It involved a purposive sample of 79 perinatal nurses from a hospital in northern Taiwan. METHODS: A palliative communication course specifically designed for registered nurses in perinatal units was developed. Participants were allocated to either the experimental group (Scenario-Based Simulation, SBS) or the control group (traditional didactic lecture). Communication confidence and competence were assessed before and immediately after the course through structured questionnaires. Learning satisfaction was collected post-intervention and participants underwent performance evaluation by standardized parents one week later. RESULTS: A significant training gap in palliative care exists among nurses in OB/GYN wards, delivery rooms and neonatal critical care units, highlighting the need for continuing education. All 79 participants completed the training course. Following the intervention, nurses in the SBS group (n=39) exhibited significant improvements in self-reported confidence (p <0.05), competence (p <0.01) and performance (p <0.001) in neonatal palliative communication compared with the traditional didactic lecture group (n=40). The SBS group also received higher satisfaction ratings from nurse learners (p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The research findings support scenario-based simulation as a more effective educational approach compared with traditional didactic lectures for enhancing communication confidence and competence. These results were further reinforced by evaluation from standardized patients, highlighting the value of direct feedback in enhancing nurses' performance. Tailoring SBS designs to diverse nursing contexts and incorporating a flipped approach can further enrich the overall learning experience. Given its high effectiveness and positive reception, we recommend integrating this educational module into palliative care training programs for perinatal nurses.

Assessment of the psychometric properties of the Vietnamese version of the Critical Thinking Disposition Scale.

BACKGROUND: The Critical Thinking Disposition Scale is a valid and reliable tool for assessing an individual's attitudes towards critical thinking. However, it is unclear if the scale can be used with Vietnamese nursing students. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to translate the scale into Vietnamese and examine the psychometric properties of the Vietnamese version of the Critical Thinking Disposition Scale (CTDS-V). SETTINGS: Data were collected from senior nursing students at four universities in southern Vietnam in October and December 2022. PARTICIPANTS: In total, 398 senior nursing students participated in this study. METHODS: A cross-cultural adaptation of the CTDS-V was carried out with participants obtained through convenience sampling. Data were collected through an online survey. The study evaluated the validity of the CTDS-V by examining the content validity, concurrent validity, and construct validity, employing both Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses. The study also reported the internal consistency reliability using Cronbach's alpha and test-retest stability of the CTDS-V. RESULTS: The CTDS-V had a good content validity index with a score of at least 0.85 for each item and an excellent overall content validity index of 0.96. Exploratory Factor Analysis identified two factors, critical openness, and reflective scepticism, with 11 items. Confirmatory Factor Analysis provided an acceptable fit model and supported the factor structure of the original scale. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.88, and those of the two subscales were each 0.84. The test-retest stability of the CTDS-V was good with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.98 (95 % confidence interval = 0.96, 0.99). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that the CTDS-V is a valid and reliable tool for assessing the critical thinking disposition of nursing students. The scale is short, rendering it feasible for regular use in education and research.

[The Role of Nurses in Bridging the Health Literacy Gap: Empowering Patients in the Post-Pandemic Era].

