Spiritual care models of patients living with cancer in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Psychological, social and spiritual needs are often unmet during the care of patients with cancer in Taiwan. AIM: The purpose of this study was to confirm the spiritual care models including the spiritual distress symptoms (SDS), spiritual distress symptoms interventions (SDSI), and spiritual distress outcomes criteria (SDOC) of patients with cancer in the initial, relapse and terminal stages. METHOD: This cross-sectional survey collected data from 150 professional nurses about their perceptions of the SDS, SDSI and SDOC for patients with cancer. RESULTS: The significant total effects of SDS on SDOC by SDSI of the patients with cancer in the initial, relapse and terminal stages were found. Additionally, the direct effects of SDS on SDOC by SDSI of the patients with cancer from the initial, relapse to terminal stage were gradually enhanced. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between spiritual distress symptoms, interventions and outcomes was significantly higher from the initial to relapse state until at the end of life, based on the perceptions of 150 professional nurses.

Exploring Behavioral Readiness and Program Strategies to Engage Older Community Residents in Advance Care Planning: A Pilot Mixed-Method Study in Taiwan.

Taiwan was the first Asian country to endorse patient autonomy, and advance care planning (ACP) has been highly promoted to improve quality of end-of-life (EOL). A mixed-methods pilot survey was conducted in northwestern Taiwan to investigate older community-dwelling residents' (N = 52) ACP behavioral engagement, socio-demographical correlates, and their preferred intervention strategies. An interview subset (25%, N = 13) was purposely chosen for in-depth feedback and rationales behind their ACP decision-making. Rich information was obtained about perceived facilitators and inhibitors to initiate ACP and preferred intervention strategies in ACP programs. Consistent with previous literature, carefully designed ACP programs that incorporated family decision-making and met older subjects' multiple needs would increase program acceptability and foster ACP engagement among older Taiwanese in the community setting.