The early predictive value of frailty for health-related quality of life among elderly patients with cancer receiving curative chemotherapy.

Changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among elderly patients with cancer before and after receiving curative treatment, such as chemotherapy, have always been an important consideration in physician-patient treatment decision-making. Although frailty assessment can help predict the effects of chemotherapy, there is a lack of relevant literature on its effectiveness in predicting post-chemotherapy HRQOL. Therefore, this study investigated the early predictive value of pre-chemotherapy frailty assessment for post-chemotherapy HRQOL among elderly patients with cancer receiving curative chemotherapy. From September 2016 to November 2018, this study enrolled elderly patients with cancer aged ≥ 65 years (N = 178), who were expected to receive chemotherapy at three hospitals in Taiwan. The mean age of patients was 71.70 years (SD = 5.46 years) and half of them were female (n = 96, 53.9%). A comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed to measure frailty in 178 participants one week before receiving chemotherapy (T0). Further, the HRQOL of the elderly patients with cancer was assessed again, four weeks after chemotherapy (T1). After controlling for demographic variables, this study evaluated the predictive value of frailty for HRQOL using a hierarchical regression analysis. A total of 103 (57.9%) participants met the frailty criteria. The results showed that 31.1%-56.7% of the variance in the seven domains of HRQOL could be explained by demographic variables and the presence or absence of frailty. This suggests that the presence or absence of frailty is an important predictor of the illness burden domain (ß = 9.5; p < .05) of HRQOL. Frailty affects the illness burden domain of HRQOL in elderly patients with cancer. Finally, the administration of frailty assessments before treatment is recommended as a reference for patient treatment decision-making.

The effect of a web-based self-care instruction on symptom experience and quality of life in living liver donors: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Living liver donors need help to manage symptom distress and improve their quality of life. This study aims to test the effectiveness of a web-based symptom self-care instruction on symptom experience and health-related quality of life of living liver donors. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial. Participants were recruited from January 2019 to August 2020. Participants in the experimental group had access to a web-based symptom self-care instruction, which included text and video. The control group received routine care. The primary outcomes were symptom distress and quality of life. Results: A total of 90 living liver donors recruited in this study were assigned randomly to the web group (n = 46) and control group (n = 44). The symptom distress was significantly negatively correlated with quality of life at each data collection time. There was an interaction effect with the participants in the web group experiencing more symptom distress at three months after surgery than the control group (B = 3.616, 95% CI: 7.163-3.990, p = 0.046). There was no significant effect on the quality of life. Conclusion: Patients in the web-based self-care group had higher symptom distress than those in the control group three months after surgery, but there was no difference in quality of life. Future studies could add some interactive elements to the website and include a larger sample size. Registration: This study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900020518).

Factors associated with the intention to engage in care planning among persons with mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

This study examined factors associated with the intention to engage in advance care planning among persons with cognitive impairment. This cross-sectional study recruited 116 persons with cognitive impairment by convenience sampling from two teaching hospitals in Northern Taiwan from November 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020. Fewer than 50% of the participants intended to engage in advance care planning, and less than 10% signed the living will for hospice and palliative care. Multivariate linear regression determined factors influencing advance care planning intention included education level, a proxy signed do-not-resuscitate document, belief that family members would provide a signed do-not-resuscitate at their end-of-life, and necessity of explaining future care in advance. It is recommended to popularize advance care planning education and ensure the rights of persons with cognitive impairment to enable them to fully participate in their own care plans through family-centered advance care planning.

Anxiety, pain intensity, and decision regret of living liver donors during postoperative period.

