Framing the virus: The political, economic, biomedical and social understandings of the COVID-19 in Taiwan.

The purpose of this paper is to study how people use texts and languages to interpret or make sense of the COVID-19 pandemic. We draw on the theoretical literature of framing perspectives to formulate our arguments that consider the virus a socially constructed reality. We use Taiwan as an empirical case study, using topic modeling analysis of newspaper articles. Our findings show that the language of the COVID-19 coverage combines the four frames of political evaluation, economic impact, biomedical science and social life in varying proportions. These frames are subject to changes in pandemic conditions. Implications for theory and practice are presented.

Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors for prolonged mechanical ventilation in patients with acute stroke and brain trauma.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Neurological dysfunction is a common condition necessitating prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV). We investigated the clinical features and outcomes of patients with acute neurological diseases requiring PMV. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted at the Respiratory Care Center (RCC) of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, between January 2011 and January 2014. The main outcome was weaning success, defined as successful withdrawal from mechanical ventilator support for more than 5 days. RESULTS: The study included 103 patients with acute stroke and brain trauma receiving PMV. Weaning success was reported in 63 (61%) patients and weaning failure was reported in 40 (39%) patients. Patients in the weaning failure group were older and had a lower RCC Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score (6.0 vs 7.9, p = 0.005), lower albumin level (2.8 vs 3.1, p = 0.015), longer RCC stay (28.7 vs 21.3 days, p = 0.017), and higher in-hospital mortality rate (47% vs 9%, p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that reduced RCC GCS score is an independent prognostic factor for weaning failure (odds ratio [OR] = 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05-1.46, p = 0.016) and that per unit increase of RCC GCS score is associated with a lower risk of in-hospital mortality (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.70-0.96, p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: Reduced RCC GCS score is an independent prognostic factor for weaning failure, and is associated with increased in-hospital mortality rates in patients with acute stroke and brain trauma requiring PMV.

Timing of the first cannulation and survival of arteriovenous grafts in hemodialysis patients: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Arteriovenous graft (AVG) is an important vascular access route in hemodialysis patients. The optimal waiting time between AVG creation and the first cannulation is still undetermined, therefore the current study investigated the association between ideal timing for cannulation and AVG survival. This retrospective cohort study used data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database, which included 6,493 hemodialysis patients with AVGs between July 1st 2008 and June 30th 2012. The waiting cannulation time was defined as the time from the date of shunt creation to the first successful cannulation. Patients were categorized according to the waiting cannulation time of their AVGs as follows: ≤30 days, between 31 and 90 days, between 91 and 180 days, and >180 days. The primary outcome was functional cumulative survival, measured as the time from the first cannulation to shunt abandonment. The AVGs which were cannulated between 31 and 90 days (reference group) after construction had significantly superior functional cumulative survival compared with those cannulated ≤30 days (adjusted HR = 1.651 with 95% CI 1.482-1.839; p < 0.0001) and >180 days (adjusted HR = 1.197 with 95% CI 1.012-1.417; p = 0.0363) after construction. An analysis of the hazard ratios in patients with different demographic characteristics, revealed that the functional cumulative survival of AVGs in most groups was better when they received cannulation >30 days after construction. Consequently, in order to achieve the best long-term survival, AVGs should be cannulated at least 1 month after construction, but you should avoid waiting for >3 months.

Modelling individual, parental and peer factors to glycaemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes: A prospective study.

