Biomedical subjects

Su-Chen Kuo

Publications and source records attributed to Su-Chen Kuo.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

[Constructing a breastfeeding-friendly workplace: demonstration from hospital].

To breastfeed is a right of women and infants. However, breastfeeding is viewed as a " Private domain" rather than as a "public domain" issue. Many people therefore think that it is unnecessary to use public policy to solve problems associated with breastfeeding. Nurses, due to heavy work loads and responsibilities, and shift rotation, have to face many difficulties when they combine breastfeeding and work. Since the question of whether nurses may successfully breastfeed their offspring in the workplace is one of particular significance, this article considers the importance of breastfeeding in the workplace and nurses experiences thereof, and the international criteria for a friendly breastfeeding workplace for women, in order to discuss ways in which Taiwan's health care institutions should create breastfeeding-friendly environment.

Breast Feeding↗

PubMed2005

[Humanized childbirth].

Childbirth is a major event in a family. The expectant parent's perception of the childbirth experience influences his or her development as a parent. Making childbirth a positive and satisfying experience for women is the responsibility of health care providers. Women want to have physical and emotional privacy during labor and delivery, and to experience both in a friendly, comfortable environment. For women expected to undergo normal deliveries, humanized childbirth is one accessible approach. This article explores the definition and evolution of humanized childbirth and the care practice that it involves. It also explores birth plans and birth experiences, and the improvements necessary to routine labor practices to enable women to participate in decision making about their childbirth experiences. The author emphasizes that when health-care providers recognize the value of humanized childbirth and make changes accordingly, the dignity of women's childbirth experiences will be enhanced.

Decision Making↗

PubMed2005

[A woman's perception of the experience of homebirth assisted by midwife].

The purpose of this study was to understand the essence of midwife care throughout the pregnancy period, ending with the homebirth. Upon learning that the client had given birth at home, the investigator phoned her three months after she had done so. After having explained the purpose of this study, the investigator obtained the client's consent form on arrival at her house. With two 90-minute interviews being conducted, the investigator did not consider the data to be complete until they stopped producing new issues. In accordance with Husserl's phenomenology and the steps of Colaizzi's analysis method, the data's rigor was sustained. Data were classified into four majors themes relating to the client's feelings. These were (1) receiving care in accordance with the woman's wishes, (2) having the right to involve herself in decision making, (3) being supported in her ability to give birth by herself, (4) Strengthening family intimacy. This study shows that homebirth can become a positive experience, only if the pregnant woman has got full support from her family and health professionals before and during the homebirth. It is suggested that homebirth should be encouraged for those women who are healthy and strong enough to undertake it.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[The lived experience of postpartum women receiving rooming-in care].

A phenomenological study was conducted to explore the lived experience of postpartum women receiving rooming-in care. Subjects (n = 21) were recruited from a medical center in Taichung. Data were collected by a demographic questionnaire, open-ended interview guide and a tape recorder. Content analysis by Giorgi's method was used, and identified four themes. Because of early contact women who receive rooming-in care in postpartum can perceive the happiness and suffering of nursing their baby, promote the success of breastfeeding, and increase family cohesion, but in this process women also have some needs and concerns. The results of this study can enable professional staff to understand the lived experience of postpartum woman receiving rooming-in care, so that nurses can provide care that meets their needs and enhance their willingness to participate. In this way, rooming-in care can be extended into family-centered maternity care and create baby-friendly hospitals.

Female↗

PubMed2003

Effects of LI4 and BL 67 acupressure on labor pain and uterine contractions in the first stage of labor.

Acupressure is said to promote the circulation of blood and qi, the harmony of yin and yang, and the secretion of neurotransmitters, thus maintaining the normal functions of the human body and providing comfort. However, there has been little research-based evidence to support the positive effects of acupressure in the area of obstetric nursing. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of LI4 and BL67 acupressure on labor pain and uterine contractions during the first stage of labor. An experimental study with a pretest and posttest control group design was utilized. A total of 127 parturient women were randomly assigned to three groups. Each group received only one of the following treatments, LI4 and BL67 acupressure, light skin stroking, or no treatment/conversation only. Data collected from the VAS and external fetal monitoring strips were used for analysis. Findings indicated that there was a significant difference in decreased labor pain during the active phase of the first stage of labor among the three groups. There was no significant difference in effectiveness of uterine contractions during the first stage of labor among the three groups. Results of the study confirmed the effect of LI4 and BL67 acupressure in lessening labor pain during the active phase of the first stage of labor. There were no verified effects on uterine contractions.

Acupressure↗

PubMed2003

Factors implicated in the outcome of pregnancies complicated by acute respiratory failure.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors predictive of the outcome of acute respiratory failure during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all pregnant women diagnosed with acute respiratory failure at a tertiary referral center from January 1, 1995, to September 30, 2000. Maternal characteristics, etiology of respiratory failure and treatment were compared between survivors and nonsurvivors. RESULTS: Twenty patients with acute respiratory failure were identified; 16 of them survived (mortality, 20%). Acute respiratory failure was diagnosed in the postpartum period in 16 (80%), and the majority of cases occurred in the first 2 postpartum days (93.8%). There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of patient characteristics, immediate precipitants of acute respiratory failure (including pneumonia, cardiogenic pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, asthma, pulmonary embolism and amniotic fluid embolism) and laboratory characteristics except for pH. However, patients who manifested disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) and sepsis as precipitating causes or complications of the immediate precipitating disease entities as well as initial loss of consciousness were predictive of poor maternal outcome. CONCLUSION: The immediate etiology of acute respiratory failure is not predictive of maternal outcome, but lower pH, initial loss of consciousness, DIC and sepsis are risk factors for maternal mortality.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2002

A survey of obstetricians willingness to practice collaboratively with midwives in Taiwan.

This study was designed to investigate obstetricians willingness to practice collaboratively with midwives in Taiwan. Systematic random sampling was used to access the 500 participants from the 2,256 registered members of the Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Republic of China. A questionnaire and four open-ended questions were designed to examine obstetricians willingness to work collaboratively with midwives and other related factors. A total of 78 physicians returned the questionnaires, providing a response rate of 15.6%. Thirty-six (46.2%) of subjects worked as private obstetricians, with a mean age of 47.1 years. About 79.5% (n = 62) had over 10 years of experiences in their role. Fifty percent (n = 39) worked in areas with birth rats less than 50 infants per month. The findings of the current study demonstrate, regarding the seven midwifery practice items on the questionnaire, that all 78 obstetricians were unwilling to work collaboratively with midwives. However, results showed that if midwifery education were to be advanced to college level, the degree of willingness to work collaboratively with midwives improved significantly (t > 1.96, p <.05). Furthermore, 56.4% (n = 44) obstetricians would then agree to work collaboratively with midwives. However, 43.6% (n = 34) were unwilling to accept midwives as independent practitioners. Reasons included: unwillingness to share risks, worry about the incapability of midwives, worry that it would impair the professional image of physicians, and unwillingness to share interests. The authors conclude that advancing and enhancing midwifery education in Taiwan should be the first step to negotiate in order to raise the profile of midwives specifically and the midwifery profession generally. Ultimately, such a strategy would improve the quality of care provided to women and their infants and consequently improve the health and social well-being of present and future generations.

Adult↗