Nai-ying Ko - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Nai-ying Ko
Taiwan journal of public health, 2009
Hu li za zhi The journal of nursing, 2020
The ongoing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) epidemic continues to have a global impact. This ... more The ongoing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) epidemic continues to have a global impact. This article describes the author's experience providing nursing care to a female patient who was diagnosed with COVID-19 after returning to Taiwan from overseas. During the patient's period of isolation (February 5th to February 29th, 2020), the author used Roy's adaptation model to perform first-level holistic physical, psychological, and social nursing assessments and collected health-problem information using face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, and observations via a remote monitoring system. A second level of assessment confirmed that the problems faced by the patient included (1) existing infections related to COVID-19 and (2) anxiety related to uncertainties about disease prognosis, forgiveness from the family, and potential violations of personal privacy by the media. Due to the special nature of the isolation ward, the author used a remote physiological monitor...
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021
The incidence of herpes zoster (HZ) in patients infected with HIV is higher than that of the gene... more The incidence of herpes zoster (HZ) in patients infected with HIV is higher than that of the general population. However, the incidence of HZ in HIV patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains unclear. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled incidence rate and risk factors for HZ in the post-ART era. We identified studies assessing the incidence of HZ in the post-ART era between 1 January 2000 and 28 February 2021, from four databases. Pooled risk ratios were calculated from 11 articles using a random-effects model. The heterogeneity of the included trials was evaluated by visually inspecting funnel plots, performing random-effects meta-regression and using I2 statistics. Of the 2111 studies screened, we identified 11 studies that were eligible for final inclusion in the systematic review and 8 studies that were eligible for a meta-analysis. The pooled incidence of HZ in the post-ART era (after the introduction of ART in 1997) was 2.30 (95% confidence interval (C...
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021
Objectives: Sleep disturbances are prevalent problems among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-in... more Objectives: Sleep disturbances are prevalent problems among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons. The recognition of comorbid sleep disorders in patients with HIV is currently hampered by limited knowledge of sleep-related symptoms, sleep architecture, and types of sleep disorders in this population. We aimed to compare the differences in sleep-related symptoms and polysomnography-based sleep disorders between HIV-infected persons and controls. Methods: The study evaluated 170 men with a Pittsburgh sleep quality index scores greater than 5, including 44 HIV-infected men and 126 male controls who were frequency-matched by sex, age (±3.0 years) and BMI (±3.0 kg/m2). For all participants, an overnight sleep study using a Somte V1 monitor was conducted. Differences in sleep-related symptoms and sleep disorders between HIV-infected patients and controls were examined using t-tests or chi-square tests. Results: HIV-infected persons with sleep disturbances more often had psy...
BACKGROUND People obtain information on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from the internet and ... more BACKGROUND People obtain information on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from the internet and other sources. Understanding the factors related to such information sources aids health professionals in educating individuals. OBJECTIVE This study used data collected from the online survey study on COVID-19 in Taiwan to examine what major COVID-19 information sources are available and which sources are significantly related to the self-confidence of people in coping with COVID-19 in Taiwan. METHODS A total of 1904 participants (1270 non–health-care workers and 634 health care workers) were recruited from the Facebook advertisement. Their major sources of information about COVID-19, the relationships between the sources and demographic factors, and the relationships between the sources and the self-confidence in coping with COVID-19 were surveyed. RESULTS Most Taiwanese people relied on the internet for COVID-19 information. Many respondents also used a variety of sources of informati...
AIDS, 2020
OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess the effect of early scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) ... more OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess the effect of early scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) at HIV diagnosis on the economic burden of cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) in HIV-infected population. DESIGN cohort study. METHODS The study cohort comprised 10,693 newly diagnosed HIV patients without CMDs before HIV diagnosis identified from a nationwide HIV cohort in Taiwan. The patients were stratified by ART use (medication possession ratio [MPR] ≥0.8: [high] vs. <0.8: [low]) and AIDS-defining illnesses (ADI) status (present: [+] vs. absent: [-]) at the first year of HIV diagnosis into four groups: ART (low) & ADI (-), ART (low) & ADI (+), ART (high) & ADI (-), and ART (high) & ADI (+). The economic analysis of incident CMDs was from the perspective of Taiwan's single-payer healthcare system and estimated using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS CMDs significantly increased annual direct medical costs by 31% (hypertension) to 127% (cardiovascular diseases [CVDs]). The annual cost burden of diabetes, dyslipidemia, and CVDs in the ART (high) & ADI (-) group significantly decreased by 42%, 30%, and 31%, respectively, compared to the ART (low) & ADI (+) group. Compared to the ART (low) & ADI (+) group, the annual cost burden of CVDs in the ART (high) & ADI (-) and ART (high) & ADI (+) groups decreased by 31% and 14%, respectively, suggesting increased cost-savings when ART is initiated at diagnosis before ADI occurrence. CONCLUSIONS The early scale-up of ART at diagnosis before ADI occurrence is important for minimizing the economic burden of incident CMDs among HIV-infected patients.
