Effects of social skills training on improving social skills of patients with schizophrenia

This study examined the effect of conversation and assertive skills training on social skills of schizophrenic patients. Patients who met the study criteria were randomly assigned to the experimental or control group. The experimental group received eight group training sessions and the control group received routine nursing care treatment. Data were collected at pretreatment (before group treatment), intratreatment (after fourth group treatment), posttreatment (after eighth group treatment), and follow-up (1 month after the end of group treatment). Conversation and assertive skills of the experimental group improved significantly with treatment and were superior to the control group at intratreatment, posttreatment, and follow-up. We suggest incorporating social skills training into treatment plans for patients with schizophrenia to improve their social skills ability.     

Evaluation of an assertiveness training program on nursing and medical students' assertiveness, self-esteem, and interpersonal communication satisfaction

This study's objective was to evaluate the effect of an assertiveness training program on nursing and medical students' assertiveness, self-esteem, and interpersonal communication satisfaction. Using a longitudinal research design, 69 participants whose scores on the Assertive Scale were < or = 50% (i.e., low assertiveness) and who were willing to participate were included and assigned to an experimental group (33 subjects) or comparison group (36 participants; participants were matched with the experimental group by grade and sex). Participants in the experimental group received eight 2-h sessions of assertiveness training once a week. Data were collected before and after training and again one month after the end of the training using the Rotter's Internal versus External Control of Reinforcement Scale, Sex Role Inventory, Assertive Scale, Esteem Scale, and Interpersonal Communication Satisfaction Inventory. The generalized estimated equation (GEE) method was used for statistical analysis. The assertiveness and self-esteem of the experimental group were significantly improved in nursing and medical students after assertiveness training, although interpersonal communication satisfaction of the experimental group was not significantly improved after the training program.     

Effects of Acupressure on Sleep Quality and Psychological Distress in Nursing Home Residents: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of acupressure with sham acupressure in older-adult nursing home residents presenting with poor sleep quality and psychological distress.DesignProspective, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial.Setting and participantsSixty-two nursing home residents with poor sleep quality and psychological distress participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 31) receiving acupressure at true acupoints (Baihui, Juque, Neiguan, Tianzhu, and Yongchung) or control group (n = 31) receiving acupressure at sham points. All participants received 20 minutes of acupressure before sleeping 3 times a week for 8 weeks. All participants were blinded to group allocation.MeasuresSleep quality and psychological distress were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Kessler Psychological Distress scale, respectively. Both groups' outcomes were assessed by assessors blinded to group allocation at the baseline, the end of the intervention, and 1 month after the intervention.ResultsThe experimental group demonstrated significantly more improvement in sleep quality than did the control group at the end of the intervention (10.5 vs 13.3) and 1 month after the intervention (8.3 vs 14.2; both P ≤ .001). Moreover, the experimental group had lower psychological distress levels than did the control group at 1 month after the intervention (14.6 vs 17.9, P = .05). Furthermore, significant differences in mean sleep quality (F = 60.8, P < .001) and psychological distress (F = 24.6, P < .001) were observed in the experimental group between the measurements at baseline and after the intervention.ConclusionsAcupressure at true acupoints improves sleep quality, reduces psychological distress, and provides more clinically beneficial effects compared with that at sham points. Future studies should examine whether these effects are maintained in the long term.     

The Construction and Evaluation of Executive Attention Training to Improve Selective Attention,Focused Attention,and Divided Attention for Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectivesTo examine the immediate and long-term effects of executive attention training on selective attention, focused attention, and divided attention in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.MethodsA double-blind, multisite randomized controlled trial at five sites. Seventy participants (mean age: 78.19 ± 7.22 years) were assigned to an experimental group (executive attention training, n = 35) or an active control group (n = 35). The training duration was the same for both groups (45 minutes per session, 3 times per week, 18 sessions in total). Primary outcome measure was selective attention (Digit Span Task). Secondary outcome measures included focused attention (Stroop Color Word Test) and divided attention (Trail-Making Test Part B). Data were collected at pretest, post-test, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up.ResultsIn GEE analysis, findings indicated a significant improvement in selective attention at post-test, whereas divided attention showed significant reducing omission error at 3-month follow-up. There was no significant effect of group in focused attention associated with the executive attention training compared with active control group.ConclusionThe executive attention training significantly improved selective attention and divided attention performance. Future studies should identify transfer effects of attention training, and that can employ early screening to provide integrated attention training, and decrease its relevant risks on competency in performing daily activities, such as falling and driving.     

Factors relevant to patient assaultive behavior and assault in acute inpatient psychiatric units in Taiwan

The purpose of this article was to explore patient assault in acute inpatient psychiatric units and to examine the interplay between the patients, environmental staff factors related to assaults. A log system for recording assault occurrences was used. Four trained research assistants conducted a chart review and interviewed the nursing staff to complete the overt aggression scale, staff observation aggression scale, and environmental assessment questionnaire separately at the four hospitals. The data showed 855 episodes of assaults from 287 patients. The assault incident density ranged from 1.11 to 1.95 per 1,000 patient days. Patient factors (diagnosis, history of assaultive behavior, the duration of admission, and smoking history), environmental factors (patient/nurse ratio and space density) and staff factors (age, length of work experience, training program received in assault prevention and management) were contributing variables to patients' assaultive behavior. This reinforces the complexity of models in predicting assaults among psychiatric in-patients.