Compliance with Standard Precaution and Its Relationship with Views on Infection Control and Prevention Policy among Chinese University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: COVID-19 has placed tremendous pressure on the global public health system and has changed daily life.

Aim: To examine the relationships between the perceived threat, perceived stress, coping responses and infection control practices towards the COVID-19 pandemic among university students in China.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional survey, 4392 students were recruited from six universities in two regions of China.

Decision-making preferences on end-of-life care for older people: Exploration and comparison of Japan, the Hong Kong SAR and South Korea in East Asia.

Aims And Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine and compare decision-making preferences on end-of-life care for older people in Japan, the Hong Kong SAR and South Korea.

Background: Cultural values and beliefs influence decision-making on end-of-life care.

Design: A cross-sectional design was adopted.

Associations between demographic characteristics, perceived threat, perceived stress, coping responses and adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures among Chinese healthcare students.

Aim: To investigate the associations between demographic characteristics, perceived threat, perceived stress, coping responses and adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures in Chinese Healthcare students.

Design: A cross-sectional survey collecting data in Hong Kong and Fujian Province of China in April 2020.

Methods: A convenience and snowball sample of 2706 students aged 18 years or older and studying a healthcare programme were recruited in tertiary education institutions/universities in Hong Kong and Putian.

Emergency nurses' perceptions regarding the risks appraisal of the threat of the emerging infectious disease situation in emergency departments.

Emerging infectious diseases are considered as a pressing challenge to global public health. Throughout public health response to emerging infectious diseases, emergency nurses are situated at the forefront of the healthcare system. The present study has explored emergency nurses' perceptions regarding the risks appraisal of the threat of the emerging infectious disease situation in emergency department context.

Survival prediction among nursing home residents: A longitudinal study.

Aim: To determine the survival time and predictors of survival of residents in a nursing home.

Methods: Nursing home residents admitted from June 2008 (when the nursing home started operating) to December 2012 (n = 230) to a new nursing home in Hong Kong were prospectively followed. The predictors of survival in the residents were assessed annually, with the exception of those who did not want to continue with the study, or were hospitalized, discharged from the nursing home or died, to compare changes occurring from 2008 to 2012.

A Pilot Randomized, Controlled Study of Nanocrystalline Silver, Manuka Honey, and Conventional Dressing in Healing Diabetic Foot Ulcer.

Nanocrystalline silver (nAg) and Manuka honey (MH) dressing have increasing popularity for treating diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). This study was an open-label randomized controlled trial with three parallel groups' design in examining the preliminary effectiveness of nAg against MH and conventional dressing in healing DFU in terms of ulcer healing, ulcer infection, and inflammation. 31 participants (11 in the nAg group, 10 in the MH group, and 10 in the convention group) diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were enrolled.

A prediction model of blood pressure for telemedicine.

This paper presents a new study based on a machine learning technique, specifically an artificial neural network, for predicting systolic blood pressure through the correlation of variables (age, BMI, exercise level, alcohol consumption level, smoking status, stress level, and salt intake level). The study was carried out using a database containing a variety of variables/factors. Each database of raw data was split into two parts: one part for training the neural network and the remaining part for testing the performance of the network.

Study protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of a comprehensive pressure ulcer prevention programme for private for-profit nursing homes.

Background: Because the demand for government-subsidized nursing homes in Hong Kong outstrips the supply, the number of for-profit private nursing homes has been increasing rapidly. However, the standard of care in such homes is always criticized. Pressure ulcers are a major long-term care issue that is closely associated with the quality of care delivered in nursing home settings.

The Anti-Inflammatory and Antibacterial Action of Nanocrystalline Silver and Manuka Honey on the Molecular Alternation of Diabetic Foot Ulcer: A Comprehensive Literature Review.

Honey and silver have been used since ancient times for treating wounds. Their widespread clinical application has attracted attention in light of the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. While there have been a number of studies exploring the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects of manuka honey and nanocrystalline silver, their advantages and limitations with regard to the treatment of chronic wounds remain a subject of debate.

Topical Agents and Dressings for Pilonidal Sinus Wound Healing by Secondary Intention: A Scoping Review.

Pilonidal disease (PD) is a chronic and debilitating condition. The overall aim of the scoping review is to map and summarize a wide range of evidence to examine which topical agent or dressing is effective in promoting pilonidal wound healing by secondary intention. Review of this cumulative body of evidence will inform care and guide dressing selection for PD related wounds and delineate future research priorities based on identified knowledge gaps and clinical practice issues.