Archives of Clinical Psychiatry (São Paulo), 2018
![Research paper thumbnail of [Ideal Medication-Readiness Cutoff Score for Initiating Antiviral Therapy in HIV Patients]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/87557776/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](Hu li za zhi The journal of nursing, 2018
BACKGROUND There has been a global consensus since 2016 that antiretroviral therapy (ART) should ... more BACKGROUND There has been a global consensus since 2016 that antiretroviral therapy (ART) should be initiated following HIV diagnosis regardless of CD4-count test results. Identifying an instrument that is able to accurately assess the readiness of HIV-infected persons for treatment initiation is thus critical. PURPOSE (1) To evaluate the comparative readiness of patients receiving ART and those who are not yet on ART; (2) to evaluate the respective readiness variation within these 2 groups over a one-year period; and (3) to identify the cutoff value for medication readiness that indicates the ideal time to initiate ART. METHODS A multicenter cohort study design was conducted and 297 newly diagnosed patients with HIV were enrolled at four time points, including: baseline and at 1, 3-6, and 9-12 months after ART initiation. Data collection included a demographics datasheet, the Chinese version of the HIV Medication Readiness Scale (HMRS), and 2 items, readiness to take ART for a long...
Purpose: To determine factors associated with QOL among patients with lung cancer in Vietnam. Des... more Purpose: To determine factors associated with QOL among patients with lung cancer in Vietnam. Design: Descriptive correlational design. Methods: Sample was 115 patients who received treatment at Bac Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam. Data were collected from the patients’ hospital records, assessed Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second scale (FEV1), and interviewed with 3 questionnaires: the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Quality of Life for cancer (EORTC QLQ-C30). Spearman’s Rho was employed to test the relationship among studied variables. Main findings: The findings revealed that QOL of patients with lung cancer was low (Mean = 48.97, SD = 7.94). Lung function was significant positively correlated with QOL (rs = .190, p < .05). Conversely, anxiety was significant negatively correlated with QOL (r = - .347, p < .05). Conclusion and recommendations: Lung function and anxiety were significantly correlated with QOL of patients with lung cancer. In order to improve the QOL, nurses and health care team should assess and well manage anxiety and provide social support to patients. บทคดยอ วตถประสงค: เพอศกษาปจจยทมความสมพนธกบคณภาพชวตของผปวยมะเรงปอด ประเทศเวยดนาม รปแบบการวจย: วจยเชงสหสมพนธ วธดำเนนการวจย: ผวจยเกบขอมลจากผปวย จำนวน 115 คน ทมารบการรกษาในโรงพยาบาลแบคมาย เมองฮานอย ประเทศเวยดนาม เกบขอมลโดยประเมนคาสมรรถภาพของปอด (FEV1) บนทกขอมลจากแฟมประวต และใชแบบสอบถามวดความวตกกงวล (HAM-A) การสนบสนนทางสงคม (MSPSS) และคณภาพชวต (EORTC QLQ-C30) วเคราะหขอมลโดยใชคาสถต Spearman’s rho ผลการวจย: ผปวยมคณภาพชวตอยในระดบตำ (Mean = 48.97, SD = 7.94) คาสมรรถภาพของปอดมความสมพนธเชงบวกกบคณภาพชวต (rs = .190, p < .05) และความวตกกงวลมความสมพนธเชงลบกบคณภาพชวต (r = - .347, p < .05). สรปและขอเสนอแนะ: คาสมรรถภาพของปอดและความวตกกงวลมความสมพนธเชงลบกบคณภาพชวต ดงนนผปวยควรไดรบการประเมนและสงเสรมสมรรถภาพของปอด ตลอดจนการประเมนความวตกกงวลเปนระยะชวงมาตรวจตามนด และควรพฒนาโปรแกรมจดการความวตกกงวลสำหรบผปวย เพอใหผปวยไดรบการดแลทครอบคลมและมคณภาพชวตทดขน
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021
Visual and empirical assessments do not enable the early detection of wound deterioration or necr... more Visual and empirical assessments do not enable the early detection of wound deterioration or necroses. No suitable objective indicator for predicting poor wound-healing is currently available. We used infrared thermography to determine the association between wound temperature and pressure-wound healing. We examined patients with grades 2–4 pressure ulcers from a medical center in southern Taiwan and recorded the temperatures of the wound bed, periwound, and normal skin using infrared thermographic cameras. A total of 50 pressure ulcers and 248 infrared-thermography temperature records were analyzed. Normal skin temperature was not related to pressure ulcer wound healing. In a multivariate analysis, higher malnutrition universal-screening-tool scores were associated with poor wound-healing (p = 0.020), and higher periwound-temperature values were associated with better wound-healing (p = 0.028). In patients who had higher periwound-skin temperature than that of the wound bed, that r...
JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2021
Background Variations in body temperature are highly informative during an illness. To date, ther... more Background Variations in body temperature are highly informative during an illness. To date, there are not many adequate studies that have investigated the feasibility of a wearable wrist device for the continuous monitoring of body surface temperatures in humans. Objective The objective of this study was to validate the performance of HEARThermo, an innovative wearable device, which was developed to continuously monitor the body surface temperature in humans. Methods We implemented a multi-method research design in this study, which included 2 validation studies—one in the laboratory and one with human subjects. In validation study I, we evaluated the test-retest reliability of HEARThermo in the laboratory to measure the temperature and to correct the values recorded by each HEARThermo by using linear regression models. We conducted validation study II on human subjects who wore HEARThermo for the measurement of their body surface temperatures. Additionally, we compared the HEARThe...
Vaccines, 2021
To control the spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), COVID-19 vaccination has ... more To control the spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), COVID-19 vaccination has been quickly developed. However, the COVID-19 pandemic will not be controlled if the COVID-19 vaccination uptake willingness is low. Therefore, the study aim was to explore the COVID-19 vaccination uptake willingness among the outpatient population and healthcare workers in Taiwan during the worldwide pandemic period without community outbreaks. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare workers (HCWs; n = 500; mean age = 32.96 years) of National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH) and outpatients (n = 238; mean age = 34.43 years) arriving at NCKUH. We used an online survey conducted between September 24 and 21 November 2020, for healthcare workers, and between 27 October and 31 December 2020, for the outpatient sample. Information regarding willingness to receive vaccination, willingness to rapid test, fear of COVID-19, risk perception, and preventive behaviors was colle...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
This study aimed to determine the proportion of individuals who reported the deterioration of phy... more This study aimed to determine the proportion of individuals who reported the deterioration of physical and psychological health during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Taiwan. Moreover, the related factors of deterioration of physical and psychological health and the association between deterioration of health and adoption of protective behavior against COVID-19 and mental health problems were also examined. We recruited participants via a Facebook advertisement. We determined the subjective physical and psychological health states, cognitive and affective construct of health belief, perceived social support, mental health problems, adoption of protective behavior and demographic characteristics among 1954 respondents (1305 women and 649 men; mean age: 37.9 years with standard deviation 10.8 years). In total, 13.2% and 19.3% of respondents reported deteriorated physical and psychological health during the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. Participants with higher p...
BACKGROUND People obtain information on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from the internet and ... more BACKGROUND People obtain information on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from the internet and other sources. Understanding the factors related to such information sources aids health professionals in educating individuals. OBJECTIVE This study used data collected from the online survey study on COVID-19 in Taiwan to examine what major COVID-19 information sources are available and which sources are significantly related to the self-confidence of people in coping with COVID-19 in Taiwan. METHODS A total of 1904 participants (1270 non–health-care workers and 634 health care workers) were recruited from the Facebook advertisement. Their major sources of information about COVID-19, the relationships between the sources and demographic factors, and the relationships between the sources and the self-confidence in coping with COVID-19 were surveyed. RESULTS Most Taiwanese people relied on the internet for COVID-19 information. Many respondents also used a variety of sources of informati...
AIDS, 2020
OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess the effect of early scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) ... more OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess the effect of early scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) at HIV diagnosis on the economic burden of cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) in HIV-infected population. DESIGN cohort study. METHODS The study cohort comprised 10,693 newly diagnosed HIV patients without CMDs before HIV diagnosis identified from a nationwide HIV cohort in Taiwan. The patients were stratified by ART use (medication possession ratio [MPR] ≥0.8: [high] vs. <0.8: [low]) and AIDS-defining illnesses (ADI) status (present: [+] vs. absent: [-]) at the first year of HIV diagnosis into four groups: ART (low) & ADI (-), ART (low) & ADI (+), ART (high) & ADI (-), and ART (high) & ADI (+). The economic analysis of incident CMDs was from the perspective of Taiwan's single-payer healthcare system and estimated using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS CMDs significantly increased annual direct medical costs by 31% (hypertension) to 127% (cardiovascular diseases [CVDs]). The annual cost burden of diabetes, dyslipidemia, and CVDs in the ART (high) & ADI (-) group significantly decreased by 42%, 30%, and 31%, respectively, compared to the ART (low) & ADI (+) group. Compared to the ART (low) & ADI (+) group, the annual cost burden of CVDs in the ART (high) & ADI (-) and ART (high) & ADI (+) groups decreased by 31% and 14%, respectively, suggesting increased cost-savings when ART is initiated at diagnosis before ADI occurrence. CONCLUSIONS The early scale-up of ART at diagnosis before ADI occurrence is important for minimizing the economic burden of incident CMDs among HIV-infected patients.
