Staff awareness of the application of Mental Health and Guardianship Legislation in the care of hospitalised older persons.

Objective: The study aimed to survey hospital staff knowledge of the application of the Mental Health Act 2007 (NSW) (MHA) and the Guardianship Act 1987 (NSW) (GA) in the care and treatment of older persons in a teaching hospital in Sydney. Method Over a two-month period in 2017, a survey questionnaire was distributed to staff involved in older persons' care across the hospital.

Results: The majority of the hospital staff demonstrated basic theoretical knowledge of both the GA (76%) and of the MHA (84.

Does the death rate of Hong Kong Chinese change during the lunar ghost month?

Background: Most cultures believe in ghosts and for the Chinese, the seventh lunar month-the ghost month-causes particular concern. 'The gates of hell' are open for the first 14 days of the month which allows the restless ghosts of people who were hungry when they died to haunt the living. In this study, it was hypothesised that if the notion that ghosts are out to harm the living could affect the Chinese, this may be reflected in death statistics.