Lay health coaching intervention for older adults with chronic diseases: study protocol for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial.

Background: A large proportion of older adults suffer from chronic diseases. Health coaching is a promising intervention that enhances individuals' health knowledge and supports changes in health behaviours. Even though health professionals usually conduct health coaching interventions, lay health workers from different backgrounds account for a growing segment of health coaches over the years.

Differences in intention to receive clinician-collected and self-collected samples for HPV DNA testing and its determinants between heterosexual males and females in Hong Kong, China: findings of a territory-wide household survey.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is prevalent among people who are sexually active. This study aimed to compare the levels of behavioral intention to receive free clinician-collected and self-collected samples for HPV DNA testing and its determinants between heterosexual males and females in Hong Kong, China.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a territory-wide survey conducted in Hong Kong between May 2021 and March 2022.

Invitation strategy of vaginal HPV self-sampling to improve participation in cervical cancer screening: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling is recognized as a feasible option for enhancing screening for cervical cancer, particularly among hard-to-reach women. The magnitude of the effectiveness of screening participation under different invitation strategies was reported. This review seeks to compare the effectiveness of invitation strategies in increasing screening participation of HPV self-sampling across diverse study settings.

Public Preference for Off-Label Use of Drugs for Cancer Treatment and Relative Importance of Associated Adverse Events: A Discrete Choice Experiment and Best-Worst Scaling.

Background And Objective: Patients may get more treatment options with off-label use of drugs while exposed to unknown risks of adverse events. Little is known about the public or demand-side perspective on off-label drug use, which is important to understand how to use off-label treatment and devise financial assistance. This study aimed to quantify public preference for off-label cancer treatment outcomes, process, and costs, and perceived importance of associated adverse events.

The risk of hospitalization associated with hot nights and excess nighttime heat in a subtropical metropolis: a time-series study in Hong Kong, 2000-2019.

Background: Recent studies showed increased mortality risks after hot nights, but their effect on hospitalizations, especially in vulnerable populations, remains under-studied.

Methods: Daily hospitalization, meteorological (including hourly), and air pollution data were collected for the hot seasons (May-October) of 2000-19 in Hong Kong. We derived three hot-night metrics: HNday, daily minimum temperature ≥28 °C, the governmental definition of hot nights; HNe, hot night excess calculated by summing heat excess of hourly temperatures above 28 °C at night; and HNday, hot nights classified using the 90th percentile HNe (17.

Patient experience and satisfaction with shared decision-making: A cross-sectional study among outpatients.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate how doctor-patient communication, trust in doctors impacted patients' experience and satisfaction in shared decision-making (SDM).

Methods: This study is based on the data from a cross-sectional survey (n = 12,401) conducted in 27 public specialist outpatient clinics in Hong Kong.

Results: The multivariable regression models revealed that doctors' better communication skills were associated with lower decision-making involvement (odd ratio, 0.

Risk Factors Associated With General and Abdominal Obesity Among South Asian Minorities in Hong Kong.

South Asians have become a sizable ethnic minority in Hong Kong with unique health and social needs often being overlooked. Elevated obesity risk among South Asians has been highlighted in high-income Western settings; however, relevant local evidence is scarce. This cross-sectional study aims to explore the obesity prevalence and related risk factors among South Asians in Hong Kong.

The influence of written medication reminder on patient experience among older adult patients: a repeat cross-sectional study.

Background: Older adult patients are particularly vulnerable to medication-related issues during the discharge process. To enhance medication discharge education and patient experience, a written medication reminder, incorporating crucial medication side effects and warning signs, was implemented in medicine wards. This study aimed to examine the influence of this reminder on patient experience and medication-taking behaviors among older adults in public healthcare settings.

Age Differences in Electronic Mental Health Literacy: Qualitative Study.

Background: Electronic mental health literacy (eMHL) is critical for accessing and effectively using digital mental health resources. However, there is a paucity of research on how eMHL varies across age groups.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate differences in eMHL among young, middle-aged, and older adults; provide insights into the needs, behaviors, and attitudes of different age groups in relation to digital mental health resources; and ultimately, inform the improvement of mental health services.

Implementing the information system for older adult patients post-discharge self-management: a qualitative study.

Background: Discharging older adult patients from the hospital poses risks due to their vulnerable conditions, complex instructions and limited health literacy. Insufficient information about medication side effects adds to patient concerns. To address this, a post-discharge information summary system was developed.

Outcomes and Hospital Service Use Among Patients With COPD in a Nurse- and Allied Health-Led Clinic.

Importance: Multidisciplinary disease management efforts enable the improvement in lung function among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but there is little evidence of its association with risks of adverse health outcomes and health care service use.

Objective: To examine the association between the use of a nurse- and allied health-led primary care clinic for respiratory patients, namely the Nurse and Allied Health Clinic-Respiratory Care (NAHC-Respiratory), and their risks of mortality and morbidity and health care service use.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This territory-wide, population-based, propensity-matched, retrospective cohort study used data from the electronic health records of all patients who used public health care services in Hong Kong, China, from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2019.

