scholarly journals Are Hospital Chaplains Under Stress in Hong Kong? Preliminary Results from a Pilot Study

Religions ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 325
Author(s):  
Leung Andrew Luk
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Healthcare Team ◽  
Spiritual Experiences ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hospital Chaplains ◽  
Daily Spiritual Experience Scale ◽  
Great Stress

In Hong Kong, healthcare professionals are under great stress when performing their duties in public hospitals, in which patient beds are usually fully occupied, and the workload is high. Hospital chaplains are members of the healthcare team in a hospital, as well: Are they also under stress? Furthermore, is there any relationship between religious experience and stress? This study aims to provide some background information about the health status of hospital chaplains, and to explore any relationships between stress and their spiritual experiences. A total of 100 hospital chaplains were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study, and a 60% valid response rate was obtained. Participants completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 and the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale. The results showed that most of the hospital chaplains (78.3%) have a normal stress level, and the prevalence of mild to severe symptoms of stress is low (21.7%) when compared with the stress levels of nurses (41.1%) found in another study. However, more anxiety was expressed by younger hospital chaplains; this is common in caring professions, and they should have mentoring and support. All hospital chaplains have a higher level of spiritual experiences, which was not found to be related to stress.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Emotional Eating and Its Associated Psychosocial Factors Among Urban Chinese Undergraduates In Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine YP Sze ◽  
Eric KP Lee ◽  
Rufina HW Chan ◽  
Jean H. Kim
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
University Students ◽  
Emotional Eating ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Mild Stress ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Emotional eating (EE), defined as eating to cope with negative emotions, has been previously associated with poor diet and obesity. Since there are limited data from non-Western populations, this study aims to examine the prevalence and associated factors of EE among urban Chinese adolescents. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 424 university students (aged 18-24 years) from two large universities in Hong Kong in 2019. Respondents were randomly invited to complete an anonymous online questionnaire that obtained background information, emotional eating subscale of Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ), and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21). Two-sample independent t-test and multiple regression analyses were conducted to test the association of study variables with emotional eating.Results There was nearly a four-fold higher likelihood of EE among females (14.8%) compared with their male counterparts (4.5%) (OR=3.7). Having at least mild depressive symptoms was the only independent factor associated with EE among males (OR=10.1) while for females, EE was independently associated with not having a romantic partner (OR=3.45), having depressive symptoms (OR=44.5) and having at least mild stress (OR=5.65). Anxiety levels were not independently associated with EE for either gender. Higher EE scores were associated with worse perceived health and worse life satisfaction in both genders and associated with higher BMI among females. ConclusionsThis study revealed that EE is prevalent in female Chinese university students and not uncommon in male students. To address disordered eating, regional health promotion programmes may strategically target those at high-risk for depression.

scholarly journals Our First Review: An Evaluation of Effectiveness of Root Cause Analysis Recommendations in Hong Kong Public Hospitals

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Yick Ting Kwok ◽  
Alastair Pui Yan Mah ◽  
Katherine Mo Ching Pang
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Root Cause Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cause Analysis ◽  
Root Cause ◽  
Review Team ◽  
Behavioural Factors

Abstract Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of root cause analysis (RCA) recommendations and propose possible ways to enhance its quality in Hong Kong public hospitals.Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed across 43 public hospitals and institutes in Hong Kong, reviewing RCA reports of all Sentinel Events and Serious Untoward Events within a two-year period. The incident nature, types of root causes and strengths of recommendations were analysed. The RCA recommendations were categorised as ‘strong’, ‘medium’ or ‘weak’ strengths utilizing the US’s Veteran Affairs National Center for Patient Safety action hierarchy.Results: A total of 214 reports from October 2016 to September 2018 were reviewed. These reports generated 504 root causes, averaging 2.4 per RCA report, and comprising 282 (49%) system, 233 (46%) staff behavioural and 22 (4%) patient factors. There were 658 recommendations identified in the RCA reports with an average of 3.1 per RCA. Of these, 18 (2%) recommendations were rated strong, 116 (15%) medium and 626 (82%) weak. Most recommendations were related to ‘training and education’ (466, 61%), ‘additional study/review’ (104, 14%) and ‘review/enhancement of policy/guideline’ (39, 5%).Conclusions: This study provided insights about the effectiveness of RCA recommendations across all public hospitals in Hong Kong. The results showed a high proportion of root causes were attributed to staff behavioural factors and most of the recommendations were weak. The reasons include the lack of training, tools and expertise, appropriateness of panel composition, and complicated processes in carrying out large scale improvements. The Review Team suggested conducting regular RCA training, adopting easy-to-use tools, enhancing panel composition with human factors expertise, promoting an organization-wide safety culture to staff and aggregating analysis of incidents as possible improvement actions.

