Community-based exercise and nutritional interventions to improve frailty syndrome among older adults: A quasi-experimental study.

This study aimed to explore the efficacy of single and combined effects of exercise and branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplements on improving frailty and quality of life in older adults. In total, 120 study participants were allocated into a combined exercise-and-BCAA supplementation group, an exercise-only group, a BCAA supplementation-only group, and a control group. Results showed that Fried's frailty score significantly decreased in the combined exercise-and-BCAA supplementation group (ß= -1.73, p<0.001), exercise-only group (ß= -1.68, p<0.001), and BCAA supplementation-only group (ß= -0.73, p=0.005) compared to the control group. Moreover, the combination of exercise and BCAA supplements and the exercise-only program produced significant improvements in frailty compared to the BCAA supplement-only group and control group (p<0.05). Exercise should be a critical approach for older adults to improve frailty. Healthcare professionals in geriatric care should incorporate exercise programs as frailty management and prevention for older adults.

Effects of yoga on menopausal symptoms and sleep quality across menopause statuses: A randomized controlled trial.

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of yoga on menopausal symptoms and sleep quality across menopause statuses. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group (n = 104 each), and those in the intervention group practiced yoga for 20 weeks. The participants completed the following questionnaires: the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale; Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support; Menopause Rating Scale; and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The results revealed that yoga effectively decreased menopausal symptoms, with the strongest effects noted in postmenopausal women (mean ± standard deviation: 14.98 ± 7.10), followed by perimenopausal women (6.11 ± 2.07). Yoga significantly improved sleep quality in postmenopausal and perimenopausal women after controlling for social support, depression, anxiety, stress, and menopausal symptoms (p < 0.001). However, yoga did not affect sleep quality in premenopausal women. Overall sleep quality significantly improved in postmenopausal and perimenopausal women. Our data indicate that yoga can help decrease menopausal symptoms, particularly in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, and improve their health.

Families of Patients With Cancer: Responses and Actions to People With Cancer Who Use Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Qualitative Study in Taiwan.

This study aims to explore how the families of patients with cancer respond to and act toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use. A qualitative research design based on grounded theory was adopted in this study. Semistructured and face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted. Each participant was involved in a one-to-one individual interview. Five categories emerged regarding how the families of patients with cancer responded to and acted toward CAM use: purposes of using CAM, CAM use between patients and families, role of family caregivers, actions when using CAM, and seeking religious practice. The core category following coding emphasized the paramount importance of patients' comfort. The findings revealed that the families of patients with cancer may respond and act differently regarding patients' use of CAM. During this process, patients may not inform family members that they are using CAM. Health care professionals should consider this in their interactions with family members.

Machine-Based Hand Massage Ameliorates Preoperative Anxiety in Patients Awaiting Ambulatory Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Hand massage therapies have been used to relieve anxiety and pain in various clinical situations. The effects of machine-based hand massage on preoperative anxiety in ambulatory surgery settings have not been evaluated. PURPOSE: This prospective study was designed to investigate the effect of machine-based hand massage on preoperative anxiety and vital signs in ambulatory surgery patients. METHODS: One hundred ninety-nine patients aged 18 years and older who were scheduled to receive ambulatory surgery were recruited from the Taipei Municipal Wanfang Hospital in Taipei City, Taiwan. The patients were assigned randomly to the experimental group (n = 101), which received presurgical machine-based hand massage therapy, and the control group (n = 98), which received no intervention. The patients in both groups completed the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory short form at preintervention (baseline) and postintervention. RESULTS: Within-group comparisons of Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory short form scores showed significant decreases between preintervention and postintervention scores in the experimental group (44.3 ± 11.2 to 37.9 ± 8.7) and no significant change in the control group. Within-group comparisons of vital signs revealed a significant increase in mean respiration rate between baseline and postintervention in both groups (both ps < .05). Blood pressure was found to have decreased significantly only in the control group at postintervention (p < .05). No significant preintervention to postintervention change in pulse was observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study indicate that machine-based hand massage reduces anxiety significantly in patients awaiting ambulatory surgery while not significantly affecting their vital signs.

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.

Ischemic Stroke Patients' Decision-Making Process in Their Use of Western Medicine and Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

Stroke is ranked third among the top 10 causes of death in Taiwan. Besides a high mortality rate, stroke survivors are often left with physical or functional sequela. This study aimed to explore ischemic stroke patients' decision-making process using Western medicine (WM) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This study is a qualitative study based on grounded theory. A total of 12 participants were recruited. Findings revealed that the participants accepted WM and CAM treatments following the onset of ischemic stroke. Three categories and several subcategories emerged from stroke patients' decision-making process. These are "uncertainty of stroke," "delicate balance between WM and CAM," and "reestablishing confidence and faith." Eventually, they exhibited the core category of "breakthrough and the pursuit of a sense of rebirth." This study also found that the participants were unwilling to inform their health care professionals on their use of CAM. Therefore, health care professionals should empathize with the views and needs of their patients and respect their decision to combine WM with CAM. The views of other medical teams concerning CAM into their analysis of patients' decision-making process are recommended. Therefore, comprehensive insight into ischemic stroke patients' decision-making process for using CAM can be further explored.