Health literacy (HL) is an essential ability used by people throughout life to access, understand, appraise, and apply health related information and services and is widely recognized as a key determinant of health. HL has been the focus of increasing international attention in the 21st century, with the World Health Organization identifying HL as a 2030 sustainable development target (World Health Organization, 2016). "Strengthening health communication and improving HL nationwide" is also an issue targeted in a Taiwan government white paper for improvement by 2025. Key related actions and strategies noted in this paper include investigating the HL of each life course; disseminating accurate, easy-to-access, and implementable health and safety information; improving the public's awareness and use of mobile tools; using multiple marketing models (public, organization, interpersonal communication); combining cloud technology to develop a health management system; setting up websites; providing cloud care; and developing other e-media (Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2016). The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly challenged the global healthcare system as well as individual health. Due to the difficulties and uncertainties associated with emerging diseases, updating regularly changing information in a timely manner is not easy. Ensuring public access to and application of updated information is a key challenge to improving public HL. Abel & McQueen (2020) pointed out that "critical health literacy", the ability of individuals to reflect on complex health issues and critically evaluate available information, will be the key to promoting and enhancing healthy behaviors in response to emerging diseases. Taiwan is rapidly moving toward becoming a super-aged society, at which time frail older adults, individuals with dementia, and individuals with disabilities and multiple chronic diseases are expected to be the primary targets of healthcare system services. During the pandemic, many individuals in vulnerable groups died quickly due to COVID-19-related severe illnesses, leaving their families with insufficient time to respond and adjust. This experience highlights the importance of palliative and end-of-life care communication with clients and of permitting family members to grieve. In addition, disease control measures such as isolation, wearing masks, and reducing visits to patients have also affected communication between people, widening the distance between patients, their families, and healthcare professionals. This experience has made us reflect on how to better use online and mobile tools to support self-care for patients and their families. In this issue, Professor Li first expounds on promoting HL in the elderly through the use of health education strategies such as formulating public policies related to HL, adjusting the orientation of health services, constructing a friendly environment for HL information dissemination, strengthening community resources for HL education, and promoting geriatric learning and shared decision-making. Professor Wu encourages nurses in long-term care facilities to apply the U-R-PEACE strategy to promote understanding, respect, planning, expression, act, care, and education in a manner that facilitates effective palliative care communication with patients and their families as early as possible. Because dementia care relies heavily on family caregivers, Professor Luo suggests using family-caregiver-created and managed Facebook groups to share health information and facilitate social support, shedding light on how to use social media to effectively empower caregivers. Interactions between patients and healthcare professionals are critical to effective healthcare delivery. The unequal power dynamic between physicians and patients may lead to communication conflicts, especially as generational replacement progresses and public health awareness improves. Facing the differences between these two interest groups, Professor Ye suggest nurses handle conflicts proactively by increasing their emotional drive to address disagreements, enhancing their cognitive abilities to handle interpersonal dynamics, and engaging actively in communicative measures.

The Effects of Interactive eBooks on Dyspnea Assessment and Management among Emergency Medical Technicians: A Repeated-Measures Analysis.

Dyspnea is a common emergency requiring urgent care, and a variety of factors may mislead emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Typically, EMT education uses traditional lectures with paper books. The effect of interactive eBooks on EMT learning has not been explored. This study aims to develop an interactive eBook in dyspnea assessment and management and to evaluate its learning effect. A quasi-experimental design with three repeated measures was used. A total of 117 EMTs were recruited and assigned to the experimental group (eBook, n = 56) and the comparison group (paper book, n = 61). Questionnaires were administered to both groups at three time points. The results show that both materials can improve cognition and that the interactive eBook has better effects than the paper book. The interactive eBook motivated EMT to learn more than the paper book, but motivation did not last for five weeks. The long-term effect of the interactive eBook on confidence compared to the paper book is significant. The eBook can include real cases, concept maps, videos, quizzes, and instant feedback to meet learner needs. Health educators could integrate technology and cognitive strategies into EMTs' training curricula to improve their ability to provide better emergency medical services.