scholarly journals Lymphedema Rehabilitation: Provision and Practice Patterns among Service Providers: National Survey

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Taher Ahmed Omar ◽  
Nouf Al-Dhwayan ◽  
Rehab FM ◽  
Jane M. Armer
Keyword(s):  
Service Provision ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Services ◽  
Secondary Lymphedema

Abstract Background: Information on the current practices and quantification of lymphedema service may be beneficial to promote and improve health care system. Therefore, this study aimed to describe characteristics of lymphedema practitioners, and lymphedema patients’ profile, and provide a comprehensive picture of lymphedema service provision in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study involved use of an online survey. The survey questionnaires included information about demographic and professional characteristics of lymphedema practitioners, lymphedema profile, questions on the services provided, and perceived barriers in providing a service. Results: Eighteen lymphedema practitioners (37.50%) responded to the survey. They worked in the major cities: Riyadh (78%), Jeddah (17%), and Dammam (5%), and most of them working in public hospitals (67%). Respondents typically had a background in physical or occupational therapy and had completed a basic training course on lymphedema treatment and management. About 75% of patients seen by practitioners had secondary lymphedema, 47% with breast cancer-related lymphedema. On average 72%, practitioners provide a “comprehensive” lymphedema services. The average number of lymphedema practitioners per service is 2.67. The perceived barriers reported included an inadequate number of certified therapists (100%), difficulties with transportation and lack of financial support (each =72%), and limited space for lymphedema practice/management (89%). Conclusion: The results suggest that lymphedema practitioners provide a reasonable, but not the optimal, services for lymphedema patients. The service provision is still limited and inequities. Therefore, more staffing is required to promote awareness of the condition and related services, improve referral and care coordination, and enhancing geographical and multidisciplinary coordination of the service.

Our First Review in 12 Years: An Evaluation of Effectiveness of Root Cause Analysis in Hong Kong Public Hospitals

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Yick Ting Kwok ◽  
Alastair Pui Yan Mah ◽  
Katherine Mo Ching Pang
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Root Cause Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cause Analysis ◽  
Root Cause ◽  
Review Team ◽  
Behavioural Factors

Abstract Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of root cause analysis (RCA) and propose possible ways to enhance its effectiveness in Hong Kong public hospitals. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed across 43 public hospitals and institutes in Hong Kong, reviewing RCA reports of all Sentinel Events and Serious Untoward Events within a two-year period. The incident nature, types of root causes and strengths of recommendations were analysed. The RCA recommendations were categorised as ‘strong’, ‘medium’ or ‘weak’ strengths utilizing the US’s Veteran Affairs National Center for Patient Safety action hierarchy. Results: A total of 214 reports from October 2016 to September 2018 were reviewed. These reports generated 504 root causes, averaging 2.4 per RCA report, and comprising 282 (49%) system, 233 (46%) staff behavioural and 22 (4%) patient factors. There were 658 recommendations identified in the RCA reports with an average of 3.1 per RCA. Of these, 18 (2%) recommendations were rated strong, 116 (15%) medium and 626 (82%) weak. Most recommendations were related to ‘training and education’ (466, 61%), ‘additional study/review’ (104, 14%) and ‘review/enhancement of policy/guideline’ (39, 5%). Conclusions: This study provided insights about the effectiveness of RCA across all public hospitals in Hong Kong. The results showed a high proportion of root causes were attributed to staff behavioural factors and most of the recommendations were weak. The reasons include the lack of training, tools and expertise, appropriateness of panel composition, and complicated processes in carrying out large scale improvements. The Review Team suggested conducting regular RCA training, adopting easy-to-use tools, enhancing panel composition with human factors expertise, promoting an organization-wide safety culture to staff and aggregating analysis of incidents as possible improvement actions.

