Yow-wu Wu - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Yow-wu Wu

Aims: The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has proven life-saving, yet it is importan... more Aims: The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has proven life-saving, yet it is important to understand the psychological effects on the recipients. The study purpose was to longitudinally examine changes in the patterns of quality of life scores in the first three months post-implant and determine what variables tested as predictors of patterns. Methods: This longitudinal, prospective, descriptive, correlational survey study used a repeated measures design to study the patterns of change as outcome variables. The study followed 80 ICD recipients, with data collection at a baseline pre insertion, one and three months post implant. The study variables included demographic information, the Speilberger State/Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Ferrans and Powers quality of life index. Results: Findings revealed eight patterns of QOL change that were re-coded into three groups, no change (44.7 %), worsened (20.7%), and improved (34.2 %). No significant difference was found in grou...

Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 2012

Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care, 2010

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has proven life-saving, yet it is important to u... more The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has proven life-saving, yet it is important to understand its psychological effects on recipients. This study examined longitudinal changes in patterns of quality-of-life (QOL) scores in the first 3 months after an implant, and determined what variables tested as predictors of patterns. This longitudinal, prospective, descriptive, correlational survey study followed 80 ICD patients, with data collection at a baseline preinsertion, and 1 and 3 months after implant. Findings revealed eight patterns of QOL change that were recoded into 3 groups: no change (44.7%), worse (20.7%), and improved (34.2%). No significant difference was evident in groups according to age at implant, gender, education, ejection fraction, number of device discharges, and comorbidities. State anxiety was significantly higher for the worsening group. This finding supports the practice of identifying and supporting patients with anxiety, which correlates with a worsening QOL.

Cancer Nursing, 2011

In Western culture, evidence has shown that in women with breast cancer exercise decreases fatigu... more In Western culture, evidence has shown that in women with breast cancer exercise decreases fatigue and improves quality of life. However, only 1 pilot study about the effect of exercise has been examined in the Asian breast cancer population that indicated feasibility. Therefore, it is important to further study the effect of an exercise program for Taiwanese women with breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of a walking program on Taiwanese women newly diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. This was an experimental, longitudinal study with 4-time repeated measures based on Bandura's Self-efficacy Theory, with the aim of implementing interventions to boost exercise self-efficacy and to evaluate research outcomes. SPSS 17.0 with descriptive statistics using frequency, percentage, mean, and SD as well as inferential statistics such as t test, χ test, hierarchical linear model, repeated-measures analysis of variance, and analysis of covariance was used for data analysis. Results of this study indicated that subjects in the exercise group had significantly better quality of life, less fatigue, less sleep disturbances, higher exercise self-efficacy, more exercise behavior, and better exercise capacity compared with those in the usual-care group after the intervention. This program was effective and feasible, but more research studies with experimental, longitudinal design to verify the effects of this exercise program on Taiwanese women with breast cancer will be needed. Nurses, depending on skill and knowledge, can encourage physical activity, refer patients to rehabilitation programs, and prescribe and monitor exercise in breast cancer population.

Clinical Nurse Specialist

The purpose of this article is to describe and evaluate a clinical nurse specialist (CNS)-facilit... more The purpose of this article is to describe and evaluate a clinical nurse specialist (CNS)-facilitated support group for recipients of implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Specific evaluation aims were as follows: (1) How do demographic and clinical factors differ between those who attended the support group and those who did not? (2) Is there a difference in the quality of life index (QLI) of individuals with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator who attended the CNS-facilitated support group and those who did not? (3) What demographic and clinical factors are related to QLI? Clinical project theory-based objectives were described. Implementation of the project was evaluated by retrospective survey of all implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients during a 10-year time frame using the Ferrans and Powers' Quality of Life Index: Cardiac Version and demographic questionnaire. Attendance sheets defined who attended so comparisons could be made. One hundred and twelve surveys were returned (34% return rate). A positive relationship between CNS visit during hospitalization, number of and value of supports, years of education, and ejection fraction was noted with attendance at the support group. No between-group differences on total QLI, or on any subscales, were found. Comorbidity was the only clinical factor correlated with QLI. CNS-facilitated support groups can be offered as an additional support. Evaluation design issues limited the measuring outcomes of existing interventions. Future prospective studies are recommended to determine the affect of the support group on quality of life.

