PURPOSE: This study investigated patients' perceptions and expectations of their families' participation in the informed consent process of elective surgery. METHODS: This is a survey study. Anonymous questionnaires that were mailed to potential participants included a demographic data sheet and a scale, measuring patients' perceptions of themselves and their families' participation level in the informed consent process. A convenience sample of patients who had undergone surgery and had been discharged within 4 months from a medical center in southern Taiwan (n = 1,737) were recruited. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-five recipients replied, gaining a response rate of 10.0%, and 120 provided complete data. The mean age of the participants was 56.0 years (range 20e85, SD = 14.98), and more than half were female (54.2%). Twenty-one participants (17.5%) perceived having less family participation than their own participation in the surgery informed consent process, and 40% expected more family participation in the process. The mean scores of the self-rated participation level was significantly higher than that of the families (p < .001). Patients' expectations of family participation were significantly higher than their perceptions of family participation (p < .001). Eleven patients (9.2%) reported having more family participation than they expected. Participants received the most information about the disease during the informed consent process and the least information about alternatives to surgery. Age, gender, number of previous surgeries and admissions influenced the study participants' perceived level of participation in the informed consent process. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study demonstrates that patients' perceptions and expectations for family participation in the surgical informed consent process vary. Healthcare providers should be aware of patients' expectation to appropriately invite their family into the informed consent process.
Anonyms and Pseudonyms ; Female ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Patient Participation ; Postal Service ; Surgical Procedures, Elective ; Taiwan ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Interventions targeting multiple risk behaviors have the potential to offer greater health benefits on public health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a Workplace Multiple Cardiovascular Disease Risks Reduction Program (WMCVDRRP) on male participants at high risk for cardiovascular disease. METHODS: One group pretest-posttest design was applied in this study. No control group was assigned as this study was the first one in Taiwan conducted to promote participants' health using WMCVDRRP and thus with the nature of a pilot study. The program design was based on the collaboration between the health clinic at the corporation and a nursing school targeting six health behaviors. Of the 465 individuals who participated, data from 283 participants were included in the analysis. The change in any of six health behaviors and eight physical indicators were tested as the effect of the WMCVDRRP. RESULTS: Nearly 40% of the participants improved their regular exercise, diet control, stress management, and medication adherence. Although the improvement in drinking behaviors did not show statistical significance, 21% of the participants changed in alcohol consumption and 21% quit smoking. Eight physical indicators including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, body fat, and muscle weight improved significantly. CONCLUSION: Dual collaboration between the industry and nursing schools could establish a cost-effective program to improve health behaviors and health status of participants.
Adipose Tissue ; Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Cooperative Behavior ; Diet ; Drinking Behavior ; Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Male ; Medication Adherence ; Muscles ; Pilot Projects ; Public Health ; Risk-Taking ; Schools, Nursing ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Taiwan ; Waist-Hip Ratio

INTRODUCTION: Prehabilitation may benefit older patients undergoing major surgeries. Currently, its efficacy has not been conclusively proven. This is a retrospective review of a multimodal prehabilitation programme. METHODS: Patients aged 65 years and above undergoing major abdominal surgery between May 2015 and December 2019 in the National University Hospital were included in our institutional programme that incorporated aspects of multimodal prehabilitation and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery concepts as 1 holistic perioperative pathway to deal with issues specific to older patients. Physical therapy, nutritional advice and psychosocial support were provided as part of prehabilitation. RESULTS: There were 335 patients in the prehabilitation cohort and 256 patients whose records were reviewed as control. No difference in postoperative length of stay ( CONCLUSION The current study found no differences in traditional surgical outcome measures with and without prehabilitation. An increase in patient mobility in the immediate postoperative period was noted with prehabilitation, as well as an association between prehabilitation and increased adherence to postoperative adjuvant therapy. Larger prospective studies will be needed to validate the findings of this retrospective review.
Humans ; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control* ; Preoperative Care ; Preoperative Exercise ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies