Effects of the Health-Awareness-Strengthening Lifestyle Program in a Randomized Trial of Young Adults with an At-Risk Mental State.

BACKGROUND: Increasing health awareness in health promotion is considered as one of the less stigmatized interventions for improving help-seeking behaviors and total well-being. This study aimed to explore the short-term and long-term effectiveness of the health-awareness-strengthening lifestyle (HASL) program on Taiwanese young adults with at-risk mental state. METHODS: A pre- and post-test randomized trial was conducted on 92 young adults with at-risk mental state. The HASL program was provided to the experimental group as intervention, and it was only provided to the control group passively by request after the post-test for ethical reasons. The program was conducted once every six weeks, 60-90 min per session, for a total of three times. Mental health risk, anxiety level, health promotion lifestyles, quality of life, physiological index, and physical exercises were assessed one week before and after the program for both groups and followed up to 6 and 12 months for experimental group only. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, those in the experimental group showed significant improvements regarding anxiety level, health promotion lifestyles, and quality of life one week after participating in the program. Furthermore, the experimental group also showed an additional long-term positive effect on mental risk, physical exercises, and physical health after the follow-ups. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes highlighted the interventions of the HASL program leading to more positive health effects on young adults with at-risk mental state. The implementation of similar clinical service is recommended for young adults with at-risk mental state.

A preliminary study on the effectiveness of a stress management program for healthcare-related undergraduates with at-risk mental state.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the effects of a stress management program on stress perception and coping strategies for healthcare-related undergraduates with at-risk mental state (ARMS). DESIGN AND METHODS: A randomized experimental design with pretest and posttest was used. Of the 2812 students screened, 65 were identified as having ARMS, 52 enrolled in the study, and 49 (75%) completed the study. FINDINGS: Significance was found for subjects with schizotypal traits in emotion expression and problem-avoidance coping strategies. Subjects with trait anxiety improved significantly in interpersonal deficits after the program. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Students with different trait risks reported benefits in different stress-coping strategies from the program.

[The current status, feasibility and difficulties of tele-home care].

Tele-home care (THC) is an innovative nursing care mode and has been applied in home care services in European countries and America. It has shown tremendous effects and benefits in disease administration and care costs. In view of increases in medical expenditure, and increases in the aged, chronically diseased population, our government has been actively supporting long-term care networks and has listed THC as an important plan in the nation's development. However, whether this new medical electron technology is applicable to the home-care practice in Taiwan or what will be its impact on the competitive medical care market, have been little discussed. The purpose of this paper, therefore, was to introduce the THC experience from abroad in order to provide a new direction for the nursing staff. In this article, we will introduce and define THC, the equipment it requires, its application, feasibility and difficulties. In preparation for the advent of a scientific and technological 21st century, we hope that nursing staff will be able to consider alternatives to traditional forms of home care and give a try to this revolutionary care mode in order to provide continued care for patients and their families. Furthermore, we hope to encourage experts and scholars in the field of nursing and medical information to invest their effort and intelligence in the study of THC.

[The experiences of resuming smoking among medical college students].

The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of medical college students who resume smoking and their needs and suggestions for assistance. Low-structured, in-depth, audiotaped interviews and were conducted of sixteen medical college students. The content analysis method was used to analyze the collected data. The major findings were: temptation from friends and social environment, uncontrollable addiction, negative consequences of, alongside positive expectations for smoking, and uncomfortable feelings of failure, etc. In order to prevent resumption of smoking, it's very important to teach quitters how to deal effectively with situations of high temptation, coping with stress, defensive restructuring of cognitions, and how to increasing their confidence and motivation. The government should raise cigarette prices, extend school and work place prohibitions on smoking, and strictly enforce its regulations. The government should also reduce the age for tobacco control education, and bring all ethnic groups within the scope of its smoking prevention policies in order to reduce the harm done to healthy people by smoking.