bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A systematic review of the efficacy of non‐pharmacological treatments for depression on glycaemic control in type 2 diabetics
Authors: Wang Mei‐Yeh , Tsai Pei‐Shan , Chou Kuei‐Ru , Chen Ching‐Min 
Published: September 2008

Aims and objectives.  This paper reported a systematic review of three randomised controlled clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of non‐pharmacological treatment of depression on glycaemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes.Background.  Depression is associated with poor adherence to self‐care regimen in individuals with diabetes. A significant relationship between depression and poor glycaemic control has also been suggested. Hence, the management of depression becomes an important aspect of diabetes care.Design.  Systematic review.Methods.  Cochrane library, Pubmed, MEDLINE, EBM review, ProQuest Medical Bundle and SCOPUS databases were searched using the following medical subject headings or key words – depression, mood disorder, depressive symptoms, diabetes mellitus, glycaemic control, glycated haemoglobin, glucose, psychological therapy, psychotherapy, non‐pharmacological therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy. The publication date was limited from 1996–2007. Studies were selected if they used a randomised controlled trial design, were written in English, used non‐pharmacological treatments for treating depression, included individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus as participants and included depressive symptoms and glycaemic control (determined by haemoglobin A1C) as outcomes.Results.  Non‐pharmacological treatments of depression reduce depressive symptoms in diabetic patients. However, cognitive behaviour therapy did not improve glycaemic control. The treatment effect sizes for glycaemic control in the two collaborative‐care programmes were also small.Conclusions.  The available evidence indicated that non‐pharmacological treatment of depression had limited effect on glycaemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes.Relevance to clinical practice.  The depression‐focused interventions might not achieve optimal diabetes‐related outcomes. The beneficial effect of psychological treatment for glycaemic control may be strengthened by employing treatments tailored to each individual’s diabetes self‐care needs in addition to depression management.
A systematic review of honey uses and its potential value within oncology care
Authors: Bardy Joy , Slevin Nicholas J , Mais Kathleen L , Molassiotis Alexander 
Published: September 2008

Aim.  To synthesise the evidence regarding honey’s role in health care and to identify whether this evidence applies more specifically to cancer care.Design.  Systematic review.Methods.  The inclusion and exclusion criteria were agreed by two reviewers and a keyword strategy was developed. EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, MEDLINE, COCHRANE and PUBMED databases were screened to identify suitable articles. The citation list from each included study was also screened for potentially suitable papers. The key findings from each study were entered onto a data extraction sheet.Results.  In total, 43 studies were included in the systematic review, which included studies in relation to wounds (n = 19), burns (n = 11), skin (n = 3), cancer (n = 5) and others (n = 5). In addition, a systematic review regarding honey use in wound care was also included. While the majority of studies noted the efficacy of honey in clinical use, five studies found honey to be equally as effective as the comparator and three found honey to be less effective than the comparator treatment. Other research did not illustrate any significant difference between standard treatment regimes vs. honey treatment. Studies were generally poor in quality because of small sample sizes, lack of randomisation and absence of blinding.Conclusions.  Honey was found to be a suitable alternative for wound healing, burns and various skin conditions and to potentially have a role within cancer care.Relevance to clinical practice.  In the cancer setting, honey may be used for radiation‐induced mucositis, radiotherapy‐induced skin reactions, hand and foot skin reactions in chemotherapy patients and for oral cavity and external surgical wounds.
Evaluation of services of the integrative health clinic in Hong Kong
Authors: Chung Joanne WY , Chung Louisa MY , Kwok Nedra WL , Wong Thomas KS 
Published: September 2008

Aims.  (i) To provide a profile of the clients who have used the Integrative Health Clinic’s services, (ii) to determine the clients’ extent of satisfaction with the services received and (iii) to assess whether integrative therapies can/should be recommended to other clinics.Background.  Based on the integration of various health paradigms and the use of health promotion strategies, our Integrative Health Clinic in Hong Kong provides a range of different therapies for integrated symptom management. The integrative therapies are derived from conventional, complementary and alternative medicine.Design.  Postal survey, followed by routine data analysis.Method.  Hong Kong Chinese clients attending a residential community health clinic were surveyed about health status and satisfaction towards the services received.Results.  A total of 489 clients (30·8% were male and 69·2% female) were registered with the clinic during the study period. The mean age (SD) was 47·8 (15·4) years. The customer satisfaction survey found that traditional Chinese medicine consultation was the most frequently used modality of the Integrative Health Clinic, followed by pain management. Out of the 489 clients, those who attended the Integrative Health Clinic only once in the study period for an annual health assessment and those who died during the period were excluded from the survey, giving a total of 276 eligible clients. Out of the 276 clients, 52·5% (128) responded to the survey that asked them to evaluate their satisfaction with the services received at the clinic and the performance of the clinic’s practitioners who interacted with them. For practitioner performance, the percentage of respondents who gave a rating of satisfaction was found to range between 86·3–64·3%, while the percentage of respondents who gave a rating of dissatisfaction ranged from 13·7–35·7%. Overall, the survey found that most aspects of the Integrative Health Clinic’s services were rated as satisfactory.Conclusion.  The overwhelming satisfaction of clients with the services they received at the Integrative Health Clinic suggests that this integrative health services model could be considered for adoption in other clinics in Hong Kong and perhaps the region.Relevance to clinical practice.  It is necessary to review the use of integrative therapies so as to provide more data for the evaluation of this increasingly popular modality of health services.
Pain experiences, control beliefs and coping strategies in Chinese elders with osteoarthritis
Authors: Tsai Yun‐Fang , Chu Tsung‐Lan , Lai Yeur‐Hur , Chen Wen‐Jen 
Published: September 2008