AIM: To construct a model addressing the pathways from baseline diabetes distress, attribution of peer reactions, parenting style and 3-month self-management to 6-month glycated haemoglobin levels in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. DESIGN: A prospective design was adopted. METHODS: A total of 177 adolescents aged 10-19 with type 1 diabetes were enrolled from four hospitals in Taiwan. Diabetes distress, attribution of peer reactions and parenting style were collected at baseline, self-management was collected at the third month and glycated haemoglobin levels were collected at the sixth month. Data were collected from May 2015-June 2016. RESULTS: Baseline diabetes distress and 3-month self-management directly affected 6-month glycated haemoglobin levels. Baseline attribution of peer reactions directly affected baseline diabetes distress and 3-month self-management; also, it indirectly affected 6-month glycated haemoglobin levels through 3-month self-management. Baseline parenting style directly affected baseline diabetes distress, baseline attribution of peer reactions, 3-month self-management and 6-month glycated haemoglobin levels; it also indirectly affected 6-month glycated haemoglobin levels through baseline diabetes distress and 3-month self-management. CONCLUSION: A model simultaneously incorporating individual, parental and peer factors to glycaemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes has been constructed. Improving diabetes distress and self-management should be essential strategies to improve glycaemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Encouraging adolescents with type 1 diabetes to communicate openly with peers about diabetes care and educating their parents to provide more responsive and autonomy-encouraging parenting style might be vital strategies to improve diabetes distress, 3-month self-management and glycaemic control. IMPACT: Individual, parental and peer factors should be simultaneously considered to improve glycaemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Nurses should evaluate these factors to tailor interventions improving glycaemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Development and cross-validation of a new instrument to measure nurse's positive energy of retention: A methodological study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to develop and psychometrically test a new instrument for measuring nurse's positive energy of retention (NPER). BACKGROUND: The shortage of professional nurses is an unresolved global issue. Few studies explored the issue of the retention of nurses in terms of a positive psychological viewpoint. DESIGN: Methodological study. METHODS: Data collection was from June 2016-August 2017. Nurses (N = 947) recruited from northern, central and southern Taiwan covering different levels of hospitals were divided into three samples, which were used for explaratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and cross-validation respectively. RESULTS: EFA resulted in a three-factor solution: proactive and persevering characteristics, nursing professional identity and passion accounting for 61.8% of total variance. The proposed three-factor model was confirmed by CFA. Cross-validation provided further evidence for the construct validity of the NPER instrument with 24 items. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of three subscales of the instrument were 0.95, 0.89, and 0.92 separately and 0.96 for the total scale. CONCLUSION: Psychometric properties indicate that the newly formulated NPER instrument is a valid and reliable assessment tool to recruit nurses who are more likely to remain in nursing. IMPACT: The study addressed the personal intrinsic factors, which are very important for nurses' retention. The NPER instrument consisted of three subscales is a reliable and psychometrically valid new instrument. Managers could apply the NPER instrument to recruit nurses possessing the attributes of positive energy of retention. Furthermore, researchers could use the rigorous process provided in the study to establish a new instrument.

Influence of work excitement and workplace violence on professional commitment and turnover intention among hospital nurses.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the influence of work excitement, workplace violence and the violence prevention climate on professional commitment and turnover intention. BACKGROUND: Workplace violence can easily cause the quality of nursing care to decline. Improvements in the working environment and working conditions can improve nurses' professional commitment and satisfaction. DESIGN: A cross-sectional multicentre study with convenience sampling was conducted. We have complied with the guidelines of STROBE Checklist in presenting this research. METHODS: Out of 900 questionnaires, 696 were deemed valid for analysis (77.33%). This study collected data on sociodemographic information, experiences of workplace violence, professional commitment, work excitement, violence prevention climate and turnover intention. RESULTS: The results show that professional commitment has a significant effect on turnover intention. Professional commitment positively influences work excitement, especially when the work is challenging and varied. It also indirectly influences turnover intention by generating work excitement. Workplace violence introduces an interactive moderating effect on the relationship between professional commitment and work excitement. A violence prevention climate changes the interactive moderating effect of workplace violence on professional commitment, which in turn influences turnover intention. CONCLUSIONS: Positive work experience, institutional organisational policies and support systems are the mediating and moderating factors in the relationship between professional commitment and turnover intention. Nurses expect organisations to maintain good staff relations, provide a positive working environment and learning opportunities and strengthen communication channels, all of which affect nurse retention. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Workplace violence is a serious crisis that can lead to turnover intention among hospital nurses. To enhance interpersonal relationships in the workplace and improve nurse retention, hospitals should schedule an adequate amount of staff and provide sufficient equipment and supplies to create a safe and positive work environment.

Psychometric evaluation of the Informed Consent Process Scale in Chinese.

