Aim:To develop a hospital-based nursing human capital model for Taiwan.Background: Effective nursing management only becomes possible when nurse managers are able to manage and maintain the right equilibrium among human capital components. Method:We developed an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model with 8 dimensions and 31 indicators based on extensive literature review and experts' perceptual assessment. We used expert and purposive sampling and invited 82 nursing professionals to rate the importance of these dimensions and indicators. The AHP process was performed to identify the weightage and prioritize the dimensions and indicators of the nursing human capital.Results: Our analysis showed that, for nursing human capital, health was the most important factor (weight: 34.8%), followed by employee protection (20.4%), work attitude (13.7%), employee stability (10.8%), general nursing training (6.3%), competencies (5.8%), advanced nursing training (4.3%) and clinical nursing experience (3.9%). Conclusion and Implication for Nursing Management:The model would be most useful for nurse administrators in long-range strategic management. Specifically, the model can be used as a reference to form a rating system to analyse nursing human capital. Health promotion programs and employee protection measures targeting nurses could improve nursing human capital in hospitals. K E Y W O R D Sanalytic hierarchy process, human capital, nursing, nursing management, Taiwan

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Inappropriate dietary intake during pregnancy is a key factor in low birth weight (LBW). This study compares LBW between healthy and processed dietary patterns by focusing on women of advanced maternal age. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 327 postpartum women in Taiwan. The participants were assigned to two groups according to their age (≥35 years, n = 151; and 20–34 years, n = 176). An online questionnaire asked women how often they consumed 27 food items during their pregnancy. The prevalence of LBW was higher in the processed dietary pattern (79.3%) than in the healthy pattern (13.78%, p < 0.001). LBW was positively correlated with advanced maternal age (≥35 ages), low pre-pregnancy weight (BMI less than 18.5 kg/m2), insufficient gestational weight gain (GWG), and processed dietary patterns. Older mothers were 5.8 times more likely to have infants with LBW (odds ratio = 5.8; 95% confidence interval 2.0–16.6). A processed dietary pattern was 9.4 times more likely to result in LBW. Insufficient GWG was significantly positively associated with LBW (OR = 4.0; 95%CI 1.4–11.6). Maternal diet during pregnancy is an important modifiable factor for LBW. Prenatal advice should emphasize optimal nutrition, especially in older and underweight women.