scholarly journals A cross-sectional study on pelvic floor symptoms in women living with Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alzbeta Binkova ◽  
Marion Uebelhart ◽  
Patrick Dällenbach ◽  
Michel Boulvain ◽  
Angèle Gayet-Ageron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pelvic Floor ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Pelvic Floor Symptoms ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Female Genital

Abstract Background Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) concerns over 200 million women and girls worldwide and is associated with obstetric trauma and long-term urogynaecological and psychosexual complications that are often under-investigated and undertreated. The aim of this study was to assess the pelvic floor distress and the impact of pelvic floor and psychosexual symptoms among migrant women with different types of FGM/C. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2016 and January 2019 at the Division of Gynaecology of the Geneva University Hospitals. The participants were interviewed on socio-demographic and background information, underwent a systematic gynaecological examination to assess the presence and type of FGM/C and eventual Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP), and completed six validated questionnaires on pelvic floor and psychosexual symptoms (PFDI-20 and PFIQ7 on pelvic floor distress and impact, FISI and WCS on faecal incontinence and constipation, PISQ-IR and FGSIS on sexual function and genital self-image). The participants’ scores were compared with scores of uncut women available from the literature. The association between selected variables and higher scores for distress and impact of pelvic floor symptoms was assessed using univariate and multivariable linear regression models. Results 124 women with a mean age of 31.5 (± 7.5), mostly with a normal BMI, and with no significant POP were included. PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 mean (± SD) scores were of 49.5 (± 52.0) and 40.7 (± 53.6) respectively. In comparison with the available literature, the participants’ scores were lower than those of uncut women with pelvic floor dysfunction but higher than those of uncut women without such disorders. Past violent events other than FGM/C and forced or arranged marriage, age at FGM/C of more than 10, a period of staying in Switzerland of less than 6 months, and nulliparity were significantly associated with higher scores for distress and impact of pelvic floor symptoms, independently of known risk factors such as age, weight, ongoing pregnancy and history of episiotomy. Conclusions Women with various types of FGM/C, without POP, can suffer from pelvic floor symptoms responsible for distress and impact on their daily life. Trial registration. The study protocol was approved by the Swiss Ethics Committee on research involving humans (protocol n°15-224).

scholarly journals Constrains for seeking post-abortion care among adolescents and young women in Guangzhou, China: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiding Wang ◽  
Jinzhi Liu ◽  
Ribo Xiong ◽  
Yan Liu
Keyword(s):  
Young Women ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Services Utilization ◽  
Abortion Care ◽  
Post Abortion Care ◽  
Post Abortion ◽  
Youth Friendly

Abstract Background In China, post-abortion care (PAC) services mainly focus on married couples, such that adolescents and unmarried young womenhave limited access to those services for contraception counseling. The provision of youth-friendly PAC services in public hospitals is a new concept in China. This study examined the magnitude of PAC services utilization as well as factors influencing it’s uptake among adolescents and young women in Guangzhou, China. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed from 1st March 2020 to 30th September 2020 using anonymous self-administered questionnaire among 688 women aged 15–24 years in Tianhe district, Guangzhou. The Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine factors that were significantly associated with the uptake of PAC services. Results The magnitude of PAC services utilization was 35.9% among adolescents and young women in Guangzhou, China. Students were 69.0% significantly less likely to use PAC services compared to women who had no job. Immigrants were 59.0% significantly less likely to use PAC services than their native counterparts. Women who had a feeling of stigma were 70.0% significantly less likely to use PAC services compared to those who did not feel stigmatized. Conclusions The study highlights the need to strengthen youth-friendly PAC services provision, and emphasizes the importance of education about both family planning and abortion services among disadvantaged sub-groups of women in the study setting.