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore and examine the relationship between anxiety, acute pain intensity, and decision regret of living liver donors in the postoperative stage. METHODS: This is a prospective correlational study. Data were collected consecutively for one year (from September 2017 to September 2018) at a medical center in northern Taiwan. Information about anxiety and acute pain intensity was collected preoperatively and on postoperative day (POD) 3 and POD 7. Satisfaction with pain management and decision regret was inquired about on POD 7. RESULTS: Data of 57 consecutive living liver donors (56.1 % male, mean age 34.12 ± 9.92 years) were analyzed. Living liver donors experienced moderate anxiety and acute pain levels in the postoperative period. The mean score of decision regret was 12.63 (range 0-60), indicating a low level of regret. The acute pain intensity decreased significantly between POD 3 and POD 7 (p < .001); however, the anxiety level slightly increased (p = .031). Older and married living liver donors had higher anxiety levels. The satisfaction level of pain management was negatively correlated with the POD 7 acute pain intensity (r = -0.26, p = .049) and decision regret (r = -0.37, p = .005), but it was positively correlated with POD 7 anxiety (r = 0.38, p = .004). CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative period was hard for living liver donors as they would experience moderate acute pain and anxiety. Although the decision regret was low, the satisfaction level of pain management would negatively affect it. Therefore, the effectiveness of pain management and anxiety management should be continually ensured in the postoperative period.

Effect of Acupressure on Fatigue in Hemodialysis Patients: A Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of acupressure on fatigue severity, sleep quality, and psychological status in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) receiving hemodialysis (HD) treatment. Design: A single-blinded parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Settings/Location: A medical center in central Java, Indonesia. Subjects: One hundred and six patients who had been receiving HD for at least 3 months were enrolled in this study and randomly assigned to two groups. Interventions: The experimental group received acupressure at K1, ST36, and SP6 acupoints. In contrast, the control group received sham acupressure at 1 cun from these three acupoints. Subjects received acupressure thrice per week for 4 weeks, and pressure on each acupoint was applied for 3 min bilaterally. Outcome measures: The primary outcome was fatigue severity, while sleep quality and psychological status (depression/anxiety) were evaluated as secondary outcomes. Outcomes were assessed using the Brief Fatigue Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: Acupressure induced a significant medium to large effect on improvement in fatigue (b = -1.71, confidence interval [95% CI]: -1.90 to -1.51, ΔR2 = 0.744), sleep quality (b = -5.81, 95% CI: -6.80 to -4.81, ΔR2 = 0.525), and anxiety (Estimate = -3.213, 95% CI: -4.238 to -2.188, pseudo R2 = 0.292)/depression (Estimate = -3.378, 95% CI: -4.432 to -2.325, pseudo R2 = 0.268) in experimental group patients compared to controls. No adverse events of acupressure were reported during the study process. Conclusions: Acupressure significantly and independently improved fatigue, depression/anxiety, and sleep quality in ESRD patients receiving HD. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT05571007.

The impact of symptom distress on health-related quality of life in liver cancer patients receiving arterial chemoembolization: the mediating role of hope.

BACKGROUND: Trans-hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a treatment option for liver cancer patients. It can prolong patients' survival but can also cause symptom distress. Symptom distress (SDs) can directly impact quality of life (QOL) and may indirectly influence QOL by lessening hope. In this study, we wanted to explore the mediating effect of hope on the relationship between SDs and QOL among patients with liver cancer receiving TACE. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 20, 2017, to August 6, 2018, at a gastroenterology ward of a medical center. The participants were 92 liver cancer patients (69.6% male, mean age 67.8) who were admitted for TACE treatment. Information on SDs, hope, and QOL was collected by questionnaire on discharge day. Hayes' PROCESS model was used to test the mediating effect of hope on the relationship between SDs and QOL. RESULTS: The mean score and standard deviation (SD) of SDs, hope, and QOL were 32.08 (SD = 6.22), 27.09 (SD = 3.51), and 55.16 (SD = 17.33), respectively. SDs negatively impacts quality of life. The total effect of SDs on QOL was - 1.41 (95% confidence interval [CI]: - 1.96, - 0.86). The indirect effect via the mediation of hope was - 0.95 (95% CI: - 1.7, - 0.45). Hope partially mediated the effect of SDs on QOL. CONCLUSION: SDs after TACE is vital; it directly reduces a patient's overall QOL and can indirectly hinder it by reducing the patient's hope. In addition to symptom management, interventions that help patients maintain their hope are key to improving QOL among patients receiving TACE.