Effectiveness of e-STORY App in clinical reasoning competency and self-directed learning among students in associate nursing program: A quasi experimental study.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to promote students' clinical reasoning (CR) and self-directed learning (SDL). The specific aims were: (1) to examine effectiveness of the e-STORY App in promoting nursing students' CR and SDL; and (2) to explore the relationships between levels of learning motivation and suitability of the e-STORY App. BACKGROUND: CR and SDL are core competencies for nursing students. However, new graduates tend to be in adequately prepared in these competencies. Humanoid diagram uses diagrams to guide students in gaining a comprehensive view of the patient issues, which may promote attainment of these competencies. The Z generation students favor learning through smart devices for the feature of no time and spatial limitations. The e-STORY App was developed to overcome the setbacks of creating hard-copy drawings to promote learning effectiveness. DESIGN: This quasi-experimental study used two-group repeated measure design with a convenience sample. METHODS: A total of 77 students from two sections of the "Seminar for Clinical Case Studies" course participated in the study (experimental group: 39 students; control group: 38 students). Data were collected before, one week after and four weeks after the teaching intervention. The instruments used were demographic information sheet, Huang et al.'s (in press) Clinical reasoning scale and Cheng et al. (2010) Self-directed learning instrument. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the CR and SDL scores between the experimental and control groups one week after the intervention (p＞.05). Analyses of the delay effects four weeks after the intervention found significantly higher CR scores in the experimental group than the control group (p < .05). However, there were no significant differences in the SDL scores between groups (p＞.05). Analysis of the findings from the experimental group found that students with moderate and low learning motivation showed significantly higher CR scores on the posttest and follow-up test (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Application of the e-STORY App as a supplementary teaching strategy promoted nursing students' CR ability, especially in students with moderate or low learning motivation. It is recommended to use the App in students with moderate or low learning motivation to promote learning effectiveness.

Effects of board game play on nursing students' medication knowledge: A randomized controlled trial.

AIM: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of an educational board game in improving nursing students' medication knowledge. BACKGROUND: Maintaining patient safety is a core practice for nurses. Medication management is a central principle of patient safety. Nurses acquire pharmacology knowledge and medication safety skills in the classroom training. Thus, solidifying and strengthening nursing students' medication knowledge are crucial tasks for nursing faculty members. In recent years, board games, which offer both entertainment and competitive play, have been employed to educate students in a variety of disciplines and settings. Through board game play, students can learn in an enjoyable and fun atmosphere. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial design. METHODS: A convenience sample of 69 nursing students was obtained from a university in Taiwan. Participants were randomly assigned either to an experimental (board game) group (n = 35) or a comparison group (n = 34) using block randomization. The experimental group engaged in board game play to learn about medications, whereas the comparison group attended a one-hour didactic lecture. Using questionnaires, data were collected before the intervention, immediately post intervention and one month post intervention. RESULTS: Following the intervention, regardless of the learning method, both groups showed significant improvements in their immediate recall of medication information. However, when retested after one month, the experimental group obtained significantly higher scores than the comparison group. Moreover, students in the experimental group reported more satisfaction with the learning method than those in the comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest that learning through board games could enhance nursing students' retention of knowledge. Students reported favorable reactions to using a board game learning method for increasing knowledge of medication. With respect to this finding, faculty members may consider employing board games as teaching tools in nursing and other health science courses. Moreover, the findings of this study can also provide additional information for nursing managers in hospital wards or long-term care facilities where nurses are trained to familiarize themselves with frequently administered medications. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Board game play can enhance nursing students' retention of knowledge; students reported positive reactions to game-based learning for medication training.

Prevalence of Loneliness and Associated Factors among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Loneliness has become one of the most common psychological problems experienced by older adults. Previous studies have indicated that loneliness is correlated with poor physical and psychological health outcomes; therefore, it is important to pay attention to people experiencing loneliness. However, there is a lack of information regarding the prevalence of loneliness, and its associated factors, among community-dwelling older adults in Indonesia, which this study aimed to understand. This study used a cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational research design. Stratified random sampling was applied to 1360 participants, aged ≥ 60 years, in 15 community health centers in Kendari City, Indonesia. The following questionnaires were used to collect data, including demographic and characteristic information, Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form, and a single-item loneliness question. The prevalence of loneliness among older adults was 64.0%. The multivariate logistic regression showed that older adults who were female, lived with family, had fewer children, had a poor health status, had a poor oral status, had more chronic diseases, had no hearing problems, had poor cognitive function, and had depression had a higher chance of feeling lonely. Loneliness is a serious health issue among the older population in Indonesia. The government, social workers, and healthcare professionals should pay immediate attention to this psychological problem. The study also suggests that appropriate strategies for the prevention of loneliness should be developed in the near future.

