Effect on muscle strength after blood flow restriction resistance exercise in early in-patient rehabilitation of post-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease acute exacerbation, a single blinded, randomized controlled study.

Background: Early commencement of rehabilitation might counteract the loss of muscle strength due to a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease acute exacerbation (COPDAE). Blood flow restriction resistance exercise (BFR-RE) using a low intensity of training load has demonstrated muscle strength gain in varieties of clinical populations. This trial aimed at studying the efficacy and acceptability of BFR-RE in patients with post-COPDAE which was not reported before.

Hospital Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Hong Kong - The Trend from 2006 to 2014.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common cause for hospital admission. This study aims to review the hospital burden of COPD in Hong Kong (HK) and the trend from year 2006 to 2014.

Methods: A multi-center, retrospective study of the characteristics of COPD patients discharged from the public hospitals of HK from year 2006 to 2014.

Implementation of evidence on management of pleural diseases: insights from a territory-wide survey of clinicians in Hong Kong.

Background: Major advances in management of common pleural diseases have taken place in the past decade. However, pleural diseases are often managed by physicians of diverse training background and research on implementation of new knowledge is scanty. We aim to evaluate the practice pattern in pleural medicine among physicians in Hong Kong, for identification of possible gaps for clinical service improvement.

Prevalence and Correlates of Caregiver Anxiety in Family Caregivers of Patients With Advanced Cancer: a Cross-Sectional Study in a Palliative Care Unit in Hong Kong.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of caregiver anxiety and to identify correlates of caregiver anxiety in family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer in a palliative care unit in Hong Kong.

Methods: Family caregivers of patients admitted to the palliative care ward for the first time between July 2019 and September 2019 were screened for recruitment. Caregiver demographics (age, sex, marital status, occupation, education level, housing condition, relationship with the patient, known diagnosis of anxiety or depression, and Charlson comorbidity index) were collected, as were caregiver understanding of patient's diagnosis and prognosis, perceived patient's distress, frequency of witnessing confusion or delirium of patients in past month, perceived adequacy of psychological support (other than general social support), and perceived anxiety towards patient's approaching death.

Integrated palliative medicine in public oncology: a 10-year review.

Objectives: The rapid ageing population of Hong Kong has a high demand on oncology and palliative care (PC) service. This study was the first territory-wide assessment in Hong Kong to assess the palliative service coverage in patients with advanced cancer in the past decade.

Methods: Cancer deaths of all 43 public hospitals of Hong Kong were screened.

Integrative Palliative Care Service Model Improved End-of-Life Care and Overall Survival of Advanced Cancer Patients in Hong Kong: A Review of Ten-Year Territory-Wide Cohort.

Integrated palliative care in oncology service has been widely implemented in Hong Kong since 2006. The study aimed to review its impact on end-of-life outcomes and overall survival (OS) of cancer patients, as well as its utilization of health care resources in the past 10 years. Cancer deaths of all 43 public hospitals of Hong Kong were screened.

The effects of a family-centered psychosocial-based nutrition intervention in patients with advanced cancer: the PiCNIC2 pilot randomised controlled trial.

Background: Malnutrition in advanced cancer patients is common but limited and inconclusive data exists on the effectiveness of nutrition interventions. Feasibility and acceptability of a novel family-based nutritional psychosocial intervention were established recently. The aims of this present study were to assess the feasibility of undertaking a randomised controlled trial of the latter intervention, to pilot test outcome measures and to explore preliminary outcomes.

Effects of home-based occupational therapy telerehabilitation via smartphone for outpatients after hip fracture surgery: A feasibility randomised controlled study.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a home-based occupational therapy telerehabilitation (TR) via smartphone in enhancing functional and motor performance and fall efficacy for outpatients receiving day hospital rehabilitation after hip fracture surgery in Hong Kong.

Methods: This was a feasibility randomised controlled trial with two groups - an experimental group and a comparison group - and a sample of 31 older adults attending a geriatric day hospital who had undergone hip fracture surgery within 12 weeks of diagnosis. Patients were assessed at baseline, immediately after a three-week intervention and at three-week post-intervention follow-up for motor performance, activities of daily living (ADL) functioning and fall efficacy.

Outcomes of community-based and home-based pulmonary rehabilitation for pneumoconiosis patients: a retrospective study.

Background: Pneumoconiosis patients receive community-based or home-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) for symptom management and enhancement of physical and mental well-being. This study aimed to review the clinical benefits of community-based rehabilitation programmes (CBRP) and home-based rehabilitation programmes (HBRP) for PR of pneumoconiosis patients.

Methods: Archival data of pneumoconiosis patients who participated in CBRP and HBRP between 2008 and 2011 was analysed.

Delayed diagnosis of tuberculosis: risk factors and effect on mortality among older adults in Hong Kong.

Objective: To assess the risk factors and effects of delayed diagnosis on tuberculosis (TB) mortality in Hong Kong.

