[An investigation of post-traumatic responses and related factors following the "88 Flood" disaster].

BACKGROUND: In 2009, torrential rains on August 8th caused exceptionally destructive flooding, which soon became known as the "88 Flood". Kaohsiung and Pingtung Counties experienced major landslides that left many victims to deal with the aftereffects of physical, psychological and financial loss. PURPOSE: This study was designed to understand the post-traumatic response of 88 Flood disaster victims and related factors. METHODS: Using convenience sampling, we employed an "impact event of scale" to collect post-traumatic response data from 424 victims resident in Liouguei Township, Kaohsiung County from August 27th to September 17th, 2009. RESULTS: The average post-traumatic response score was 29.9. Two-thirds (67.9%) of victims still displayed severe post-traumatic response after the flood disaster. The most frequently seen post-traumatic response in this study was "I think about it (the flood) when I do not intend to", and the least frequently was "My feelings about it (the flood) are kind of numb". Risk factors for relatively high post-traumatic response were: relative proximity in time to the date of the flood, married, illiterate, farmer, and low economic status. CONCLUSIONS / IMPLICATIONS: The results of this study may help medical staff identify post-traumatic response at a relatively early stage in order to provide victims of physical and psychological trauma to alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.

[Illness experiences of women following first incidence of acute myocardial infarction].

Purpose sampling methods were used to recruit 17 participants from a medical center in southern Taiwan. Data were collected via participant observations and interviews, with an emphasis on following Denzin's interpretative interactionism principles. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed and the texts analyzed using constant comparative methodology. Three themes and twelve subthemes were identified. The first theme, "I have something wrong," embraced six subthemes associated with body symptom awareness and diagnosis. The second theme, "I am a patient," included three subthemes tied to patient roles and making use of rational strategies to maintain stability and self within a complex medical system. The last theme, "I can still be myself," included three subthemes connected with the struggle to return to old roles and functions to overcome limitations. The findings offer a picture of Taiwanese women's illness experiences that can be used by medical and nursing school professional to increase awareness of special needs among female patients.