BackgroundMusculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) represent the leading causes of occupational injuries among nursing staff. This population-based study was designed to assess the incidence and age-specific incidence of MSDs among a Taiwanese nurse cohort compared with non-nurses.DescriptionData from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database were used to identify MSDs in the study population. A total of 3914 nurses with a diagnosis of MSD were included, together with 11,744 non-nurses as a comparison group. The comparison subjects were randomly selected at a ratio of 3:1 relative to the nurse population and were matched by gender and age. The incidence of MSDs was calculated for the study group, with nurse-to-reference risk ratios presented as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). During the period 2004–2010, 3004 MSDs occurred among the nurses (76.24%) and 7779 (65.79%) in the non-nurses. The annual incidence of MSDs for the nurses increased from 28.35% in 2006 to 33.65% in 2010. The nurse-to-reference risk ratio was 1.27 (95% CI 1.19–1.35) in 2004 and 1.46 (1.37–1.55) in 2010. Herniation of intervertebral disc, lumbago, rotator cuff syndrome, medial epicondylitis, trigger finger and carpal tunnel syndrome were the most common problems.ConclusionsNurses are at higher risk of MSDs and the trend is increasing. Incorrect work-related posture/movement, psychological issues and the rolling shift system may be the major causes of MSDs among nurses in Taiwan.

No abstract

No abstract

In this study, we use patient level data to examine the intensity of treatment received by patients suffering acute myocardial infarction (AMI), ischemic heart disease, hemorrhagic stroke, and ischemic stroke patients, and their health outcomes after treatment in Taiwan, where global budgets for hospitals were launched in 2002. We find that the launch of global budgets has led to an increase in the intensity of treatment received by patients admitted to a for-profit hospital and not very much improvement in their health outcomes. These results indicates that the increase in treatment intensity represent a misallocation or waste of resources.

Long-term low-dose GC treatment was not associated with liver-related mortality in RA with concomitant HBV patients probably due to commonly applied antiviral therapy by rheumatologists.