Methods: All consecutive patients with TB notified in 2010 were tracked through their clinical records for treatment outcome until 2012. All TB cases notified or confirmed after death were identified for a mortality survey on the timing and causes of death.

Palliative care: the need of the modern era.

There is a great need for palliative care in the modern era of medicine. Despite medical advances, patients with life-limiting illnesses still suffer significantly. Palliative care emerged a half century ago as an ethos based on compassion and care for patients and their families to relieve their suffering.

Effects of a nurse-led post-discharge advance care planning programme for community-dwelling patients nearing the end of life and their family members: A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Although evidence increasingly demonstrates the effects of advance care planning, the relevant studies are of questionable quality, and lack consensus regarding when and with whom to initiate the conversation.

Objective: To examine the effects of a structured, nurse-led post-discharge advance care planning programme on congruence between the end-of-life care preferences of the patient and family members, decisional conflicts and the documentation of care preferences.

Design: A two-arm parallel-group randomised controlled trial.

Health-promoting lifestyle and quality of life among Chinese nursing students.

Unlabelled: AimThis study aimed to examine the relationships between socio-economic status, health-promoting lifestyles, and quality of life among Chinese nursing students.

Background: Nursing students will be future health promoters, but they may not always adopt the recommended healthy lifestyle. Currently, there are insufficient studies examining the health-promoting lifestyles of Chinese nursing students, and the impact of socio-economic status and health-promoting lifestyle on their health.

Partnering with families to promote nutrition in cancer care: feasibility and acceptability of the PIcNIC intervention.

Background: Malnutrition is frequent in patients with cancer, particularly those in advanced stages of the disease. The aim of the present study was to test the feasibility of a family-centred nutritional intervention, based on the Family Systems theory and past research.

Methods: This was a single-arm trial assessing feasibility (eligibility, recruitment and retention rates); acceptability by patients, family caregivers and health professionals; intervention fidelity, and energy/protein intake (in one site only).

Recovery in the Severely Impaired Arm Post-Stroke After Mirror Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of mirror therapy on recovery in the severely impaired arm after stroke.

Design: Using single-blind randomized controlled design, patients with severely impaired arm within 1-month post-stroke were assigned to receive mirror therapy (n = 20) or control therapy (n = 21), 30 mins twice daily for 4 wks in addition to conventional rehabilitation. During mirror therapy and control therapy, subjects practiced similar structured exercises in both arms, except that mirror reflection of the unaffected arm was the visual feedback for mirror therapy, but mirror was absent for control therapy so that subjects could watch both arms in exercise.

Palliative care for Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a slowly progressive multi-system neurodegenerative disorder, with no available disease-modifying treatment. The disease is associated with motor and non-motor symptoms leading to impaired quality of life, disability and signi cant caregiver distress. Patients with PD bene t from palliative care which provides a holistic approach to meet their multi-faceted needs, including symptom control, communication needs and caregiver support.

Converting MMSE to MoCA and MoCA 5-minute protocol in an educationally heterogeneous sample with stroke or transient ischemic attack.

Background: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is psychometrically superior over the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) for cognitive screening in stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). It is free for clinical and research use. The objective of this study is to convert scores from the MMSE to MoCA and MoCA-5-minute protocol (MoCA-5 min) and to examine the ability of the converted scores in detecting cognitive impairment after stroke or TIA.

Declining Trends of Cardiovascular-Renal Complications and Mortality in Type 2 Diabetes: The Hong Kong Diabetes Database.

Objective: Nationwide studies on secular trends of diabetes complications are not available in Asia. We examined changes in risk factor control and incidence of complications from diabetes and death in a large longitudinal cohort of Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes in Hong Kong.

Research Design And Methods: Between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2012, 338,908 Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes underwent metabolic and complication assessment in 16 diabetes centers operated by Hong Kong Hospital Authority that provided care to a large majority of diagnosed patients.

Cost-effectiveness of a transitional home-based palliative care program for patients with end-stage heart failure.

Background: Studies have shown positive clinical outcomes of specialist palliative care for end-stage heart failure patients, but cost-effectiveness evaluation is lacking.

Aim: To examine the cost-effectiveness of a transitional home-based palliative care program for patients with end-stage heart failure patients as compared to the customary palliative care service.

Design: A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted alongside a randomized controlled trial (Trial number: NCT02086305).

The effect of horticultural therapy on the quality of life of palliative care patients.

Palliative care patients experience a variety of needs and perceive their quality of life as being only fair. This study adopted a single-group repeated-measure design to investigate the effect of horticultural therapy on the quality of life of palliative care patients using the Quality of Life Concern in End of Life Questionnaire. Significant differences in the domains of "existential distress" and "health care concern" were observed immediately postintervention and at 4 weeks postintervention, respectively.

Validation study of a Chinese version of Partners in Health in Hong Kong (C-PIH HK).

Background: The Partners in Health (PIH) scale is a measure designed to assess the generic knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and impacts of self-management. A cross-cultural adaptation of the PIH for use in Hong Kong was evaluated in this study. This paper reports the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of PIH (C-PIH[HK]).