The hemodialysis regimen is an inevitable and mandatory treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). During the dialysis journey, patients may experience maladaptation in terms of sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Psychosocial resources such as social support may have beneficial influences on health outcomes, but studies have rarely analyzed the integrated relationships among risk factors which include pain, sleep disturbances, duration since diagnosis and various health outcomes in Taiwan. This study aimed to bridge this gap by investigating the relationships among related risk factors, social support, sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, and HRQOL, which is composed of physical quality of life (PQOL) and mental quality of life (MQOL), in ESRD patients. A correlational design was used, and 178 patients aged 20 years or older were recruited via convenience sample. The relationships among the risk factors, the mediators, depressive symptoms, PQOL, and MQOL were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The findings showed that more than 70% of the participants reported poor sleep quality, and 32% reported depressive symptoms. When participants had greater pain and more sleep disorders, they were more likely to be depressed. When participants had more appraisal support; they had better PQOL and fewer depressive symptoms. Overall, the structural equation model explained 31.8% of the variance in self-reported depressive symptoms, 29.4% of the variance in PQOL, and 5.7% of the variance in MQOL. Moreover, appraisal support enhanced PQOL and reduced depressive symptoms by exerting its two mediating effects on sleep disturbances. Our findings indicate that patients with ESRD who have more social support have better PQOL and MQOL and fewer depressive symptoms than those with less social support.

To investigate the relationships among learned resourcefulness, quality of life, and depressive symptoms of women with breast cancer. In addition, the direct and indirect effects of learned resourcefulness among disease characteristics and quality of life and depressive symptoms were examined. Descriptive, correlational, and predictive. Two teaching hospitals in southern Taiwan. 150 women with breast cancer. Participants completed demographic information concerning disease characteristics and learned resourcefulness via the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression questionnaire and the SF-36 health survey during visits to the outpatient oncology department. Learned resourcefulness, depressive symptoms, and quality of life. About 35% of the participants had depressive symptoms. Participants with lower income and those undergoing adjuvant therapy displayed more depressive symptoms. Learned resourcefulness was a strong predictor of depressive symptoms and quality of life, but no mediating effects of resourcefulness on depressive symptoms existed. In addition, when participants had better income and were at a lower stage, a better quality of life was evident. A high amount of patients with breast cancer experience depressive symptoms. Learned resourcefulness can be a method of helping patients to improve their self-control behaviors and change their negative thoughts. Nurses and healthcare professionals can apply resourcefulness strategies to promote quality of life and to prevent depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer.

Cancer-related treatments may lead to side effects that undermine a patients’ quality of life (QOL). Although cognitive behavioral therapy plus coping management (CBTM) may appear to improve health-related QOL in cancer patients, limited documentation exists on the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for patients with breast cancer (BC) during recovery. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of CBTM for sleep quality, anxiety, depression, and health among patients with BC. An experimental study was conducted to assess the efficacy of a CBTM intervention (experimental group = 36, control group = 34). The experimental group received a 12-week CBTM intervention focused on their identity, challenges, the replacement of dysfunctional beliefs, coping skills, relaxation, and rehabilitation exercises, while the control group received usual care. The follow-up evaluations were performed immediately after the intervention (T1), and at one (T2) and three months (T3). The generalized estimating equation (GEE) model showed significant effects from the CBTM intervention over time. The experimental group showed significant improvement in sleep quality, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and significant increases in their mental and physical QOL from baseline, T1, T2, and T3—except for the mental and physical QOL showing no significant change at T3—while the control group receiving usual care showed no changes over time. The results suggest that CBTM increases sleep quality, reduces anxiety and depressive symptoms, and enhances health-related QOL for participants. CBTM is efficacious and can be provided by nurses to enhance patients’ coping skills and consequently improve their QOL.