Aims: The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has proven life-saving, yet it is importan... more Aims: The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has proven life-saving, yet it is important to understand the psychological effects on the recipients. The study purpose was to longitudinally examine changes in the patterns of quality of life scores in the first three months post-implant and determine what variables tested as predictors of patterns. Methods: This longitudinal, prospective, descriptive, correlational survey study used a repeated measures design to study the patterns of change as outcome variables. The study followed 80 ICD recipients, with data collection at a baseline pre insertion, one and three months post implant. The study variables included demographic information, the Speilberger State/Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Ferrans and Powers quality of life index. Results: Findings revealed eight patterns of QOL change that were re-coded into three groups, no change (44.7 %), worsened (20.7%), and improved (34.2 %). No significant difference was found in grou...

Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 2012

Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care, 2010

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has proven life-saving, yet it is important to u... more The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has proven life-saving, yet it is important to understand its psychological effects on recipients. This study examined longitudinal changes in patterns of quality-of-life (QOL) scores in the first 3 months after an implant, and determined what variables tested as predictors of patterns. This longitudinal, prospective, descriptive, correlational survey study followed 80 ICD patients, with data collection at a baseline preinsertion, and 1 and 3 months after implant. Findings revealed eight patterns of QOL change that were recoded into 3 groups: no change (44.7%), worse (20.7%), and improved (34.2%). No significant difference was evident in groups according to age at implant, gender, education, ejection fraction, number of device discharges, and comorbidities. State anxiety was significantly higher for the worsening group. This finding supports the practice of identifying and supporting patients with anxiety, which correlates with a worsening QOL.

Cancer Nursing, 2011

In Western culture, evidence has shown that in women with breast cancer exercise decreases fatigu... more In Western culture, evidence has shown that in women with breast cancer exercise decreases fatigue and improves quality of life. However, only 1 pilot study about the effect of exercise has been examined in the Asian breast cancer population that indicated feasibility. Therefore, it is important to further study the effect of an exercise program for Taiwanese women with breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of a walking program on Taiwanese women newly diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. This was an experimental, longitudinal study with 4-time repeated measures based on Bandura's Self-efficacy Theory, with the aim of implementing interventions to boost exercise self-efficacy and to evaluate research outcomes. SPSS 17.0 with descriptive statistics using frequency, percentage, mean, and SD as well as inferential statistics such as t test, χ test, hierarchical linear model, repeated-measures analysis of variance, and analysis of covariance was used for data analysis. Results of this study indicated that subjects in the exercise group had significantly better quality of life, less fatigue, less sleep disturbances, higher exercise self-efficacy, more exercise behavior, and better exercise capacity compared with those in the usual-care group after the intervention. This program was effective and feasible, but more research studies with experimental, longitudinal design to verify the effects of this exercise program on Taiwanese women with breast cancer will be needed. Nurses, depending on skill and knowledge, can encourage physical activity, refer patients to rehabilitation programs, and prescribe and monitor exercise in breast cancer population.

Clinical Nurse Specialist

The purpose of this article is to describe and evaluate a clinical nurse specialist (CNS)-facilit... more The purpose of this article is to describe and evaluate a clinical nurse specialist (CNS)-facilitated support group for recipients of implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Specific evaluation aims were as follows: (1) How do demographic and clinical factors differ between those who attended the support group and those who did not? (2) Is there a difference in the quality of life index (QLI) of individuals with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator who attended the CNS-facilitated support group and those who did not? (3) What demographic and clinical factors are related to QLI? Clinical project theory-based objectives were described. Implementation of the project was evaluated by retrospective survey of all implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients during a 10-year time frame using the Ferrans and Powers' Quality of Life Index: Cardiac Version and demographic questionnaire. Attendance sheets defined who attended so comparisons could be made. One hundred and twelve surveys were returned (34% return rate). A positive relationship between CNS visit during hospitalization, number of and value of supports, years of education, and ejection fraction was noted with attendance at the support group. No between-group differences on total QLI, or on any subscales, were found. Comorbidity was the only clinical factor correlated with QLI. CNS-facilitated support groups can be offered as an additional support. Evaluation design issues limited the measuring outcomes of existing interventions. Future prospective studies are recommended to determine the affect of the support group on quality of life.