BACKGROUND: Informed consent is essential for the ethical conduct of clinical research and is a culturally sensitive issue. But, a measurable Chinese version of the scale to evaluate the informed consent process has not yet been explored in the existing literature. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to develop and psychometrically test the Chinese version of the Informed Consent Process Scale. RESEARCH DESIGN: Back-translation was conducted to develop the Chinese version of the questionnaire. A cross-sectional survey was administered, after which an exploratory factor analysis was conducted. PARTICIPANTS: We recruited a total of 375 participants who had experience in signing an informed consent form within the previous 3 years in Taiwan. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: This study was approved by two Institutional Review Boards and the autonomy of the participants was respected. FINDINGS: The Chinese version of the Informed Consent Process Scale is composed of three factors with 23 items showing evidence of acceptable reliability and validity. Three major factors were extracted and labeled: Factor 1 - 'Understanding of the research', Factor 2 - 'Trust and confidence' and Factor 3 - 'Doubt and uncertainty'. The three factors accounted for is 52.954 of the total variance with Cronbach's α of .917. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The finding corroborates previous studies showing that participants had too little understanding on the informed consent forms they signed and implied the need to clarify the critical points in clinical research. The psychometric results indicated good internal consistency and validity for this newly constructed instrument, and it was found worthy of conducting further testing and application.

Identifying the positive energy for retention in clinical nurses: A focus group study.

AIM: To identify the 'positive energy' that inspires nurses' retention in the profession. BACKGROUND: Previous studies focused on the negative extrinsic factors associated with nurses leaving the profession. However, scant research explored the personal intrinsic essence regarding why nurses remain in the profession. METHOD: This study used a qualitative descriptive design. Ten focus groups including 53 participants were recruited by purposive sampling from five hospitals in Taiwan. Data were collected between March 2015 and January 2016 through semi-structured focus group interviews. The data were examined by content analysis. RESULTS: Six themes were identified, including sense of mission, achievement, passion, meaning of nursing, personal characteristics and intrinsic coping. CONCLUSION: Findings emerged from this study characterizing 'positive energy' as a steady inner strength, not easily changed with the external environment, which inspires the retention of staff nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The themes identified in this study can be used to develop an instrument for assessing nurses' inner attributes which may help managers recruit nurses possessing 'positive energy' of retention. Future researchers may develop an intervention programme to cultivate nurses 'positive energy' and further test its effect on nurse retention.

Magnetic Nanoparticle-Based Lateral Flow Immunochromatographic Strip as a Reporter for Rapid Detection of Melamine.

Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) Fe3O4 and r-Fe2O3 were surface-modified with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in order to improve their specificity and bioactivity. PEG and the anti-MEL monoclonal antibody (mAb) were successfully immobilized on the surface of MNPs and characterized using FTIR, UV-Vis and TEM analyses. Surface modification of MNPs-PEG-mAb conjugates of a variety of sizes and magnetite types was employed to design and prepare labels for use in a lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) to test whether the size of the conjugate can affect the performance of the assay. The results showed that the detection limit was mainly determined by the size of the MNPs-PEG-mAb conjugate. Under optimized conditions, a detection limit of 0.4 ppm for melamine was achieved using Fe2O3-PEG-mAb, which was almost 5-fold lower than that of the Fe3O4-PEG-mAb conjugate (2.2 ppm).

Psychometric testing of the short-form Chinese version of the self-management for adolescents with type 1 diabetes scale.

Self-management among adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is poorer than in other age groups during childhood. A valid and reliable short-form scale to measure self-management in adolescents with T1D is prudent for enhancing their self-management in clinical settings. We used a cross-sectional design to develop a short-form Chinese version of the Self-Management of Type 1 Diabetes for Adolescents Scale (C-SMOD-A) and test its psychometric characteristics. Two hundred adolescents with T1D were recruited from four hospitals in Taiwan through convenience sampling. Content validity, exploratory factor analysis, and corrected item-total correlations were used to shorten the 52-item C-SMOD-A. Confirmatory factor analysis, criterion-related validity, and reliability testing were used to examine the psychometric characteristics of the short-form C-SMOD-A. Finally, the 23-item C-SMOD-A (C-SMOD-A-23) with five inter-correlated factors was developed. Glycated hemoglobin levels were significantly associated with each subscale of the C-SMOD-A-23 with correlation coefficients ranging from -0.18 to -0.31. The composite reliability and test-retest reliability of the five subscales ranged from 0.70 to 0.88 and from 0.78 to 0.93 respectively. Accordingly, the C-SMOD-A-23 has acceptable validity and reliability to measure five specific domains of self-management for adolescents with T1D. Health-care providers could use the C-SMOD-A-23 as a clinical reference to assess specific domains of self-management and provide interventions to enhance self-management for adolescents with T1D.