Archives of Clinical Psychiatry (São Paulo), 2018
Background: Homophobic harassment can compromise mental health of sexual minority youths. Objecti... more Background: Homophobic harassment can compromise mental health of sexual minority youths. Objectives: This study examined the rates of persistent and multisite homophobic harassment and their associations with school difficulties during childhood and adolescence among gay and bisexual men in Taiwan. Methods: Participants were recruited through advertisements on the Facebook, Bulletin Board Systems, and the home pages of health promotion and counseling centers for the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community. The experiences of traditional and cyber harassment based on gender role nonconformity and sexual orientation of 500 gay or bisexual men were examined. The associations of multisite and persistent harassment victimization with school difficulties were evaluated. Results: A total of 239 (47.8%) and 131 (26.2%) participants experienced persistent and multisite harassment victimization, respectively. Harassment victimization was significantly associated with low satisfaction with academic performance in any stage of study. Moreover, the participants who were harassed in senior high schools were more likely to miss classes or be truant than those who were not harassed. The victims of multisite harassment at senior high schools were more likely to miss classes or be truant than those of school-only harassment. Discussion: Prevention and intervention programs are warranted to reduce homophobic harassment in sexual minority youths.
Journal of Applied Communication Research, 2019
ABSTRACT This study explored how men who have sex with men (MSM) communicated their use of pre-ex... more ABSTRACT This study explored how men who have sex with men (MSM) communicated their use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) on smartphone applications. Informed by the theory of problematic integration and uncertainty management, we asked if revealing ‘HIV negative, on PrEP’ status on smartphone applications might increase one's uncertainty in communicating about safe sex with others. We conducted interviews with 31 Taiwanese MSM currently taking PrEP who participated in a national demonstration project. We identified three types of PrEP-related uncertainty: condition, information, and stigma uncertainty. Applied implications of our findings indicate the importance of the feasibility of medical infrastructure in implementing PrEP, the complication in translating scientific and medical jargon into everyday language, and dynamics of negotiating stigmas associated with HIV and AIDS in the context of HIV prevention.
Journal of Applied Communication Research, 2019
ABSTRACT This study explored how men who have sex with men (MSM) communicated their use of pre-ex... more ABSTRACT This study explored how men who have sex with men (MSM) communicated their use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) on smartphone applications. Informed by the theory of problematic integration and uncertainty management, we asked if revealing ‘HIV negative, on PrEP’ status on smartphone applications might increase one's uncertainty in communicating about safe sex with others. We conducted interviews with 31 Taiwanese MSM currently taking PrEP who participated in a national demonstration project. We identified three types of PrEP-related uncertainty: condition, information, and stigma uncertainty. Applied implications of our findings indicate the importance of the feasibility of medical infrastructure in implementing PrEP, the complication in translating scientific and medical jargon into everyday language, and dynamics of negotiating stigmas associated with HIV and AIDS in the context of HIV prevention.
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2017
Background Tainan experienced the most severe dengue epidemic in Taiwan in 2015. This study inves... more Background Tainan experienced the most severe dengue epidemic in Taiwan in 2015. This study investigates the association between the signs and symptoms at the time of reporting with the adverse dengue prognoses. Methods A descriptive study was conducted using secondary data from the Dengue Disease Reporting System in Tainan, Taiwan, between January 1 and December 31, 2015. A multivariate stepwise logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors for the adverse prognoses: ICU admissions and mortality. Results There were 22,777 laboratory-confirmed reported cases (mean age 45.6 ± 21.2 years), of which 3.7% were admitted to intensive care units (ICU), and 0.8% were fatal. The most common symptoms were fever (92.8%), myalgia (26.6%), and headache (22.4%). The prevalence of respiratory distress, altered consciousness, shock, bleeding, and thrombocytopenia increased with age. The multivariate analysis indicated that being in 65-89 years old age group [Adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR):4.95], or the 90 years old and above age group (aOR: 9.06), and presenting with shock (aOR: 8.90) and respiratory distress (aOR: 5.31) were significantly associated with the risk of ICU admission. While old age (aOR: 1.11), respiratory distress (aOR: 9.66), altered consciousness (aOR: 7.06), and thrombocytopenia (aOR: 2.55) were significantly associated with the risk of mortality.
