Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of medication adherence in patients with heart failure and explore the factors related to it.
Methods
Cross-sectional and descriptive surveys were conducted in 107 patients with heart failure who visited C Hospital in D City. Data were collected from patients using self-report questionnaires between May 2015 and November 2016, and their medical records were identified. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analyses using SPSS.
Results
The mean score of medication adherence was 10.23±2.70. Patients with long-term adverse effects showed worse medication adherence than those without long-term adverse effects (t=2.55, p=.012). Medication adherence positively correlated with depression (r=.34, p=.001) and barriers (r=.48, p=.001) but negatively correlated with attitude (r=-.39, p=.001). The hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that the model with two independent variables of long-term adverse effects (β=-.23, p=.008) and barriers (β=.37, p<.001) explained the 29.6% in medication adherence (F=11.93, p<.001).
Conclusion
To improve medication adherence, a nursing strategy to reduce long-term adverse effects and barriers accompanied by continuous monitoring is required.

Citations

• A predictive model for medication adherence in older adults with heart failure
  Eun Ha Oh, Chun-Ja Kim, Elizabeth A Schlenk
  European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing.2024; 23(6): 635.     CrossRef
• One‐year trajectories of self‐care behaviours and unplanned hospital readmissions among patients with heart failure: A prospective longitudinal study
  Youn‐Jung Son, Insil Jang
  Journal of Clinical Nursing.2023; 32(17-18): 6427.     CrossRef
• The Role of Depression on Treatment Adherence in Patients with Heart Failure–a Systematic Review of the Literature
  Valentina Poletti, Francesco Pagnini, Paolo Banfi, Eleonora Volpato
  Current Cardiology Reports.2022; 24(12): 1995.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Tai Chi exercise on muscle strength, balance, flexibility and bone mineral density among community dwelling elderly women.
METHODS
A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a nonequivalent comparison group was utilized, Elderly women were recruited from the community settings and assigned to either the treatment group (n=30) or the comparison group (n=34). Both groups completed the pretest and the posttest measures at six months with an 29.7% of dropouts. Tai Chi exercise was performed for 60 minutes, three times a week for 24 weeks. The study participants were referred to the sports clinic of the university hospital where an exercise therapist and a technician measured muscle strength, balance, flexibility, and bone mineral density without the knowledge of the group assignment. Data were collected from June 14, 2010 to May 27, 2011.
RESULTS
At the completion of 6 month Tai Chi exercise, the experimental group showed a significant difference in knee flexor strength (t=3.26, p=.002), flexibility (t=-2.93, p=.005), and bone mineral density in femur (t=2.20, p=.032), compared to the control group.
CONCLUSION
Tai Chi exercise could be performed safely to community dwelling elderly women and effective for preventing declining in physical function in this population. Whether or not this health benefits would lead fall prevention will require further study.

Citations

• A trend of Tai Chi in osteoporosis research: A bibliometric analysis
  Libing Liang, Mingyue Zhang, Kunpeng Li, Jianmiao Hou, Caiqin Wu
  Complementary Therapies in Medicine.2024; 86: 103083.     CrossRef
• Effects of 12-week Tai Chi program on physical function, depression, and quality of life among cognitively impaired older adults: a feasibility study
  Hyunkyoung Oh, Rhayun Song, Seon Joo Kim
  BMC Geriatrics.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The Effects of Tai Chi Chuan Exercise Training on the Lower Extremities of Middle-Aged and Elderly
  Bo-Jen Ko, Ting-Ting Lee, Tai-Yen Hsu, Chen-Fu Huang
  Applied Sciences.2022; 12(9): 4460.     CrossRef
• The effects of tai chi chuan exercise training on countermovement jump performance in the elderly
  Bo-Jen Ko, Tai-Yen Hsu, Chen-Fu Huang
  Research in Sports Medicine.2020; 28(4): 563.     CrossRef
• The Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on Hope, Dependency, and Perceived Health Status of Elderly Women
  Yong Ju Park, Ja Ok Kim
  Journal of muscle and joint health.2014; 21(2): 106.     CrossRef