Attitudes and educational needs of emergency doctors providing palliative and end-of-life care in Hong Kong: a cross-sectional analysis based on a self-report study.

Background: Due to the ageing population in Hong Kong, the importance and need of palliative care and end-of-life (EOL) care are coming under the spotlight. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the attitudes of emergency doctors in providing palliative and EOL care in Hong Kong, and to investigate the educational needs of emergency doctors in these areas.

Methods: A questionnaire was used to study the attitudes of ED doctors of six different hospitals in Hong Kong.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Referred to an Emergency Department-Based End-of-Life Care Service in Hong Kong: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: This study describes the characteristics and outcomes of patients referred to an emergency department (ED)-based end-of-life (EOL) service in a tertiary acute hospital in Hong Kong. We examine how emergency physicians (EPs) perform in recognizing and managing dying patients.

Methods: From September 2010 to April 2018, patients referred to this EOL service in this hospital were included.

Three-in-one protocol reduces mortality of patients with haemodynamically unstable pelvic fractures-a five year multi-centred review in Hong Kong.

Purpose: The mortality rate in patients with haemodynamically unstable pelvic fractures is as high as 40-60%. Despite the new advances in trauma care which are in phase in trauma centres in Hong Kong, the management of haemodynamically unstable pelvic fracture is still heterogeneous. The aim of this study is to review the results of management of haemodynamically unstable pelvic fracture patients in Hong Kong over a five year period.

Management of acute agitation in Hong Kong and comparisons with Australasia.

Background: Little is known about the use of sedation drugs for the management of acute agitation in Hong Kong's Accident and Emergency Departments (AEDs) and how it compares with Australasian practice.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine drug preferences, clinicians' perceived confidence in management, barriers/gaps in training and perceived usefulness of existing clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in Hong Kong.

Method: A validated questionnaire was used, with case vignettes typical of patients presenting to AEDs with acute agitation.

Emergency medicine as a specialty in Asia.

Aim: We aim to examine the similarities and differences in areas of EM development, workload, workforce, and capabilities and support in the Asia region. Emerging challenges faced by our EM community are also discussed.

Methods: The National Societies for Emergency Medicine of Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey participated in the joint Japanese Association of Acute Medicine (JAAM) and Asian Conference of Emergency Medicine (ACEM) Special Symposium held in October 2013 at Tokyo, Japan.

Telephone and Teleradiology-Guided Thrombolysis Can Achieve Similar Outcome as Thrombolysis by Neurologist On-site.

Background: Because of the limitation of on-site neurology workforce, telestroke was implemented to overcome this barrier. We explored the efficacy and safety of intravenous (IV) stroke thrombolysis service by telestroke when neurologist was not available on-site.

Methods: From January 2009 to December 2012, we compared patients treated with IV stroke thrombolysis by telestroke in the form of telephone consultation with teleradiology, to patients treated after in-person assessment by the same team of neurologists in a regional hospital.

Improvement in institutional protocols leads to decreased mortality in patients with haemodynamically unstable pelvic fractures.

Background: The mortality rate in patients with haemodynamically unstable pelvic fractures is as high as 40-60%. In recent years, angioembolisation and pelvic packing have been introduced as part of a multimodality treatment for these patients. Protocol-driven management has been shown to improve outcomes.

Retroperitoneal pelvic packing in the management of hemodynamically unstable pelvic fractures: a level I trauma center experience.

Background: Our objective is to evaluate the mortality and outcomes of hemodynamically unstable patients with pelvic fractures treated with a protocol that directs the patient to either early pelvic angiography or early retroperitoneal pelvic packing.

Method: This is a retrospective review of prospectively collected database at a local trauma center. Hemodynamically unstable pelvic fracture patients received treatment according to our hospital protocol during two different time periods.

A 2-h diagnostic protocol to assess patients with chest pain symptoms in the Asia-Pacific region (ASPECT): a prospective observational validation study.

Background: Patients with chest pain contribute substantially to emergency department attendances, lengthy hospital stay, and inpatient admissions. A reliable, reproducible, and fast process to identify patients presenting with chest pain who have a low short-term risk of a major adverse cardiac event is needed to facilitate early discharge. We aimed to prospectively validate the safety of a predefined 2-h accelerated diagnostic protocol (ADP) to assess patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome.

A study of serum sodium level among Hong Kong runners.

Objective: Hyponatremia and the associated life-threatening complications have emerged as an important issue among marathon runners. This study was conducted to estimate the serum sodium level among local marathon runners and to identify the associated risk factors of dysnatremia.

Design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Functional outcome after head injury: comparison of 12-45 year old male and female hormonally active patients.

Objectives: Head injury is the leading cause of death in patients with major trauma, but little is known of post-trauma rehabilitation morbidity in Hong Kong. The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting functional outcome in hormonally active patients 6 months after head injury.

Methods: Secondary analysis of the trauma registry database with data collected prospectively at two trauma centres between January 2001 and December 2007.