Taiwan journal of public health, 2009
Hu li za zhi The journal of nursing, 2020
The ongoing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) epidemic continues to have a global impact. This ... more The ongoing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) epidemic continues to have a global impact. This article describes the author's experience providing nursing care to a female patient who was diagnosed with COVID-19 after returning to Taiwan from overseas. During the patient's period of isolation (February 5th to February 29th, 2020), the author used Roy's adaptation model to perform first-level holistic physical, psychological, and social nursing assessments and collected health-problem information using face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, and observations via a remote monitoring system. A second level of assessment confirmed that the problems faced by the patient included (1) existing infections related to COVID-19 and (2) anxiety related to uncertainties about disease prognosis, forgiveness from the family, and potential violations of personal privacy by the media. Due to the special nature of the isolation ward, the author used a remote physiological monitor...
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021
The incidence of herpes zoster (HZ) in patients infected with HIV is higher than that of the gene... more The incidence of herpes zoster (HZ) in patients infected with HIV is higher than that of the general population. However, the incidence of HZ in HIV patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains unclear. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled incidence rate and risk factors for HZ in the post-ART era. We identified studies assessing the incidence of HZ in the post-ART era between 1 January 2000 and 28 February 2021, from four databases. Pooled risk ratios were calculated from 11 articles using a random-effects model. The heterogeneity of the included trials was evaluated by visually inspecting funnel plots, performing random-effects meta-regression and using I2 statistics. Of the 2111 studies screened, we identified 11 studies that were eligible for final inclusion in the systematic review and 8 studies that were eligible for a meta-analysis. The pooled incidence of HZ in the post-ART era (after the introduction of ART in 1997) was 2.30 (95% confidence interval (C...
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021
Objectives: Sleep disturbances are prevalent problems among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-in... more Objectives: Sleep disturbances are prevalent problems among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons. The recognition of comorbid sleep disorders in patients with HIV is currently hampered by limited knowledge of sleep-related symptoms, sleep architecture, and types of sleep disorders in this population. We aimed to compare the differences in sleep-related symptoms and polysomnography-based sleep disorders between HIV-infected persons and controls. Methods: The study evaluated 170 men with a Pittsburgh sleep quality index scores greater than 5, including 44 HIV-infected men and 126 male controls who were frequency-matched by sex, age (±3.0 years) and BMI (±3.0 kg/m2). For all participants, an overnight sleep study using a Somte V1 monitor was conducted. Differences in sleep-related symptoms and sleep disorders between HIV-infected patients and controls were examined using t-tests or chi-square tests. Results: HIV-infected persons with sleep disturbances more often had psy...
BACKGROUND People obtain information on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from the internet and ... more BACKGROUND People obtain information on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from the internet and other sources. Understanding the factors related to such information sources aids health professionals in educating individuals. OBJECTIVE This study used data collected from the online survey study on COVID-19 in Taiwan to examine what major COVID-19 information sources are available and which sources are significantly related to the self-confidence of people in coping with COVID-19 in Taiwan. METHODS A total of 1904 participants (1270 non–health-care workers and 634 health care workers) were recruited from the Facebook advertisement. Their major sources of information about COVID-19, the relationships between the sources and demographic factors, and the relationships between the sources and the self-confidence in coping with COVID-19 were surveyed. RESULTS Most Taiwanese people relied on the internet for COVID-19 information. Many respondents also used a variety of sources of informati...
AIDS, 2020
OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess the effect of early scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) ... more OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess the effect of early scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) at HIV diagnosis on the economic burden of cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) in HIV-infected population. DESIGN cohort study. METHODS The study cohort comprised 10,693 newly diagnosed HIV patients without CMDs before HIV diagnosis identified from a nationwide HIV cohort in Taiwan. The patients were stratified by ART use (medication possession ratio [MPR] ≥0.8: [high] vs. <0.8: [low]) and AIDS-defining illnesses (ADI) status (present: [+] vs. absent: [-]) at the first year of HIV diagnosis into four groups: ART (low) & ADI (-), ART (low) & ADI (+), ART (high) & ADI (-), and ART (high) & ADI (+). The economic analysis of incident CMDs was from the perspective of Taiwan's single-payer healthcare system and estimated using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS CMDs significantly increased annual direct medical costs by 31% (hypertension) to 127% (cardiovascular diseases [CVDs]). The annual cost burden of diabetes, dyslipidemia, and CVDs in the ART (high) & ADI (-) group significantly decreased by 42%, 30%, and 31%, respectively, compared to the ART (low) & ADI (+) group. Compared to the ART (low) & ADI (+) group, the annual cost burden of CVDs in the ART (high) & ADI (-) and ART (high) & ADI (+) groups decreased by 31% and 14%, respectively, suggesting increased cost-savings when ART is initiated at diagnosis before ADI occurrence. CONCLUSIONS The early scale-up of ART at diagnosis before ADI occurrence is important for minimizing the economic burden of incident CMDs among HIV-infected patients.