[The Design and Application of a Chatbot in Clinical Nursing Education].

The vigorous development of information and communication technology has enabled great progress in the application of mobile learning in clinical nursing education. Mobile learning allows students to use the internet and mobile devices to access convenient, immediate learning anytime and anywhere to achieve ubiquitous learning. Smartphones have become indispensable communication tools in our daily life. Smartphones equipped with chatbots may be used as mobile learning tools that are free of time and space limitations and promote instant responses and humanized interactions. These applications may help meet the preferences of a new generation of nurses. In this article, the concepts of mobile learning are introduced, the advantages and limitations of educational chatbots are discussed, suggestions for the application of chatbots in education are provided, and the author`s teaching plan for creating a chatbot via the LINE app is shared. Using chatbots allows nursing educators to integrate technology into clinical teaching, develop multiple innovative teaching materials, and create a fun environment to promote professional learning and facilitate self-growth in nursing staff.

[Patient's Personal Data Protection Awareness: A Survey of Clinical Nurses].

BACKGROUND: The aim of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) is to regulate the collection, processing, and use of personal information; to avoid the infringement of personal rights; and to promote the reasonable use of personal information. Clinical nurses are frontline patient caregivers, and they are the most likely to have access to patients' personal information. If these nurses do not clearly understand the PDPA, they may violate the law and affect patients' rights. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge level of clinical nurses regarding the PDPA and related factors, with the findings intended to serve as a reference for continuing education. METHODS: A cross-sectional research design was adopted. A purposive sample of nurses working at a regional hospital in southern Taiwan was selected. A self-administered survey incorporating the self-developed Nurses Knowledge Scale for Patient Personal Data Protection Act (NKSPPDPA) was used to collect data from May to June 2017. RESULTS: A total of 269 valid responses were received (return rate: 89.67%). The mean score on the NKSPPDPA was 68.80 out of a total-possible 100 points. Knowledge related to patient privacy and penalties was relatively low. Moreover, working department, job title, and participation in PDPA-related on-the-job education were found to be significant predictors of NKSPPDPA score, while years of experience was found to have a low correlation only. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that clinical nurses have knowledge gaps regarding PDPA, especially in terms of privacy and penalties. Nurses should participate in continuing education to address these knowledge gaps.

Prevalence of Loneliness and Related Factors Among Older Adults in Taiwan: Evidence From a Nationally Representative Survey.

BACKGROUND: Loneliness is a common problem among older populations, and very few studies have examined loneliness among older adults in Taiwan. AIM: This study aimed to understand the prevalence of loneliness and factors associated with it among older adults in Taiwan. METHODS: Data from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study of Aging collected in 2015 were analyzed and involved 4588 participants aged ≥65 years. The outcome variable was a self-reported loneliness question, and independent variables included demographic characteristics, a self-reported health status, physical function, number of comorbidities, cognitive function, and social support. A multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of loneliness. RESULTS: The prevalence of loneliness among older adults in Taiwan was 10.5%. The multivariate logistic regression showed that old persons who were male, lived alone, perceived that they had a poor health condition, had no spouse, had no job, and had poor emotional support had higher likelihood of feeling lonely. CONCLUSIONS: This study investigated loneliness in a nationally representative sample of older adults and revealed that one-tenth of this older population might experience loneliness which requires immediate action. Special attention should be given to the aforesaid factors in older adults to identify problems and provide interventions as early as possible in order to prevent loneliness and thus reduce the resultant negative effects on physical and mental conditions. Appropriate interventions should be developed to prevent or ameliorate feelings of loneliness among older populations using rigorous research designs such as randomized controlled trials.