The relationships among personality, social support, and resilience of abused nurses at emergency rooms and psychiatric wards in Taiwan.

The aim of the authors in this study was to identify factors associated with resilience that helped abused nurses face and cope with violent events. The data for this cross-sectional study were collected from June 2013 to December 2013; 272 participants were recruited from emergency rooms and psychiatric wards in four hospitals in central Taiwan. Among these participants, 230 (84.6%) met the inclusion criterion and completed all questionnaires; 69 (30%) of them reported having experienced only verbal violence; 46 (20%) reported having experienced only physical violence, and 115 (50%) reported having experienced a combination of verbal and physical violence. The following were positively associated with resilience score: having a college education or greater (exp(ß) = 1.045, p = .018), extraversion (exp(ß) = 1.012 per unit increase in the score, p < .001), family support (exp(ß) = 1.004 per unit increase in the score, p = .031), peer support (exp(ß) = 1.008 per unit increase in the score, p = .006), and lower level of neuroticism (exp(ß) = 0.983 per unit increase in the score, p < .001); 43.6% of the variance in resilience was explained by the variables assessed. Adequate support and advanced education are important for abused nurses to enhance their resilience.

Factors of Resilience in Emergency Department Nurses Who Have Experienced Workplace Violence in Taiwan.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the relationship among personality traits, social network integration (SNI), and resilience in emergency department (ED) nurses who had suffered from physical or verbal violence by patients or their families. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study with convenience sampling was conducted for exploring the related factors of resilience on abused nurses. A total of 187 participants met our inclusion criteria and completed all questionnaires. FINDINGS: Higher degrees of extraversion and peer support were associated with greater resilience among all abused nurses, whereas neuroticism was inversely associated with their resilience. CONCLUSIONS: Among all forms of SNI, only peer support was shown to enhance an individual's resilience. In addition, personality traits were associated with resilience, and religions did not play an important role in enhancing resilience among our participants. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Through a clearer understanding of the role of peer support in resilience among ED nurses, healthcare managers should provide and enhance their peer support to intensify their resilience for prevention of consequences of workplace violence.

Association among components of resilience and workplace violence-related depression among emergency department nurses in Taiwan: a cross-sectional study.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: This correlation study examined the relationship among recently workplace violence, depressive tendency, social support, and resilience of victimised nurses, and we also tried to identify protective factors and potential targets for preventive interventions for these nurses. BACKGROUND: Workplace violence in hospitals negatively affects occupational health and safety of medical professionals, especially for emergency department nurses. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, correlation research design was applied. METHODS: Hierarchical regression was used to examine data which were collected from June 2013 to December 2013 from emergency departments in Taiwan. One hundred and eighty nurses were recruited from two hospitals. Structured interviews and questionnaires were applied to collect data, including the Social Support Scale, the Resilience Scale and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression. RESULTS: A total of 159 (88·33%) nurses had suffered from physical or verbal violence by patients or their family. Resilience and peer support were significantly higher in the group without depressive tendency. Components of resilience of personal strength, social competence, structure style and religious beliefs were significant factors which accounted for 46·0% of variance in depressive tendency. Three of the five components of resilience: personal strength, social competence and structured style were found to have profounder effects against depressive tendency than peer support. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital managers should establish a safer working environment for emergency department nurses and reinforce their resilience against depression when they encounter workplace violence. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study showed that three of the five components of resilience: personal strength, social competence and structured style are protective factors against depressive tendency in victimised nurses. Improving these three components with coping and problem-solving skills by healthcare manager would be effective measures for enhancing their resilience in situations of workplace violence.

