Sleep disturbance is a significant problem affecting around 50% of cancer patients. Non-pharmacological interventions can be used to improve sleep quality in cancer patients, but little is known about the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of auricular point acupressure (APA) to reduce sleep disturbance in women with ovarian cancer undergoing chemotherapy. A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted at a publicly funded hospital in southern Taiwan. Fifty-five eligible women were approached and 47 women participated. Women randomly assigned to the control group (n = 24) received sleep hygiene practices alone. Women in the intervention group (n = 23) received sleep hygiene practices and APA treatment which involved gentle fingertip pressure at acupoints on the external ear. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was completed at four time points. Forty women completed the trial giving a retention rate of 85%. Women receiving the intervention reported a 65% reduction in sleep disturbance according to PSQI global scores from Time 1 (mean = 13.2) to Time 2 (mean = 4.65) after 4 weeks of APA treatment. There was a further 10% decrease in PSQI scores at Time 3 (mean = 4.21) after 6 weeks of APA treatment. Compared to controls, women receiving APA had significantly lower PSQI mean global scores at both Time 2 and Time 3 (p < .001). APA treatment for women with ovarian cancer produced significantly improved sleep. Participants found the procedure easy to perform. Pilot findings support the feasibility of a longitudinal study with a larger, representative sample.

We recommend the picture book be routinely read and used during venipunctures to decrease procedural distress in preschool-aged children.

Little is known about the effects of distraction techniques when undertaking medical procedures with hospitalized pediatric patients in Asian countries. This study examined the effects of distraction interventions on behavioral distress related to venipuncture procedures in Taiwanese children aged 3 to 7 years. Using concealed randomization, eligible children were allocated to receive a picture book ( n = 92), or animated cartoon ( n = 92) compared with routine oral instructions ( n = 92), when being injected with an intravenous cannula. Two trained observers independently scored the responses of each child using the Observational Scale of Behavioral Distress-Revised before, during, and after the procedure. All children experienced distress during needle insertion, but distress was less in the distraction-based intervention groups. Moreover, distraction interventions were more effective for children aged 4 to 5 years. Our culturally tailored intervention engaged child participants, was age-appropriate, and could be adapted for use in other Chinese cultures.

This study investigated the health and well-being of Vietnamese foreign brides recently immigrated to southern Taiwan. Forty-four participants were recruited during pregnancy and 23 were followed-up at six weeks post-partum. Standardized measures completed during face-to-face interviews revealed high levels of life stress, poor general health, low social support, and difficulty caring for their infant amongst participants. Estimated prevalence of probable antenatal depression was 32%, and 26% for probable post-partum depression using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores of ≥ 13. Probable antenatal depression predicted postnatal depression. Pregnant immigrant women experienced a high level of difficult life circumstances and were significantly more likely to develop depressive symptoms after birth. Immigrant women with low social support during pregnancy were also more likely to report higher EPDS scores than well-supported women. Given these results, prevention and intervention activities are needed to promote maternal psychological well-being in disadvantaged women, especially immigrant brides.

Purpose Many women with ovarian cancer may experience adverse effects from adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery. Non-pharmacological interventions can be used to reduce these side-effects. We tested auricular acupressure to reduce treatment sideeffects in this population. Methods A prospective, quasi-randomized controlled trial was carried out at a publiclyfunded hospital in southern Taiwan. Thirty-four women in the intervention group received auricular acupressure at four points (Shenmen, Subcortex, Endocrine, and Heart), three times per day for three minutes per time, for 6 weeks. Thirty-one women in the control group received routine nursing care alone. The M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) was completed at four time points. Results After receiving the third cycle of chemotherapy, side-effect severity was elevated among both groups. Auricular acupressure reduced side-effects such as disturbed sleep (t =-11.99; p <.001, Eta Squared = .69), fatigue (t =-2.57; p <.01, Eta Squared = .10), and lack of appetite (t =-2.37; p = .024, Eta Squared = .08). Conclusion Auricular acupressure can reduce adverse side-effects of chemotherapy in women with ovarian cancer. Future studies with a larger sample and using some laboratory-based tests (such as C-reactive protein, Interleukin-6) are warranted to confirm the results.