Empowering the public during the COVID pandemic through interactive social media platform.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals and academic facilities are called to provide leadership in disseminating accurate and timely information through approaches that meet the needs of the public. Graduate students from a university in Taiwan collaborated with experts to provide interactive live broadcasting sessions on the COVID-related topics to the public through the Facebook platform. The broadcasting sessions also trained the students to communicate COVID-related information through succinct and interactive presentations. Twelve broadcasting sessions were conducted twice a week for three weeks in May 2020. Upon completion of the broadcasting sessions, students demonstrated growth in professional confidence, assessment of the public's knowledge gaps and needs, and preparation and delivery of professional live broadcasts. We recommend creating a live broadcast training application through an artificial intelligence (AI) expert system. Multidisciplinary academic-practice collaboration in preparing for the broadcasting and engaging in dialogues with the public is recommended.

Nurses' perceptions regarding providing psychological care for older residents in long-term care facilities: A qualitative study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore nurses' perceptions regarding providing psychological health care for older residents in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). BACKGROUND: Loneliness and depressive symptoms are commonly observed among older residents living in LTCFs. Nurses are expected to provide holistic care including physical, psychological and social care for older residents in LTCFs to fulfil their needs. Therefore, understanding nurses' feelings and thoughts regarding providing care for older residents who feel lonely, sad, unhappy or depressed is important for delivering better care. DESIGN: A qualitative research design was employed. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) was used to enhance for reporting quality. METHODS: Purposive sampling and snowball sampling were applied in Northern Taiwan. One-to-one in-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Twenty-one nurses with a mean age of 38.4 years were interviewed. Content analysis was performed for data analysis. FINDINGS: Four themes were generated from the data: "insufficient psychological healthcare competency," "having a willing heart but not adequate support," "families playing an essential role in residents' mood" and "physical-oriented care model." CONCLUSIONS: Long-term care facilitie nurses felt that they were not adequately prepared for taking care of older adults' psychological problems before their nursing career or during their practice. Unreasonable nurse-to-resident ratios and an absence of care consensus among healthcare providers can make nurses feel that they have a willing heart but not adequate support. Family members are essential in older residents' emotional status within the Taiwanese cultural context. Physical care evaluation indicators emphasised by LTCF accreditation resulted in the current care practice model. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study provides valuable information for LTCF nurses, managers and directors to develop appropriate strategies to assist nurses in providing better psychological health care for older residents. Evaluation indicators required by LTCF accreditation in Taiwan must be re-examined at the earliest stage.

[Kahoot: Applications and Effects in Education].

Stimulating learning motivation and enhancing learning effectiveness are particularly difficult challenges for nursing educators in educating Generation Z learners, who are part of the first generation of true "digital natives". In response, teachers are beginning to integrate gamification techniques into their classrooms in order to motivate classroom participation and to conduct learning evaluation. Kahoot is a free, online quiz platform and instant feedback system that helps teachers create a fun competitive-gaming environment. Learners may access the platform using a mobile phone or tablet to answer multiple-choice questions. The platform may be introduced at different stages of learning activities or combined with the flipped classroom model in order to achieve various teaching goals. This article provides a brief introduction of the gamification of learning and then discusses the operational skills needed to use Kahoot and the effectiveness of this platform, including advantages, limitations, and user feedback. Finally, the authors share their Kahoot-related teaching designs and experiences. It is suggested that nurse educators may apply Kahoot in their innovative teaching practices.

[The Effect of Structured Group Reminiscence Therapy on the Life Satisfaction of Institutionalized Elderly].