Mediating effect of self-efficacy on the relationship between social support and self-management behaviors among patients with knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Good self-management behaviors in patients with knee osteoarthritis can improve disease awareness, treatment effectiveness, quality of life, and reduce medical costs. However, there is a paucity of studies focusing on patients with knee osteoarthritis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the mediating effect of self-efficacy on aspects of social support and self-management behaviors in this population. METHODS: This study employed a cross-sectional design and convenience sampling to survey patients with knee osteoarthritis in an outpatient department of a regional hospital in northern Taiwan from February 22, 2021, to April 15, 2021. The inclusion criteria for patients were (1) those diagnosed by a physician with knee osteoarthritis and (2) who could communicate in Chinese or Taiwanese. Participants were asked to complete a demographic questionnaire, the Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale (ASE), the Inventory of Socially Supportive Behavior (including enacted support and perceived social support), and the Arthritis Self-Management Assessment Tool (ASMAT). In addition, the Kellgren-Lawrence Grading Scale was obtained from a chart review. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson product-moment correlation, and mediation analysis. RESULTS: A total of 140 patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age of participants was 70.21 ± 10.84years; most (73.6%) were female. The mean total score of the ASMAT was 64.27 ± 14.84. Scores for the ASE, enacted support, and perceived social support were significantly positively correlated with ASMAT (all p < .001). The standardized coefficient for total effect and direct effect of perceived social support on ASMAT was 0.899 (p < .001) and 0.754 (p < .05), respectively. After introducing the ASE into the model, the indirect effect was 0.145 (p < .05), which indicated that ASE had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between perceived social support and ASMAT. CONCLUSION: Our findings might suggest that perceived social support indirectly affected ASMAT through ASE. Therefore, interventions designed to increase self-efficacy and social support could enhance self-management behaviors for patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Exploring physical activity behavior in middle-aged Taiwanese women based on the theory of planned behavior.

The study aimed to apply the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to understand middle-aged women's behavior of physical activity (PA). We recruited 185 women between 45 and 64 years (mean: 53.2 ± 5.6) for this cross-sectional study. Participants complete demographic data and an exercise behavior questionnaire including attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), and intention. Means, frequencies, and t-tests were used. To test TPB, we used structural equation modeling. Fit indices for this model demonstrate a good fit: chi-square and degree of freedom ratio X2/df = 2.14 (p = .34), goodness of fit =.97, comparative fit index =.99, root mean square error of approximation =.019, and Akaike information criterion = 28.14. Significant positive correlations between subjective norms and intention (ß=.18, p < .05) and between PBC and intention (ß=.48, p < .01). Women believed that close family and friends promoted their intention to perform PA. Increased PBC would positively enhance their intention. Findings showed that PBC was the strongest predictor. Enhancing women's PBC over their PA can improve their intention. Future researchers are encouraged to examine the barriers to and benefits of improving PBC so that a useful and effective intervention can be designed to promote PA.

Incidental Tuberculosis Epididymitis/Epididymo-orchitis: A Retrospective Analysis at a Tertiary Center in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the earliest noticeable manifestation and diagnosis in patients diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) epididymitis/epididymo-orchitis incidentally and to analyze their responses to surgical and medical treatment. METHODS: Patients who underwent surgery for the preliminary impression of chronic epididymitis/epididymo-orchitis or epididymal/testicular tumor from 2000 to 2019 were included in the study. The clinical presentations, laboratory data, radiological examinations, and operative findings were analyzed retrospectively. The outcomes were assessed by the responses to anti-TB chemotherapy and post treatment radiographic evaluations. RESULTS: All of our 25 patients with a mean age of 60.6 years were diagnosed incidentally with TB epididymitis (48.0%) and TB epididymo-orchitis (52.0%) according to the histopathological findings from their surgeries. The presence of a palpable scrotal mass (76.0%), was the major presentation. Nineteen (76.0%) patients had undergone complete chemotherapy after the surgery and 15 (78.9%) patients showed complete recovery. Four (21.1%) patients had unfavorable outcomes, 3 had TB autonephrectomies and 1 required re-surgery years after complete chemotherapy. Of the 3 (12.0%) patients who did not receive chemotherapy after their surgeries, 1 had a TB relapse in the spine and lung and 1 developed bladder cancer years later. CONCLUSION: Tuberculosis epididymitis/epididymo-orchitis is difficult to diagnose. However, some clinical clues can assist including aged patients, extragenital TB histories, poor responses to antibiotic treatment and scrotal skin lesion. Complete anti-TB chemotherapy is mandatory even after the total removal of TB lesion. Supplemental surgical interventions can be considered when the symptoms are not relieved after chemotherapy. Lifespan follow-up is recommended due to high relapse rate.