Aim.  To explore pain experiences, pain control beliefs and pain coping strategies among elders with osteoarthritis in Taiwan.Background.  Osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease that commonly affects older people, is manifested by pain and disability. Despite the increasing number of older people, few studies have explored their chronic pain experiences, pain beliefs and pain coping strategies.Design.  Survey.Methods.  Participants (n = 205) were recruited by convenience sampling from three outpatient clinics at a medical centre in northern Taiwan. Data were collected by questionnaire on pain sites, pain intensity, pain interference with activity, pain control beliefs, pain coping strategies, depressive tendency and demographic variables. Scores of worst pain intensity were used to divide participants into three groups: mild, moderate and severe pain.Results.  Participants’ average number of pain sites was 2·9 (SD 2·2). Most participants (70%) suffered moderate to severe worst pain. Participants perceived average pain control beliefs (mean 1·7, SD 0·7). Most used pharmacological coping strategies about half of the time (mean 1·8, SD 0·7) and non‐pharmacological coping strategies about one‐quarter of the time (mean 1·0, SD 0·5). Scores on satisfaction with living situation, depressive tendency, pain intensity, pain interference, pain control beliefs and frequency of using pharmacological coping strategies differed significantly among the three pain groups. Results of regression analysis showed that the intensity of average pain, pain interference with walking, pain interference with sleeping and pain control beliefs significantly predicted intensity of worst pain, explaining 54% of the variance in intensity of worst pain.Conclusion.  This study highlights the importance of dealing with pain in this population.Relevance to clinical practice.  Since health care providers play an important role in helping elders to manage pain, the authors recommend training physicians and nurses to regularly assess pain and to provide current knowledge about pain assessment and management strategies for elders with osteoarthritis.
The outcome of tactile touch on oxytocin in intensive care patients: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Henricson Maria , Berglund Anna‐Lena , Määttä Sylvia , Ekman Rolf , Segesten Kerstin 
Published: September 2008

Aim.  To explore the effects of five‐day tactile touch intervention on oxytocin in intensive care patients. The hypotheses were that tactile touch increases the levels of oxytocin after intervention and over a six‐day period.Background.  Research on both humans and animals shows a correlation between touch and increased levels of oxytocin which inspired us to measure the levels of oxytocin in arterial blood to obtain information about the physiological effect of tactile touch.Design.  Randomised controlled trial.Method.  Forty‐four patients from two general intensive care units, were randomly assigned to either tactile touch (n = 21) or standard treatment – an hour of rest (n = 23). Arterial blood was drawn for measurement of oxytocin, before and after both treatments.Results.  No significant mean changes in oxytocin levels were found from day 1 to day 6 in the intervention group (mean −3·0 pM, SD 16·8). In the control group, there was a significant (p = 0·01) decrease in oxytocin levels from day 1 to day 6, mean 26·4 pM (SD 74·1). There were no significant differences in changes between day 1 and day 6 when comparing the intervention group and control group, mean 23·4 pM (95% CI −20·2–67·0).Conclusion.  Our hypothesis that tactile touch increases the levels of oxytocin in patients at intensive care units was not confirmed. An interesting observation was the decrease levels of oxytocin over the six‐day period in the control group, which was not observed in the intervention group.Relevance to clinical practice.  Tactile touch seemed to reduce the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Further and larger studies are needed in intensive care units to confirm/evaluate tactile touch as a complementary caring act for critically ill patients.
Exploration of the use of complementary and alternative medicine among Turkish children
Authors: Ozturk Candan , Karayagiz Gonca 
Published: September 2008