scholarly journals The Prevalence of Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Associated Factors Among Enteral Fed Preterm and Low Birth Weight Neonates Admitted in Selected Public Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 2333794X2110196
Author(s):  
Sitotaw Molla Mekonnen ◽  
Daniel Mengistu Bekele ◽  
Fikrtemariam Abebe Fenta ◽  
Addisu Dabi Wake
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Necrotizing Enterocolitis ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Addis Ababa ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains to be the most critical and frequent gastrointestinal disorder understood in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). The presented study was intended to assess the prevalence of NEC and associated factors among enteral Fed preterm and low birth weight neonates. Institution based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 350 enteral Fed preterm and low birth weight neonates who were admitted at selected public hospitals of Addis Ababa from March 25/2020 to May 10/2020. The data were collected through neonates’ medical record chart review. A total of 350 participants were enrolled in to the study with the response rate of 99.43%. One hundred eighty-four (52.6%) of them were male. The majority 123 (35.1%) of them were (32 + 1 to 34) weeks gestational age. The prevalence of NEC was (25.4%) (n = 89, [95% CI; 21.1, 30.0]). Being ≤28 weeks gestational age (AOR = 3.94, 95% CI [2.67, 9.97]), being (28 + 1 to 32 weeks) gestational age (AOR = 3.65, 95% CI [2.21, 8.31]), birth weight of 1000 to 1499 g (AOR = 2.29, 95% CI [1.22, 4.33]), APGAR score ≤3 (AOR = 2.34, 95% CI [1.32, 4.16]), prolonged labor (AOR = 2.21, 95% CI [1.35, 6.38]), maternal chronic disease particularly hypertension (AOR = 3.2, 95% CI [1.70, 5.90]), chorioamnionitis (AOR = 4.8, 95% CI [3.9, 13]), failure to breath/resuscitated (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI [1.7, 4.4]), CPAP ventilation (AOR = 3.7, 95% CI [1.50, 12.70]), mixed milk (AOR = 3.58, 95% CI [2.16, 9.32]) were factors significantly associated with NEC. Finally, the prevalence of NEC in the study area was high. So that, initiating the programs that could minimize this problem is required to avoid the substantial morbidity and mortality associated with NEC.

scholarly journals Prevalence and determinants of potentially inappropriate medication use in Hong Kong older patients: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e051527
Author(s):  
Huanyu Zhang ◽  
Eliza LY Wong ◽  
Samuel YS Wong ◽  
Patsy YK Chau ◽  
Benjamin HK Yip ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Inappropriate Medication ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Potentially Inappropriate Medication ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in Hong Kong older patients visiting general outpatient clinics (GOPCs) between 2006 and 2014 and to identify factors associated with PIM use among older adults visiting GOPCs in 2014.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingGOPC.ParticipantsTwo study samples were constructed including a total of 844 910 patients aged 65 and above from 2006 to 2014 and a cohort of 489 301 older patients in 2014.MeasurementsTwo subsets of the 2015 American Geriatrics Society Beers criteria—PIMs independent of diagnosis and PIMs due to drug–disease interactions—were used to estimate the prevalence of PIM use over 12 months. PIMs that were not included in the Hospital Authority drug formulary or with any specific restriction or exception in terms of indication, dose or therapy duration were excluded. Characteristics of PIM users and non-PIM users visiting GOPCs in 2014 were compared. Independent associations between patient variables and PIM use were assessed by stepwise multivariable logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe 12-month period prevalence of PIM use decreased from 55.56% (95% CI 55.39% to 55.72%) in 2006 to 47.51% (95% CI 47.37% to 47.65%) in 2014. In the multivariable regression analysis, the strongest factor associated with PIM use was the number of different drugs prescribed (adjusted OR, AOR 23.01, 95% CI 22.36 to 23.67). Being female (AOR 0.89, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.87 for males vs females) and having a greater number of GOPC visits (AOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.78 to 1.88) as well as more than six diagnoses (AOR 1.43, 95% CI 1.36 to 1.52) were associated with PIM use.ConclusionsThe overall prevalence of PIM use in older adults visiting GOPCs decreased from 2006 to 2014 in Hong Kong although the prevalence of PIM use was still high in 2014. Patients with female gender, a larger number of medications prescribed, more frequent visits to GOPCs, and more than six diagnoses were at higher risk for PIM use.

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