Additive effect of in-hospital TIMI bleeding and chronic kidney disease on 1-year cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome: Data from Taiwan Acute Coronary Syndrome Full Spectrum Registry.

In-hospital bleeding (IHB) is associated with the risk of subsequent cardiovascular events (CVE) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We investigated whether increased risk of CVE by IHB is influenced by chronic kidney disease (CKD) or both have detrimental effects on CVE. In a Taiwan national-wide registry, 2819 ACS patients were enrolled. CKD is defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate of <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2. The primary end point is the composite of death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and non-fatal stroke at 12 months. 53 (1.88%) and 949 (33.7%) patients suffered from IHB and CKD, respectively. Both IHB and CKD are independently associated with increased risk of the primary end point (HR 2.04, 95% CI 1.05-3.99, p = 0.037 and HR 2.17, 95% CI 1.63-2.87, p < 0.01, respectively). The Kaplan-Meier curves show significantly higher event rates among those with IHB and CKD in the whole, ST-elevation and non-ST elevation populations (all p < 0.01). Patients with IHB+ / CKD-, IHB- / CKD+ and IHB+ / CKD+ have 1.88-, 2.13- and 2.98-fold risk to suffer from the primary end point compared with those without IHB and CKD (p = 0.23, <0.01 and <0.01, respectively). IHB or CKD is independently associated with poor cardiovascular outcome and patients with both IHB and CKD have the worst outcome in ACS.

Implementation of laser acupuncture with lifting-thrusting through the use of mechanically immobile components.

Lifting and thrusting constitute an important manipulation method in traditional Chinese acupuncture. Lifting and thrusting enables the implementation of various features, such as reinforcement and reduction, which enhance acupuncture effectiveness. Laser acupuncture stimulates acupoints through laser light, which is a noninvasive treatment, but can still achieve effects similar to those obtained from traditional acupuncture. Lifting and thrusting can be achieved by moving the laser focal point back and forth, thus concentrating the energy, as does the tip of the acupuncture needle when it is moved upward and downward in the acupoint. This article presents a novel optical design of a laser acupuncture device, in which a focus-tunable lens is used to move the position of the focused light in order to achieve the lifting and thrusting mechanism through programmable changes to the control current of the focus-tunable lens. The device employs an infrared laser with a wavelength of 808 nm and a maximum power of 150 mW. The focus-tunable lens used in this study had a diopter of -10 to +5. The results revealed that by controlling the lens diopter, the focused light can be moved from 4.5 to 9.5 cm. Therefore, the range of the lift and thrust for the laser acupuncture device was 5 cm. The area of the focal point was approximately 6×10(-3) mm2, which is comparable to that of the commonly used traditional acupuncture needle tip. Because the components are immobile, no additional space is required for the moving lens. Therefore, the size of the laser acupuncture head can be minimized, and the effectiveness of focus tuning can be improved.

The effects of systematic educational interventions about nasogastric tube feeding on caregivers' knowledge and skills and the incidence of feeding complications.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To compare the influence of a systematic nursing intervention on primary caregivers' knowledge and skills about nasogastric tube feeding and the number of nasogastric tube-related complications with that of routine nursing instructions BACKGROUND: To ensure the quality of care and reduce the incidence of complications, it is crucial that primary caregivers receive comprehensive health education about nasogastric tube feeding before hospital discharge. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental research with pretest/post-test evaluations. METHODS: The control group included 127 inpatients whose caregivers received routine education about nasogastric tube feeding, while the experimental group included 106 inpatients whose caregivers received systematic nursing intervention including comprehensive educational pamphlets and video education. The evaluation questionnaire included demographic variables, a nasogastric tube care knowledge scale, and a nasogastric tube skills assessment scale. The post-test was administered after the caregiver performed nasogastric tube feeding for the first time, and complications were noted at follow-up within three months of discharge. RESULTS: In terms of post-test knowledge and skills, the experimental group scored significantly higher than the control group, despite no difference in the pretests. In addition, the incidence rates for constipation, diarrhoea and abdominal distention were lower in the experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic nursing intervention, including comprehensive educational pamphlets and video education, significantly improved the knowledge and skills of primary caregivers for nasogastric tube feeding. The increased ability of caregivers may have contributed to less incidence of complication. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The results of this study underlined the importance of developing nasogastric tube-related nursing interventions and educational strategies for clinical nurses, home care nurses and caregivers. The research tool used here may serve as a reference for assessing the technical operations of healthcare professionals and the knowledge and skills of caregivers.