BACKGROUND: Long-term care institutions have become an option for older people who are dependent in daily living. However, insufficient attention has been focused on assessing the life satisfaction of those currently residing in these institutions in Taiwan. Previous research indicates that group reminiscence may improve the life satisfaction of older adults. However, there is currently no consensus regarding the implementation and evaluation of reminiscence interventions. PURPOSE: To examine the effect of a structured group reminiscence protocol on the life satisfaction of institutionalized older adults. METHODS: The study used a quasi-experimental design. A total of 48 older adults were conveniently recruited from two long-term care institutions in southern Taiwan. The experimental group (n = 23) received 8 weeks of structured-group reminiscence for 40 minutes weekly, while the control group (n = 25) received routine care from the institution. Both groups were evaluated using a life-satisfaction questionnaire before and after the intervention and again four weeks later. RESULTS: Life satisfaction scores were statistically similar on the pre-test and significantly different on both post-test questionnaires for the two groups. The scores for the experimental and control groups were pre-test: 24.22 vs 23.36 (p = .063); post-test I: 27.22 vs 23.32 (p < .001); and post-test II: 26.43 vs 23.00 (p < .001). The mean post-test scores for the experimental group were significantly higher than the pre-test score (p < .001). The generalized estimating equation test showed that the overall score of life satisfaction for the experimental group increased by 0.85-points (p = .042) more than the control group, which is a significant difference. CONCLUSIONS / IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The results support that the 8-week structured group reminiscence protocol effectively enhances life satisfaction in older adults. The results of this study may be referenced in the continuing education of nurses working in long-term care institutions in the context of helping nurses organize, facilitate, and evaluate this protocol.

[Exploring relocation stress and diabetes control in the elderly residents of long-term care facilities].

BACKGROUND: Stress and glycemic control have a significant and positive relationship. However, elderly diabetic patients who are relocated involuntarily to an institution often exhibit poor control of blood sugar. Few studies have addressed the relationship between relocation stress and diabetes control. PURPOSE: This study explores the relationship between relocation stress and glycemic control in seniors with diabetes in nursing homes. METHOD: This study used a cross-sectional descriptive correlation design with a convenience sampling method to recruit 88 elderly diabetes patients who had relocated to a nursing home within the past 1 year. The structural questionnaires used in this study adopted a personal and disease characteristics datasheet and the modified Chinese-version Relocation Appraisal Scale (RAS). SPSS (Window 18.0 version) was used for statistical analyses. RESULT: Those participants with diabetes who relocated involuntary, had low functional independence, lived with their family prior to admission, had poor health, or were diagnosed with depression faced a significantly higher risk of poor diabetes control. The significant predictors for diabetes control were: low functional independence and relocation stress, which accounted for 45.7% of the total variance for diabetes control. CONCLUSIONS: The result of this study may be referenced to help reduce relocation stress and help improve glycemic control in recently institutionalized seniors with diabetes.

Does low-intensity pulsed ultrasound treatment repair articular cartilage injury? A rabbit model study.

BACKGROUND: Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) regiment has been used to treat fractures with non-union and to promote bone union in general. The effect of LIPUS on articular cartilage metabolism has been characterized. Yet, the effect of LIPUS to repair articular cartilage injury remains unclear in vivo. METHODS: We designed a study to investigate the effect of LIPUS on articular cartilage repairing in a rabbit severe cartilage injury model. Eighteen rabbits were divided into three groups: Sham-operated group, operated group without-LIPUS-treatment, operated group with-LIPUS-treatment (a daily 20-minute treatment for 3 months). Full-thickness cartilage defects were surgically created on the right side distal femoral condyle without intending to penetrate into the subchondral bone, which mimicked severe chondral injury. MR images for experimental joints, morphology grading scale, and histopathological Mankin score were evaluated. RESULTS: The preliminary results showed that the operated groups with-LIPUS-treatment and without-LIPUS-treatment had significantly higher Mankin score and morphological grading scale compared with the sham-operated group. However, there was no significant difference between the with-LIPUS-treatment and without-LIPUS-treatment groups. Cartilage defects filled with proliferative tissue were observed in the with-LIPUS-treatment group grossly and under MR images, however which presented less up-take under Alcian blue stain. Furthermore, no new deposition of type II collagen or proliferation of chondrocyte was observed over the cartilage defect after LIPUS treatment. CONCLUSION: LIPUS has no significant therapeutic potential in treating severe articular cartilage injury in our animal study.