Construction and evaluation of a 360 degrees panoramic video on the physical examination of nursing students.

AIM: The aim of this study was to construct and analyze the content validity and usability for a 360-degree panoramic video for physical examination. BACKGROUND: Acquiring techniques and ability on physical examination (PE) skill is often difficult. Immersion and simulation provide an opportunity for nursing students in the real situation focus on the PE techniques practice and to improve patient care. The combination of digital instructional materials and innovative teaching strategies is crucial to improving education. Therefore, effective and clear instruction of PE techniques that can enable students confidently to use their skills in clinical practice is an issue that nursing education must address. METHODS: This study used a descriptive research design and the technology acceptance model to create a 360-degree video to teach students to perform PE. Content validity and usability were analyzed by five nursing teachers and 53 nursing students who had completed a physical assessment course were invited to assess its usability. RESULTS: The results of the expert review indicated that the content validity of the video scored 0.98 in terms of content relevance, 0.95 in terms of convenience and 0.97 in terms of suitability, suggesting that the video was useful and appropriate for self-practicing. The experts' qualitative feedback indicated that the technical demonstrations in the video were clear and specific and that the video was easy to use. The video increased learning motivation and streamlined learning. The ability to change the video's perspective also increased learning interest. The results of a satisfaction survey were 8.94 points for perceived ease of use, 8.79 points for perceived usefulness, 8.56 points for user attitude toward the video and 9.02 points for continued intention to use the video, indicating that the participants were satisfied with the video. The participants' qualitative feedback indicated that each PE technique was clear and that the ability to change the video's perspective and zooming was useful and novel. CONCLUSIONS: The 360-degree panoramic videos were described as a positive learning method for physical examination of nursing students. It provides easy to use and useful to practice PE technique under realistic conditions. Among these outcomes, the 360-degree video can be learned best when teaching PE in nursing education. Accordingly, nursing educators should construct similar videos for the PE of other parts of the body as soon as possible, improve the videos convenience and usefulness and promote their ability to strengthen professional skills.

Post-Discharge Depression Status for Survivors of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO): Comparison of Veno-Venous ECMO and Veno-Arterial ECMO.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is one of the common invasive treatments for the care of critically ill patients with heart failure, respiratory failure, or both. There are two modes of ECMO, namely, veno-venous (VV) and veno-arterial (VA), which have different indications, survival rates, and incidences of complications. This study's aim was to examine whether depression status differed between patients who had received VV-ECMO or VA-ECMO and had been discharged from the hospital. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional, and correlational study of patients who had been discharged from the hospital at least one month after receiving ECMO at a medical center in northern Taiwan from June 2006 to June 2020 (N = 142). Participants were recruited via convenience and quota sampling. Data were collected in the cardiovascular outpatient department between October 2015-October 2016 (n = 52) and September 2019-August 2020 (n = 90). Participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression (HADS-D) as a measure of depression status. Post-discharge depression scores for patients who received VV-ECMO (n = 67) was significantly higher (p = 0.018) compared with participants who received VA-ECMO (n = 75). In addition, the mode of ECMO was a predictor of post-discharge depression (p = 0.008) for participants who received VV-ECMO. This study concluded that patients who received VV-ECMO may require greater mental health support. Healthcare professionals should establish a psychological clinical care pathway evaluated by multiple healthcare professionals.

Health-related outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in adults: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with critical illness may face challenges after hospital discharge; therapeutic outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are typically measured by survival rate. However, ECMO is an integral part of treatment in critical care medicine, which requires an outcome measure beyond survival. Post-discharge health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is such an indicator. OBJECTIVES: To measure HRQoL in adult patients who had previously undergone ECMO and explore influential factors related to HRQoL. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study used a convenience sample of patients discharged between April 2006-April 2016 after at least one month following ECMO. The study was conducted from October 2015 to October 2016, which included data collected from structured questionnaires: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Impact of Event Scale-Revised and Short-Form Survey-36-v2. Stepwise linear regression determined predictor variables of physical and mental HRQoL. RESULTS: Age of participants (N = 144) ranged from 24 to 81 years; long-term survival rate was 28.6% after a median follow-up of 1060 days (range = 44-3150 days). Mean scores for physical and mental components of HRQoL were 46.32 and 50.39, respectively. Level of HRQoL was low to moderate. Employment affected all physical components of HRQoL; depression was the main predictor for physical and mental components. Self-perceived health status and anxiety were also factors that influenced HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: Variables of employment, self-perceived health status and mental health influenced HRQoL. Early assessment of these factors by healthcare professionals can allow integration of multidimensional interventions following hospital discharge, which could improve HRQoL for patients weaned from ECMO.