Archives of Clinical Psychiatry (São Paulo), 2018
Hu li za zhi The journal of nursing, 2018
BACKGROUND There has been a global consensus since 2016 that antiretroviral therapy (ART) should ... more BACKGROUND There has been a global consensus since 2016 that antiretroviral therapy (ART) should be initiated following HIV diagnosis regardless of CD4-count test results. Identifying an instrument that is able to accurately assess the readiness of HIV-infected persons for treatment initiation is thus critical. PURPOSE (1) To evaluate the comparative readiness of patients receiving ART and those who are not yet on ART; (2) to evaluate the respective readiness variation within these 2 groups over a one-year period; and (3) to identify the cutoff value for medication readiness that indicates the ideal time to initiate ART. METHODS A multicenter cohort study design was conducted and 297 newly diagnosed patients with HIV were enrolled at four time points, including: baseline and at 1, 3-6, and 9-12 months after ART initiation. Data collection included a demographics datasheet, the Chinese version of the HIV Medication Readiness Scale (HMRS), and 2 items, readiness to take ART for a long...
Purpose: To determine factors associated with QOL among patients with lung cancer in Vietnam. Des... more Purpose: To determine factors associated with QOL among patients with lung cancer in Vietnam. Design: Descriptive correlational design. Methods: Sample was 115 patients who received treatment at Bac Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam. Data were collected from the patients’ hospital records, assessed Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second scale (FEV1), and interviewed with 3 questionnaires: the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Quality of Life for cancer (EORTC QLQ-C30). Spearman’s Rho was employed to test the relationship among studied variables. Main findings: The findings revealed that QOL of patients with lung cancer was low (Mean = 48.97, SD = 7.94). Lung function was significant positively correlated with QOL (rs = .190, p < .05). Conversely, anxiety was significant negatively correlated with QOL (r = - .347, p < .05). Conclusion and recommendations: Lung function and anxiety were significantly correlated with QOL of patients with lung cancer. In order to improve the QOL, nurses and health care team should assess and well manage anxiety and provide social support to patients. บทคดยอ วตถประสงค: เพอศกษาปจจยทมความสมพนธกบคณภาพชวตของผปวยมะเรงปอด ประเทศเวยดนาม รปแบบการวจย: วจยเชงสหสมพนธ วธดำเนนการวจย: ผวจยเกบขอมลจากผปวย จำนวน 115 คน ทมารบการรกษาในโรงพยาบาลแบคมาย เมองฮานอย ประเทศเวยดนาม เกบขอมลโดยประเมนคาสมรรถภาพของปอด (FEV1) บนทกขอมลจากแฟมประวต และใชแบบสอบถามวดความวตกกงวล (HAM-A) การสนบสนนทางสงคม (MSPSS) และคณภาพชวต (EORTC QLQ-C30) วเคราะหขอมลโดยใชคาสถต Spearman’s rho ผลการวจย: ผปวยมคณภาพชวตอยในระดบตำ (Mean = 48.97, SD = 7.94) คาสมรรถภาพของปอดมความสมพนธเชงบวกกบคณภาพชวต (rs = .190, p < .05) และความวตกกงวลมความสมพนธเชงลบกบคณภาพชวต (r = - .347, p < .05). สรปและขอเสนอแนะ: คาสมรรถภาพของปอดและความวตกกงวลมความสมพนธเชงลบกบคณภาพชวต ดงนนผปวยควรไดรบการประเมนและสงเสรมสมรรถภาพของปอด ตลอดจนการประเมนความวตกกงวลเปนระยะชวงมาตรวจตามนด และควรพฒนาโปรแกรมจดการความวตกกงวลสำหรบผปวย เพอใหผปวยไดรบการดแลทครอบคลมและมคณภาพชวตทดขน
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021
Visual and empirical assessments do not enable the early detection of wound deterioration or necr... more Visual and empirical assessments do not enable the early detection of wound deterioration or necroses. No suitable objective indicator for predicting poor wound-healing is currently available. We used infrared thermography to determine the association between wound temperature and pressure-wound healing. We examined patients with grades 2–4 pressure ulcers from a medical center in southern Taiwan and recorded the temperatures of the wound bed, periwound, and normal skin using infrared thermographic cameras. A total of 50 pressure ulcers and 248 infrared-thermography temperature records were analyzed. Normal skin temperature was not related to pressure ulcer wound healing. In a multivariate analysis, higher malnutrition universal-screening-tool scores were associated with poor wound-healing (p = 0.020), and higher periwound-temperature values were associated with better wound-healing (p = 0.028). In patients who had higher periwound-skin temperature than that of the wound bed, that r...
JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2021
Background Variations in body temperature are highly informative during an illness. To date, ther... more Background Variations in body temperature are highly informative during an illness. To date, there are not many adequate studies that have investigated the feasibility of a wearable wrist device for the continuous monitoring of body surface temperatures in humans. Objective The objective of this study was to validate the performance of HEARThermo, an innovative wearable device, which was developed to continuously monitor the body surface temperature in humans. Methods We implemented a multi-method research design in this study, which included 2 validation studies—one in the laboratory and one with human subjects. In validation study I, we evaluated the test-retest reliability of HEARThermo in the laboratory to measure the temperature and to correct the values recorded by each HEARThermo by using linear regression models. We conducted validation study II on human subjects who wore HEARThermo for the measurement of their body surface temperatures. Additionally, we compared the HEARThe...
Vaccines, 2021
To control the spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), COVID-19 vaccination has ... more To control the spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), COVID-19 vaccination has been quickly developed. However, the COVID-19 pandemic will not be controlled if the COVID-19 vaccination uptake willingness is low. Therefore, the study aim was to explore the COVID-19 vaccination uptake willingness among the outpatient population and healthcare workers in Taiwan during the worldwide pandemic period without community outbreaks. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare workers (HCWs; n = 500; mean age = 32.96 years) of National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH) and outpatients (n = 238; mean age = 34.43 years) arriving at NCKUH. We used an online survey conducted between September 24 and 21 November 2020, for healthcare workers, and between 27 October and 31 December 2020, for the outpatient sample. Information regarding willingness to receive vaccination, willingness to rapid test, fear of COVID-19, risk perception, and preventive behaviors was colle...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
This study aimed to determine the proportion of individuals who reported the deterioration of phy... more This study aimed to determine the proportion of individuals who reported the deterioration of physical and psychological health during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Taiwan. Moreover, the related factors of deterioration of physical and psychological health and the association between deterioration of health and adoption of protective behavior against COVID-19 and mental health problems were also examined. We recruited participants via a Facebook advertisement. We determined the subjective physical and psychological health states, cognitive and affective construct of health belief, perceived social support, mental health problems, adoption of protective behavior and demographic characteristics among 1954 respondents (1305 women and 649 men; mean age: 37.9 years with standard deviation 10.8 years). In total, 13.2% and 19.3% of respondents reported deteriorated physical and psychological health during the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. Participants with higher p...
BACKGROUND People obtain information on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from the internet and ... more BACKGROUND People obtain information on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from the internet and other sources. Understanding the factors related to such information sources aids health professionals in educating individuals. OBJECTIVE This study used data collected from the online survey study on COVID-19 in Taiwan to examine what major COVID-19 information sources are available and which sources are significantly related to the self-confidence of people in coping with COVID-19 in Taiwan. METHODS A total of 1904 participants (1270 non–health-care workers and 634 health care workers) were recruited from the Facebook advertisement. Their major sources of information about COVID-19, the relationships between the sources and demographic factors, and the relationships between the sources and the self-confidence in coping with COVID-19 were surveyed. RESULTS Most Taiwanese people relied on the internet for COVID-19 information. Many respondents also used a variety of sources of informati...
AIDS, 2020
OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess the effect of early scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) ... more OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess the effect of early scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) at HIV diagnosis on the economic burden of cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) in HIV-infected population. DESIGN cohort study. METHODS The study cohort comprised 10,693 newly diagnosed HIV patients without CMDs before HIV diagnosis identified from a nationwide HIV cohort in Taiwan. The patients were stratified by ART use (medication possession ratio [MPR] ≥0.8: [high] vs. <0.8: [low]) and AIDS-defining illnesses (ADI) status (present: [+] vs. absent: [-]) at the first year of HIV diagnosis into four groups: ART (low) & ADI (-), ART (low) & ADI (+), ART (high) & ADI (-), and ART (high) & ADI (+). The economic analysis of incident CMDs was from the perspective of Taiwan's single-payer healthcare system and estimated using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS CMDs significantly increased annual direct medical costs by 31% (hypertension) to 127% (cardiovascular diseases [CVDs]). The annual cost burden of diabetes, dyslipidemia, and CVDs in the ART (high) & ADI (-) group significantly decreased by 42%, 30%, and 31%, respectively, compared to the ART (low) & ADI (+) group. Compared to the ART (low) & ADI (+) group, the annual cost burden of CVDs in the ART (high) & ADI (-) and ART (high) & ADI (+) groups decreased by 31% and 14%, respectively, suggesting increased cost-savings when ART is initiated at diagnosis before ADI occurrence. CONCLUSIONS The early scale-up of ART at diagnosis before ADI occurrence is important for minimizing the economic burden of incident CMDs among HIV-infected patients.