Aims and objectives.  This study explored the use of complementary and alternative medicine among Turkish children and the factors affecting their use.Background.  Estimates of CAM use in children range from 9–70%. Most studies of CAM use in Turkey have focussed on adults. No study has been reported on the use of CAM in Turkish children without specific diagnosed illnesses.Design.  Survey.Methods.  A questionnaire was completed with the parents of 600 children attending the paediatric clinics of three hospitals in western Turkey. Information about CAM use and factors affecting its use among children and their parents was collected by interview using a structured questionnaire.Results.  A majority of parents (57%) used CAM therapies for their child, with herbal therapy used most frequently (77%). The use rate of CAM was 49% for children with respiratory system problems and 25% for children with digestive system problems. Fifty‐nine per cent of parents stated that they used CAM to comfort their children and 25% to support prescribed medical therapy. The most frequent recommendation to use CAM came from one or more family members (55%). Parents who were university graduates, lived in the city, had one child and had used this type of therapy themselves were more inclined to use CAM for their children. There was no reported use of therapies such as chiropractic, naturopathy or acupuncture.Conclusion.  There is frequent use of CAM among Turkish children and it is viewed as additional to treatment prescribed by physicians.Relevance to clinical practice.  Most often, parents do not discuss CAM use with doctors or nurses. Health professionals should routinely ask parents about CAM use and discuss the reasons and expected outcomes of use. Only through such discussion can health professionals understand and respect parents’ use of CAM for their children and guide them in their choices.
Physical fitness of older adults in senior activity centres after 24‐week silver yoga exercises
Authors: Chen Kuei‐Min , Chen Ming‐Hsien , Hong Shan‐Mann , Chao Hui‐Chen , Lin Huey‐Shyan , Li Chun‐Huw 
Published: September 2008

Aims and objectives.  Promoting physical fitness of young–older adults is essential in reducing healthcare expenditures which would occur in the future for those with chronic health problems. The silver yoga exercise programme was developed to accommodate the reduced body flexibility experienced by many older adults and was critically reviewed by experts and pilot‐tested with community‐dwelling older adults. This study aimed to test older adults’ physical fitness after a 24‐week silver yoga exercise programme and to examine whether the programme could be further shortened to fit senior activity centres’ programme designs.Design.  A quasi‐experimental, pre–post tests design was used: baseline, at 12‐week and at 24‐week periods.Methods.  Convenience samples of 204 subjects were recruited from eight senior activity centres and 176 subjects completed the study. Subjects were randomly assigned into three groups based on the centres: (1) Experiment I: complete silver yoga with stretching and meditation, (2) Experiment II: shortened silver yoga without the guided‐imagery meditation and (3) Wait‐list control. The interventions were conducted three times per week for 24 weeks. Physical fitness indicators included body compositions, cardiovascular–respiratory functions, physical functions and the range of motion.Results.  At the end of the 24‐week period, the physical fitness of subjects in Experiments I and II had significantly improved whether or not guided‐imagery meditation was used and all had better physical fitness than subjects in the control group (all p < 0·05).Conclusions.  The physical fitness of older adults in both the 70‐minute complete silver yoga group and the 55‐minute shortened silver yoga group had significantly improved after the interventions. It was recommended that the silver yoga programme be shortened by eliminating the guided‐imagery meditation.Relevance to clinical practice.  The shortened silver yoga exercise programme is recommended to be incorporated as an activity programme in community‐settings to promote the physical fitness of older adults.
Meet the real elders: reminiscence links past and present
Authors: Chao Shu‐Yuan , Chen Chaio‐Rung , Liu Hsing‐Yuan , Clark Mary Jo 
Published: September 2008

Aims and objectives.  This study was designed to develop an understanding of the process of reminiscence and the roles played by nurses in fostering reminiscence as a therapeutic intervention.Background.  Reminiscence therapy has been considered an effective nursing strategy for improving quality of life and preventing depression in nursing home settings. Until recently, however, there has been little attention to understanding the dynamics of reminiscence therapy and the interaction between a nurse and an older client during reminiscence.Design.  A qualitative research design employing participant observation and content analysis of recorded reminiscence therapy sessions was used in this study.Methods.  Participant observation was used to explore the process of individual reminiscence therapy and identify nursing roles in the process generated. Ten nursing home residents participated and data were collected over two months through interviews and observation. Content analysis was used to identify emerging themes.Results.  Reminiscence occurred in four stages: entrée, immersion, withdrawal and closure. Stimuli related to participants’ past lives were helpful for initiating reminiscence. Nursing roles in each stage were identified.Conclusion.  A tentative model of the process of reminiscence was derived from study findings. Further study is needed to validate the model in nursing practice with older clients.Relevance to clinical practice.  Reminiscence could be initiated by nursing staff at anytime during care of residents. Information about the reminiscence process and related nursing roles may be helpful in understanding and assisting adaptation in nursing home residents.
Randomised controlled trial of music on state anxiety and physiological indices in patients undergoing root canal treatment
Authors: Lai Hui‐Ling , Hwang Ming‐Jay , Chen Chia‐Jung , Chang Kuei‐Fen , Peng Tai‐Chu , Chang Fwu‐Mei 
Published: September 2008

