Investigative Procedure
After the hospital permission was obtained, the
investigators interviewed the patients separately.
During the interlocutions, the investigators explained
the purposes and the methods of the research,
and the time needed for and extent of data
accumulation. They emphasized the patient’s right
to withdraw from participation and that this interruption
would not affect their rights and interests.
Moreover, the information would be kept confidential.
Then the patients’ agreements were obtained.
The subjects assigned to each group were apprised
of the schedule of meetings, and the purpose
and character of the group, and then group contracts
were obtained. For ethical reasons, the comparison
groups were given health education assistance
and individual consultation instead of the test
intervention during the investigation and after this
research ended.