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This study developed and tested the accuracy of a model designed to predict adherence to a pelvic floor muscle exercise regimen by Taiwanese women with urinary incontinence. The sample was composed of 106 women treated for urinary incontinence at urban hospitals in central and northern Taiwan from April 2000 to March 2003. All participants had practiced prescribed pelvic floor muscle exercises for at least 6 weeks at the time they completed study measures, which included adherence to pelvic floor muscle exercise, self-efficacy for the exercise, knowledge of the exercise, attitudes toward the exercise, dyadic cohesion, perceived benefits of the exercise, and severity of urine loss. After stepwise multiple regression analysis, a path analysis was conducted, with significant paths retained as modifiers. Self-efficacy for pelvic floor muscle exercise strongly and directly affected adherence to the exercise regimen. Attitudes toward the exercise, dyadic cohesion, and perceived benefits of the exercise affected adherence when mediated by self-efficacy for pelvic floor muscle exercise. Severity of urine loss also directly affected adherence. Exercise knowledge affected neither self-efficacy nor adherence. The model fit the data and accounted for 40% of adherence variance. Findings affirm the significant role of self-efficacy in predicting adherence to pelvic floor muscle exercise. Thus, self-efficacy for exercise can be an indicator for nurses to tailor exercise-training programs for women with urinary incontinence. Nurses can use the study findings to develop interventions to increase women's adherence to the exercise.

Subsequent hypertension and DM risks are greater in women with HDP/GDM than in women with HDP only compared with women without these complications. Younger women with HDP/GDM should be particularly cautious.

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Intrapartum pain, anxiety, and fatigue were strongly interrelated. Intrapartum pain management (EDA) led to a significant decline in anxiety and fatigue. Furthermore, fatigue accumulated during the course of labor and was not easily diminished. These findings provide a reference for maternity nurses to develop strategies for managing multiple symptoms.

Sexual harassment not only endangers nursing students’ physical and mental health but also considerably affects their future willingness to engage in the field of nursing. To identify experiences, knowledge, coping behaviors, and determinants of sexual harassment among nursing students during clinical practicum, this study conducted a cross-sectional survey where a structured self-report questionnaire was used. A total of 291 senior nursing students were recruited from four universities in Central Taiwan. Sixty-six nursing students (22.7%), including 59 women (23.3%) and 7 men (18.4%), reported experiencing sexual harassment during clinical practicum. Male students scored significantly higher than female students did on knowledge of sexual harassment (p = 0.028). Female students scored significantly higher than male students did on attitudes toward preventing and coping with sexual harassment (p = 0.05). Nursing students who were older, had fathers who had higher education levels, or had undergone gender-related courses were more likely to experience sexual harassment. More than one-fifth of nursing students experienced sexual harassment during their clinical practicum, making this a formidable challenge in nursing education. Education is required to prevent sexual harassment and enhance gender sensitivity among nursing students, who are at a greater risk of experiencing sexual harassment in clinical practicum.

A substantial proportion of women in labor suffer from low back pain, yet this issue has only been specifically evaluated in a few Western studies. The purpose of this research was to (1) describe the following characteristics of low back pain during labor: prevalence, anatomic region(s) affected, type, pattern, intensity trend, effective interventions, and exacerbating factors; (2) identify the factors relating to intrapartum low back pain in Taiwan women. A correlational design with repeated measures was used to conduct this investigation. Ninety-three low-risk women in labor were recruited from a medical center in central Taiwan. Low back pain was repeatedly measured during the latent phase (cervix dilated 2-4 cm), early active phase (cervix dilated 5-7 cm), and late active phase (cervix dilated 8-10 cm) of labor. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, repeated measurement ANOVA, and logistic regression. The results showed as many as 75.3% of the participants suffered episodes of low back pain during labor. The mean pain scores were 36.66-76.20 in the various stages of labor. Pain intensified as labor progressed. The location of the pain also changed with the progression of labor. The type of low back pain in 54.29% of women in labor was "muscle soreness and pain"; The pattern of pain in 45.71% women was continuous. Massage was chosen as the most effective intervention to alleviate low back pain by 65.3% of women. The women in labor who suffered from low back pain during pregnancy (OR = 3.23; p < .01) and had greater body weight when hospitalized (OR = 1.13; p = .02) were most likely to be in the low back pain group. In conclusion, our study demonstrates low back pain intensified with the progression of labor, suggesting early prevention is necessary, especially in the case of women who had low back pain during pregnancy and heavier body weight when hospitalized.

A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted on the experiences of patients who had been successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation, including essential elements of the patient support system during the weaning process. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 participants who had been recruited through purposive sampling from three respiratory care centers in Taiwan. The experiences of participants who had been successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation could be categorized into five themes, which were (a) dealing with the unfamiliar context presented by the weaning program, (b) experiencing various psychological responses and self-endurance ambiguity, (c) being tortured by helplessness, (d) wondering whether to continue or give up, (e) and release from self-breathing. Findings were intended to give nurses an increased understanding of patient experiences and help in raising their competence in managing patient emotional reactions that arise during the weaning process. As patient conditions gradually improve, nurses should assess the criteria for mechanical ventilation weaning and provide preparatory information and clarify patient questions to avoid potential negative responses during the process. Participants also reported that the professionalism of nurses and concern from family members were essential sources of support for successful weaning. Nurses can apply recommendations to develop effective patient support systems that encourage family members to accompany patients at critical times during the weaning process. Therefore, the results of this study may assist healthcare personnel to develop strategies to ensure successful weaning from mechanical ventilation.