Objectives.  The purpose of this randomised investigator‐blind controlled trial is to examine the effects of music on the state anxiety and physiological indices among patients undergoing root canal treatment.Design.  Randomised controlled trial.Methods.  Purposive sampling was used to recruit 44 adult subjects. The subjects were randomly assigned to the treatment and the control group. There were 22 subjects in each group. Subjects in the music group listened to selected sedative music using headphones throughout the root canal treatment procedure. The control group subjects worn headphones but without the music. Using a repeated measures design with a single pretest and five posttests, the subjects’ heart rate, blood pressure and finger temperature were measured before the study and every 10 minutes until the end of the root canal treatment procedure. Anxiety was measured before the study and at the end of the treatment procedure.Results.  The results revealed that there were no significant differences between the two groups for baseline data and procedure‐related characteristics, except for gender. However, the subjects in the music group showed a significant increase in finger temperature and a decrease in anxiety score over time compared with the control group. The effect size for state anxiety and finger temperature was 0·34 and 0·14 respectively.Relevance to clinical practice.  The findings provide evidence for nurses and dentists that the use of soothing music for anxiety reduction in patients undergoing root canal treatment procedures is supported by research findings.
A traditional Chinese herbal medicine used to treat dysmenorrhoea among Taiwanese women
Authors: Cheng Jui‐Fen , Lu Zxy‐yann Jane , Su Yi‐Chang , Chiang Li‐Chi , Wang Ruey‐Yun 
Published: September 2008

Aim.  The purposes of this study were twofold, firstly to ascertain the relative effectiveness of the alternative drug, Si‐Wu‐Tang (SWT), for dysmenorrhoea treatment and secondly to compare two different timings for consumption of SWT in terms of menstrual pain.Design.  A two‐group time series experimental design.Methods.  A total of 49 participants were alternately assigned into two study groups. The experimental group was provided with 15 g of SWT daily for seven consecutive days, subsequent to the cessation of menstrual bleeding, for two consecutive menstrual cycles and the comparison group was provided with a similar intervention as soon as menstrual bleeding was noted. The degree of menstrual pain was recorded daily using a visual analogue scale and the duration of pain was also recorded during menstrual bleeding for five consecutive menstrual cycles.Results.  The results indicated that the decrease in menstrual pain levels and the duration of pain between the experimental group and the comparison group was not significant. However, the decrease in menstrual pain over the five menstrual cycles within the experimental group (from 2·07 to 1·42; 2·71 to 1·21; p < 0·05) and within the comparison group (from 1·94 to 1·23; 2·66 to 1·68; p < 0·05) were significant.Conclusions.  The SWT formula has been continuously standardised for effective use as part of menstrual health and can be integrated as an alternative therapy within Western medicine.Relevance to clinical practice.  This study provides information for health care professionals not only about the general principles of traditional Chinese medicine, but also about the selection and consumption of an appropriate SWT formula among Asian women with dysmenorrhoea. Moreover, nurses should build up a partnership with their clients of Asian origins based on the use of an alternative therapy using different assessment criteria that are related to healing and recovery based on bodily constitution balance.
Quality of life among older stroke patients in Taiwan during the first year after discharge
Authors: Shyu Yea‐Ing L , Maa Suh‐Hwa , Chen Sien‐Tsong , Chen Min‐Chi 
Published: September 2008

Aim and objective.  To explore the one‐year poststroke trajectories in health‐related quality of life and physical function in a sample of older stroke patients in Taiwan.Background.  Health‐related quality of life has repeatedly been reported as decreased in poststroke patients. The vast majority of information on the health‐related quality of life of older patients after stroke is based on data collected in Western developed countries. In contrast, little is known about older stroke patients in Asian countries.Design.  A descriptive, prospective and correlational design was used.Methods.  Older stroke survivors (n = 98) were assessed at the end of one, three, six and 12 months after hospital discharge for health‐related quality of life (measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36) and physical functioning (measured by the Chinese Barthel Index and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale).Results.  The subjects, who were 65–88 years old, performed considerably worse at 12 months after hospital discharge in social and physical functioning (means = 61·1, 54·8, respectively) than the age‐matched community‐dwelling norm (means = 78·7, 69·7, respectively). During the first year after discharge, subjects improved significantly on the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 physical component summary scale and role limitations due to physical problems; during the first three months after discharge, they improved significantly on performance of activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living; and from the third to sixth month after discharge, they improved significantly in physical functioning.Conclusions.  The first year, especially the first three months after hospital discharge, is critical for improvements in health‐related quality of life and physical functioning for older stroke survivors in Taiwan.Relevance to clinical practice.  Older Taiwanese/Chinese people who suffer a stroke will likely benefit from interventions during the first 12 months after discharge and the most effective interventions may be earlier, during the first three months after discharge.