Postoperative incision scars and cosmetic satisfaction of living liver donors.

ABSTRACT: Cosmetic appearance is a major concern for living donors. However, little is known about the impact of a surgical scar on body image changes in living liver donors. The aim of this study was to identify potential factors that cause displeasing upper midline incision scar, and to evaluate the overall satisfaction regarding body image and scarring after living donor hepatectomy.Donors who underwent right lobe hepatectomy were recruited. Exclusion criteria included reoperation, refusal to participate, and lost follow-up. All donors were invited to complete the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and the body image questionnaire. According to the VSS results of upper midline incision scar, donors were divided into 2 groups: good scarring group (VSS ≤4) and bad scarring group (VSS >4). we compared the clinical outcomes, including the demographics, preoperation, intraoperation, and postoperation variables. The study also analyzed the results of the body image questionnaire.The proportion of male donors was 48.9%. The bad scarring group consisted of 63% of the donors. On multivariate analysis, being a male donor was found to be an independent predictor of a cosmetically displeasing upper midline incision scar with statistical significance. The results of body image questionnaires, there were significant differences in cosmetic score and confidence score among the 2 groups.The upper midline incision and male donors have higher rates of scarring in comparison with the transverse incision and female donors. Donors who reported having a higher satisfaction with their scar appearance usually had more self-confidence. However, the body image won't be affected. Medical staff should encourage donors to take active participation in wound care and continuously observe the impact of surgical scars on psychological changes in living liver donors.

Association between surgical volumes and hospital mortality in patients: a living donor liver transplantation single center experience.

BACKGROUND: Many factors cause hospital mortality (HM) after liver transplantation (LT). METHODS: We performed a retrospective research in a single center from October 2005 to June 2019. The study included 463 living donor LT patients. They were divided into a no-HM group (n = 433, 93.52%) and an HM group (n = 30, 6.48%). We used logistic regression analysis to determine how clinical features and surgical volume affected HM. We regrouped patients based on periods of surgical volume and analyzed the clinical features. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis revealed that donor age (OR = 1.050, 95% CI 1.011-1.091, p = 0.012), blood loss (OR = 1.000, 95% CI 1.000-1.000, p = 0.004), and annual surgical volumes being < 30 LTs (OR = 2.540, 95% CI 1.011-6.381, p = 0.047) were significant risk factors. A comparison of years based on surgical volume found that when the annual surgical volumes were at least 30 the recipient age (p = 0.023), donor age (p = 0.026), and ABO-incompatible operations (p < 0.001) were significantly higher and blood loss (p < 0.001), operative time (p < 0.001), intensive care unit days (p < 0.001), length of stay (p = 0.011), rate of re-operation (p < 0.001), and HM (p = 0.030) were significantly lower compared to when the annual surgical volumes were less than 30. CONCLUSIONS: Donor age, blood loss and an annual surgical volume < 30 LTs were significant pre- and peri-operative risk factors. Hospital mortality and annual surgical volume were associated with statistically significant differences; surgical volume may impact quality of care and transplant outcomes.

Factors associated with registration for organ donation among clinical nurses.