Archives of Clinical Psychiatry (São Paulo), 2018
Background: Homophobic harassment can compromise mental health of sexual minority youths. Objecti... more Background: Homophobic harassment can compromise mental health of sexual minority youths. Objectives: This study examined the rates of persistent and multisite homophobic harassment and their associations with school difficulties during childhood and adolescence among gay and bisexual men in Taiwan. Methods: Participants were recruited through advertisements on the Facebook, Bulletin Board Systems, and the home pages of health promotion and counseling centers for the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community. The experiences of traditional and cyber harassment based on gender role nonconformity and sexual orientation of 500 gay or bisexual men were examined. The associations of multisite and persistent harassment victimization with school difficulties were evaluated. Results: A total of 239 (47.8%) and 131 (26.2%) participants experienced persistent and multisite harassment victimization, respectively. Harassment victimization was significantly associated with low satisfaction with academic performance in any stage of study. Moreover, the participants who were harassed in senior high schools were more likely to miss classes or be truant than those who were not harassed. The victims of multisite harassment at senior high schools were more likely to miss classes or be truant than those of school-only harassment. Discussion: Prevention and intervention programs are warranted to reduce homophobic harassment in sexual minority youths.
Journal of Applied Communication Research, 2019
ABSTRACT This study explored how men who have sex with men (MSM) communicated their use of pre-ex... more ABSTRACT This study explored how men who have sex with men (MSM) communicated their use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) on smartphone applications. Informed by the theory of problematic integration and uncertainty management, we asked if revealing ‘HIV negative, on PrEP’ status on smartphone applications might increase one's uncertainty in communicating about safe sex with others. We conducted interviews with 31 Taiwanese MSM currently taking PrEP who participated in a national demonstration project. We identified three types of PrEP-related uncertainty: condition, information, and stigma uncertainty. Applied implications of our findings indicate the importance of the feasibility of medical infrastructure in implementing PrEP, the complication in translating scientific and medical jargon into everyday language, and dynamics of negotiating stigmas associated with HIV and AIDS in the context of HIV prevention.
Journal of Applied Communication Research, 2019
ABSTRACT This study explored how men who have sex with men (MSM) communicated their use of pre-ex... more ABSTRACT This study explored how men who have sex with men (MSM) communicated their use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) on smartphone applications. Informed by the theory of problematic integration and uncertainty management, we asked if revealing ‘HIV negative, on PrEP’ status on smartphone applications might increase one's uncertainty in communicating about safe sex with others. We conducted interviews with 31 Taiwanese MSM currently taking PrEP who participated in a national demonstration project. We identified three types of PrEP-related uncertainty: condition, information, and stigma uncertainty. Applied implications of our findings indicate the importance of the feasibility of medical infrastructure in implementing PrEP, the complication in translating scientific and medical jargon into everyday language, and dynamics of negotiating stigmas associated with HIV and AIDS in the context of HIV prevention.
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2017
Background Tainan experienced the most severe dengue epidemic in Taiwan in 2015. This study inves... more Background Tainan experienced the most severe dengue epidemic in Taiwan in 2015. This study investigates the association between the signs and symptoms at the time of reporting with the adverse dengue prognoses. Methods A descriptive study was conducted using secondary data from the Dengue Disease Reporting System in Tainan, Taiwan, between January 1 and December 31, 2015. A multivariate stepwise logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors for the adverse prognoses: ICU admissions and mortality. Results There were 22,777 laboratory-confirmed reported cases (mean age 45.6 ± 21.2 years), of which 3.7% were admitted to intensive care units (ICU), and 0.8% were fatal. The most common symptoms were fever (92.8%), myalgia (26.6%), and headache (22.4%). The prevalence of respiratory distress, altered consciousness, shock, bleeding, and thrombocytopenia increased with age. The multivariate analysis indicated that being in 65-89 years old age group [Adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR):4.95], or the 90 years old and above age group (aOR: 9.06), and presenting with shock (aOR: 8.90) and respiratory distress (aOR: 5.31) were significantly associated with the risk of ICU admission. While old age (aOR: 1.11), respiratory distress (aOR: 9.66), altered consciousness (aOR: 7.06), and thrombocytopenia (aOR: 2.55) were significantly associated with the risk of mortality.