Caregiver Employees' Mental Well-Being in Hong Kong.

Background: The rapidly aging global population has increased the demand for caregivers. Many caregivers simultaneously engage in paid employment, and the dual role makes the needs of caregiver employees conceivably more remarkable. However, there is a gap in the literature about the specific needs of caregiver employees.

Social Support, Resilience, and Mental Health Among Three High-Risk Groups in Hong Kong: A Mediation Analysis.

Objectives: To compare the prevalence of anxiety/depression, resilience, and social support among nurses, foreign domestic helpers (FDHs), and residents living in subdivided units (SDUs), and to examine their associations in these high-risk groups in Hong Kong during Omicron waves.

Methods: We recruited 1,014 nurses, 621 FDHs, and 651 SDU residents from December 2021 to May 2022 in this cross-sectional survey. The depression, anxiety, social support, and resilience levels were measured by the validated scales.

Improving mental health literacy using web- or app-based interventions: A scoping review.

Background: Given the rapid advancement in technology, the Internet has grown to play a significant role in the field of healthcare. Individuals can now access a profusion of easily available materials for self-management of their health. The purpose of this review is to describe Web/App-based interventions that are primarily or secondarily designed to improve mental health literacy (MHL) and to investigate the effectiveness of online interventions for improving mental health.

Health-related quality of life in primary care patients: a comparison between EQ-5D-5L utility score and EQ-visual analogue scale.

Objective: The EQ-VAS is an important component of the EQ-5D questionnaire. However, there is limited evidence comparing its performance to the EQ-5D utility score, which restricts its use in the population. This study aimed to EQ-5D-5L utility score and EQ-visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) in primary care patients in Hong Kong (HK).

The EORTC QLU-C10D: the Hong Kong valuation study.

Objective: The EORTC QLU-C10D is a new preference-based measure derived from the EORTC QLQ-C30. Country-specific value sets are required to support the cost-utility analysis of cancer-related interventions. This study aimed to generate an EORTC QLU-C10 value set for Hong Kong (HK).

Thinking beyond the virus: perspective of patients on the quality of hospital care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has a huge impact on the healthcare system and affects the normal delivery of routine healthcare services to hospitalized patients. This study aimed to examine the differences in patient experience of hospital service before and during COVID-19 among the discharged adult population.

Methods: A territory-wide patient experience survey was conducted before and during COVID-19 (between October 2019 and April 2020) among patients discharged from the main acute and rehabilitation public hospitals in Hong Kong.

A scoping review of implementation science theories, models, and frameworks - an appraisal of purpose, characteristics, usability, applicability, and testability.

Background: A proliferation of theories, models, and frameworks (TMFs) have been developed in the implementation science field to facilitate the implementation process. The basic features of these TMFs have been identified by several reviews. However, systematic appraisals on the quality of these TMFs are inadequate.

Association between ambient BTEX mixture and neurological hospitalizations: A multicity time-series study in Taiwan.

Background: Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes, collectively known as BTEX, are hazardous chemical mixtures, and their neurological health effects have not been thoroughly evaluated. We examined the association between BTEX exposure and neurological hospital admissions.

Methods: This was a multicity time-series study conducted in five major Taiwanese cities.

Relative Validity of a Short Food Frequency Questionnaire for Disadvantaged Families in Hong Kong.

Individuals with lower socioeconomic status are more vulnerable in securing good nutritional quality. It was also found that people who had received a lower education level had greater difficulty in completing the conventional dietary assessment such as a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Previous studies have demonstrated the validity of a short FFQ in Hong Kong's pregnant women, but its validity among a wider community was still unknown.

Screening Hesitancy of a Universal Voluntary-based Rapid Antigen Test for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) During Omicron Wave in Hong Kong.

Background: The Hong Kong government distributed rapid antigen test (RAT) kits to households across the city and called for a universal voluntary testing exercise for three consecutive days during the Omicron wave to identify infected persons early for quarantine and disrupt transmission chains in the community. We conducted a survey to evaluate the participation rates and explore the determinants of voluntary RAT adoption and hesitancy.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted through computer-assisted telephone interviews from 19 May to 16 June 2022 using an overlapping dual-frame telephone number sampling design.

Assessment of eHealth literacy to reduce financial toxicity and improve shared decision-making in cancer patients: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the associations between eHealth literacy, preferences for financial decision-making, and financial toxicity (FT) in a sample of Chinese cancer patients.

Methods: Eligible cancer patients were invited to participate in a cross-sectional survey from January to April 2021. Three measures (eHealth literacy scale, control preference scale, and COST) were used to analyze patients' eHealth literacy, decisional preferences, and FT, respectively.

Association of social isolation with health status among community-dwelling Chinese older adults living with homecare services: a cross-sectional survey in Hong Kong.

Background: Defined as having few social relationships or infrequent social contact with family, friends, and the community, social isolation is a public health crisis. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of social isolation and explore the association between social isolation and health status among community-dwelling Chinese Older Adults living with homecare services.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey with a structured questionnaire conducted among older adults aged ≥60 in the Central Kowloon District of Hong Kong during 2017-2018.