PURPOSE: Healthcare professionals play an important role in the organ donation process. The aim of this study was to examine the organ donation registration rate and related factors among clinical nurses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional, correlational study, we used mailed questionnaires to collect data from four geographical areas and three hospital levels in Taiwan from June 6 to August 31, 2018. Two thousand and thirty-three clinical nurses participated in this study. RESULTS: Participants' mean age was 34.47 years, and 95.7% were women. Of them, 78.3% were willing to donate their organs and 20.6% had registered for organ donation after death. The results of logistic regression showed that in the personal domain, higher age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.03, p < 0.001), better knowledge of organ donation (OR = 1.09, p < 0.001), and a positive attitude toward organ donation (OR = 2.91, p < 0.001) were positively associated with organ donation registration, while cultural myths (OR = 0.69, p < 0.001) were negatively correlated. In the policy domain, the convenience of the registration procedure (OR = 1.45, p < 0.001) was positively associated with registration. A gap between willingness to donate and actual registration was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Personal factors played an important role in organ donation registration. Therefore, efforts to improve knowledge and inculcate positive cultural beliefs about organ donation among clinical nurses are recommended. There is also a need to cooperate with government policies to provide appropriate in-service training and policy incentives and establish an efficient registration process.

Motivations for Family Members' Visits to Nursing Home Residents With Dementia in Taiwan: A Qualitative Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore what motivates family members to visit a relative with dementia who has been transferred to a nursing home in Taiwan. DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were collected for this qualitative descriptive study using audiotaped, semi-structured, in-depth, face-to-face interviews. A total of 20 family members of elderly nursing home residents participated in the study. Nursing home residents were from four nursing homes in Taiwan and had been diagnosed with probable or possible dementia by a psychiatrist or neurologist. Transcribed audiotaped interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. FINDINGS: Most family members were the children of the residents (n =17, 85%). The theme describing the core motivation for family members' visits to nursing home residents was "to maintain the unforgotten family affection." This motivation comprised four relevant categories: hoping to slow degeneration, providing a congruous environment, honoring filial and karmic duty, and ensuring the quality of care. CONCLUSIONS: Motivations for Taiwanese family members' visits to nursing home residents with dementia were similar to those in Western cultures. However, "hoping to slow degeneration" and "providing a congruous environment" were unique categories. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Nurses and policymakers could use these findings to design interventions that might increase holistic care for both family members and nursing home residents with dementia. Providing programming focused on family members' unique priorities could address swallowing difficulties, management of dementia symptoms, nutritional needs, and selection of residents' roommates. These programs could improve the quality of family members' visits as well as the quality of staff-family relationships.

Consistency in End-of-Life Care Preferences Between Hospitalized Elderly Patients and Their Primary Family Caregivers.

PURPOSE: This study explored the consistency between preferences for end-of-life care for elderly hospitalized patients and their primary caregivers and predictors of consistency. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional correlational study recruited 100 dyads of elderly hospitalized patients and their primary caregivers from a medical center in Central Taiwan. A structural questionnaire about preferences for seven end-of-life medical treatment options involved cardiopulmonary resuscitation, intravenous therapy, nasogastric tube feeding, intensive care unit, blood transfusion, tracheotomy, and hemodialysis. RESULTS: The consistency was 42.28% for preferences of end-of-life medical care between patients and caregivers. The Kappa values for seven life-sustaining medical treatments ranged from 0.001 to 0.155. Logistic regression showed that the predictors of consistency for preferences of treatment were: a patient with a signed living will (odds ratio [OR] = 6.20, p<0.01) and a male family caregiver (OR= 0.23, p<0.01) for cardiopulmonary resuscitation; a patient who visited relatives in the intensive care unit (OR= 2.94, p< 0.05) and a spouse caregiver (OR= 3.07, p< 0.05) for nasogastric tube feeding; a spouse caregiver (OR=3.12, p<0.05) and a caregiver who visited the intensive care unit (OR= 5.50, p<0.01) for tracheotomy; and a spouse caregiver (OR= 2.76, p<0.05) and a caregiver who visited the intensive care unit (OR= 4.42, p<0.05) for hemodialysis. CONCLUSION: End-of-life medical treatment preferences were inconsistent between patients and family caregivers, which might be influenced by Asian culture, the nature of the relationship and individual experiences. Implementation of advance care planning that respects the patient's autonomy and preferences about end-of-life care is recommended.

Effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy on skin toxicity and skin-related quality of life in patients with lung cancer: An observational study.