Clinical competencies of emergency nurses toward violence against women: a delphi study.

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) have begun to seek help from hospital emergency departments. This study was conducted to develop a list of requisite clinical competencies for emergency nurses to provide adequate care for women experiencing IPV. METHOD: An e-mail survey using the Delphi technique was administered, involving three rounds of questionnaires from 30 participants. Participants were asked to score the importance of each item on a 4-point Likert scale. RESULTS: The study identified three dimensions, comprising 38 items of competencies related to care for individuals experiencing IPV, including Knowledge (10 items), Attitudes (11 items), and Practice (17 items). CONCLUSION: The emergency department is where direct medical treatment and care is provided for those who have experienced IPV. The study findings can provide a reference for the development of in-service educational programs in hospitals and can guide future policy making.

Effects of Door-to-Balloon Times on Outcomes in Taiwanese Patients Receiving Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Report of Taiwan Acute Coronary Syndrome Full Spectrum Registry.

PURPOSE: The impact of door-to-balloon (DTB) time on patient outcomes is unclear in a Taiwanese population receiving primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The study aimed to investigate the relationship between stratified DTB times and outcomes through analysis of the database from the Taiwan acute coronary syndrome full spectrum registry. METHODS: Relevant data were collected from case report forms of patients receiving primary PCI who were categorized as group 1, 2, 3, and 4 according to the DTB time < 45, 45-90, 91-135, and > 135 minutes, respectively. The differences were analyzed by using ANOVA and Kaplan-Meier analyses. RESULTS: There were significant variations in DTB times at baseline, which included patients salvaged at centers, patients with prior cardiovascular disease, and those patients with different coronary artery flows (p < 0.01) separated into 4 groups (n = 189, 443, 299, and 401, respectively). The in-hospital adverse event rates were identical among the 4 groups except for a higher rate of acute renal failure and a longer hospital stay observed in group 4 (p < 0.01). The results showed no decrease in the incidences of repeated revascularization, major adverse cardiac event, or cardiovascular composite at 1 year in group 1. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that the DTB time is not a good determinant for outcomes in Taiwanese patients receiving primary PCI. KEY WORDS: Acute myocardial infarction; Cardiovascular outcome; Door-to-balloon time; Myocardial ischemia; Percutaneous coronary intervention.

Emulated laser-acupuncture system.

A novel laser-acupuncture system was developed that can be used to implement the manipulation methods of traditional acupuncture, such as lifting and thrusting. A 780 nm laser diode with a maximum power of 90 mW was used as the light source. The focus point of the laser beam was adjustable by changing the position of the lens, facilitating the implementation of the lifting and thrusting methods of traditional Chinese medicine and achieving various stimulation depths at the acupuncture point. The images for the light spots from the outlet of the emulated laser acupuncture were captured at various distances and their sizes were calculated. The result showed that the diameter of the focused light spot (i.e., at the focus point) was 0.11 mm, which is close to the diameter of commonly used needles (with diameters of approximately 0.22 mm). The area of the light spot 1 cm from the focus point was approximately 50 times larger, indicating that the unit power might be 1/50 of the power of the focus point. To study the effect of emulated laser acupuncture on human meridians, after stimulating the Shenmen point (HT7) of five subjects and obtaining their Ryodoraku values of the heart meridian and the small-intestine meridian, a paired t test showed that the laser stimulation incorporating lifting and thrusting was significantly higher than the laser stimulation without lifting and thrusting (p<0.05). The result is consistent with traditional acupuncture in that acupuncture incorporating lift and thrust is more effective than that without lift and thrust.