Beliefs and knowledge about vaccination against AH1N1pdm09 infection and uptake factors among Chinese parents.

Vaccination against AH1N1pdm09 infection (human swine infection, HSI) is an effective measure of preventing pandemic infection, especially for high-risk groups like children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years. This study used a cross-sectional correlation design and aimed to identify predicting factors of parental acceptance of the HSI vaccine (HSIV) and uptake of the vaccination by their preschool-aged children in Hong Kong. A total of 250 parents were recruited from four randomly selected kindergartens.

Influenza vaccine preference and uptake among older people in nine countries.

Aim: This paper is a report of a study delineating factors that influence older people's preferences and uptake of the influenza vaccine in nine countries.

Background: Vaccination uptake for the aging population in many countries still remains below the World Health Organization recommended rate. Older people who perceive higher susceptibility to and severity of influenza, and more benefits from vaccination and action cues prompting vaccination, tend to accept the vaccine, but those with more perceived barriers to vaccination are less likely to accept it.

The effect of Chinese food therapy on community dwelling Chinese hypertensive patients with Yin-deficiency.

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the effectiveness of Chinese food therapy in correcting the Yin-deficiency and to examine its impact on the patients' quality of life and hypertension control.

Background: Epidemiological studies have shown 14-50% of people with hypertension have Yin-deficiency. Whether restoring the Yin-Yang balance by means of Chinese food therapy can help to better manage patients with hypertension has yet to be examined.

Pressure ulcer development in older residents in nursing homes: influencing factors.

Aim: This paper is a report of a study assessing pressure ulcer incidence and factors affecting pressure ulcer development among older nursing home residents.

Background: Previous researchers have shown that demographic, clinical, health status, risk and human resources factors affect pressure ulcer development among older people in various healthcare settings, but none has investigated their interactive effects among older nursing home residents.

Method: This was a prospective cohort study involving 346 residents aged 65 years or over from four private nursing homes in Hong Kong.

Assessing predictive validity of the modified Braden scale for prediction of pressure ulcer risk of orthopaedic patients in an acute care setting.

Aims And Objectives: To assess and compare the predictive validity of the modified Braden and Braden scales and to identify which of the modified Braden subscales are predictive in assessing pressure ulcer risk among orthopaedic patients in an acute care setting.

Background: Although the Braden scale has better predictive validity, literature has suggested that it can be used in conjunction with other pressure ulcer risk calculators or that some other subscales be added. To increase the predictive power of the Braden scale, a modified Braden scale by adding body build for height and skin type and excluding nutrition was developed.

What factors affect influenza vaccine uptake among community-dwelling older Chinese people in Hong Kong general outpatient clinics?

Aim: This study aimed to identify the influenza vaccination rate among community-dwelling older Chinese people in Hong Kong general outpatient clinics and to identify the factors affecting their vaccine uptake.

Background: Community-dwelling older Chinese people in Hong Kong underuse influenza vaccination. The first step to increase their vaccination rates is to understand the factors affecting their influenza vaccine uptake.

Chinese older people in Hong Kong: health beliefs about influenza vaccination.

A health belief survey of 70 community-dwelling Chinese older people was carried out in five general outpatient clinics in the Kowloon East hospital cluster of Hong Kong. Subjects were asked about their susceptibility to influenza, their perceptions of its severity, and benefits of and barriers to vaccination. Beliefs in their own good health, the effectiveness of cultural measures adopted to prevent influenza and its curability may be among the reasons why those who decline the vaccination thought they were unlikely to catch the virus.

Participation in health-promoting behaviour: influences on community-dwelling older Chinese people.

Aim: This paper reports a study to determine the factors affecting community-dwelling older Chinese people's health-promoting behaviour in the domains of physical activity, healthy dietary practices and stress management, and to identify any barriers to these behaviours.

Background: Previous studies have identified factors affecting different types of health-promoting behaviours, including perceived self-efficacy, perceived benefits and five individual characteristics (age, sex, marital status, education and perceived health) of older non-Chinese people. However, few studies have simultaneously taken these factors into account in examining community-dwelling Chinese older people's health-promoting behaviour.

Stress-management methods of the community-dwelling elderly in Hong Kong: implications for tailoring a stress-reduction program.

This study aims to explore the preferences of the elderly in adopting five stress-management methods and to identify the reasons for nonadoption. A convenience sample of 212 community-dwelling elders age 60 or older was obtained from four multiservice centers for the elderly in Hong Kong. The findings suggest that the elderly prefer to manage stress on their own rather than rely on social support from family, friends, and professionals.