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy is the primary treatment option for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, one of the major adverse effects associated with this therapy is skin toxicity, which impacts the patient's quality of life. This study aimed to describe the severities and locations of skin toxicity, and to analyze their association with the quality of life in patients with advanced NSCLC who received EGFR-TKI therapy as first-line treatment.This cross-sectional and correlation study was conducted at a tertiary medical center in northern Taiwan between July 2015 and March 2016. Skin toxicity was assessed and graded using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 4.03). The Skindex-16 scale was used to measure the skin disease-related quality of life.A total of 146 NSCLC patients who received EGFR-TKI therapy within the first 3 months of diagnosis were included in this study; 93.2% of these patients experienced skin toxicities. Approximately 70% of the patients developed xerosis and pruritus, while 50% had papulopustular eruptions and paronychia. The mean skin symptom impact score was 5.38 (standard deviation = 2.65). The skin-related quality of life varied widely among the participants but remained acceptable (mean score = 13.96, standard deviation = 16.55). Skin symptoms correlated significantly with poor quality of life (r = 0.50, P < .001). Younger patients and those treated with afatinib were the most affected, reporting the poorest quality of life. Patients who required EGFR-TKI dose reduction had experienced more severe skin symptoms than had patients who did not require it (7.35 vs 5.01, P < .001).Skin toxicity related to EGFR-TKI treatment impacts the quality of life in patients with NSCLC. During the treatment period, skin assessment and tailored management should be incorporated into the daily care plan.

Clinical Outcome of Residual Liver Volume and Hepatic Steatosis After Right-Lobe Living-Donor Hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND We examine how residual liver volume (RLV) and hepatic steatosis (HS) of living liver donors affect the regeneration process and clinical outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS We longitudinally studied 58 donors who underwent right-lobe hepatectomy during the period February 2014 to February 2015 at a single medical institution. The patients were classified based on RLV (30-35%, 35-40%, 40-50%) subgroups and HS (<10%, 10-30%, 30-50%) subgroups. Clinical parameters such as clinical outcome, liver volumetric recovery (LVR,%) rate and remnant left-liver (RLL,%) growth rate were collected for analysis. RESULTS The clinical features of postoperative peak total bilirubin (p=.024) were significant in the 3 RLV subgroups. Body mass index (p=.017), preoperative alanine transaminase (p<.001), and pleural effusion (p=.038) were significant in the 3 HS subgroups. The LVR rate and RLL growth rate equations showed significant variation in regeneration among the 3 RLV subgroups. The LVR rate and RLL growth rate equations did not show significant variation in regeneration among the 3 HS subgroups. CONCLUSIONS Hyperbilirubinemia was a risk factor in the small-RLV group, and a large amount of pleural effusion was a risk factor in the steatosis 30-50% group. Hepatic steatosis subgroups did not show significantly different degrees of regeneration. The safety of living donors was a major concern while we compiled the extended living-donor criteria presented in this paper.

Factors associated with depressive symptoms in patients with ankylosing spondylitis in Northern Taiwan.

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) experience impaired physical function and reduced quality of life, which puts this group at high risk for depression. Identifying factors associated with depressive symptoms could improve outcomes for this at-risk group. However, few studies have examined the relationship between demographic and clinical variables and depressive symptoms in patients with AS. This cross-sectional correlation study recruited patients with AS by convenience sampling from the division of immunology and rheumatology of a medical center in Northern Taiwan. Participants (N = 120) included 91 males and 29 females, age ≥ 20 years. Data were collected from chart reviews, and structural questionnaires, which included demographic information regarding employment status, history of falls, impact of AS on work; clinical information relative to AS was obtained from structural questionnaires: the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and functional index (BASFI), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Body Image Scale (BIS), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Multiple regression analysis identified predictors of depression. The mean BDI-II score was 9.50 ± 8.30; 25% had scores indicating mild to severe depressive symptoms. Mean score on the BIS was 68.17 ± 16.14; 14.2% had fallen within the previous year; and 57.5% reported AS affected their work. Variables associated with depressive symptoms were work affected by AS (ß = 0.14, p = .049), occurrence of a fall within the previous year (ß = 0.14, p = .032), higher scores on the BASDAI (ß = 0.21, p = .032), and lower body image (ß = -0.38, p < .001). Clinical professionals should regularly assess patients with AS for depressive symptoms. Health care planning should provide instruction in fall prevention and control of disease activity, and strategies to improve body image, which could improve patients' self-management capabilities and body image as well as mitigate depressive symptoms.