The 12-Month Incidence and Predictors of PHQ-9-Screened Depressive Symptoms in Chinese Primary Care Patients.

Purpose: Evidence regarding the onset of depressive symptoms in primary care is rarely available but can help inform policy development, service planning, and clinical decision making. The objective of this study was to estimate the 12-month cumulative incidence and predictors of a positive screen for depressive symptoms on the 9-item Patient Health Questionnare-9 (PHQ-9) among primary care patients with no history of physician-diagnosed depression.

Methods: We monitored a cohort of 2,929 adult primary care patients with no past history of physician-diagnosed depression and with baseline PHQ-9 scores of 9 or lower by telephone interview at 3, 6, and 12 months.

Improving newborn hearing screening: Are automated auditory brainstem response ear inserts an effective option?

Objective: Universal newborn hearing screening is an established practice among Hong Kong public hospitals using a 2-stage automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) screening protocol. To enhance overall efficiency without sacrificing program accuracy, cost reduction in terms of replacing the initial ear coupler-based screening with a more economical ear insert-based screening procedure was considered. This study examined the utility of an insert-based AABR initial screening approach and the projected cost-effectiveness of a combined probe-based plus follow-up ear coupler AABR screening procedure.