A qualitative study of cough medicine abuse among Chinese young people in Hong Kong

Drug abuse has been a social problem for many years and is often complicated by the emergence of new types of abused drugs or new forms of abuse. Abuse of cough medicine has been a focus of concern in Hong Kong since the late 1980s. This paper describes the findings of a qualitative study of the phenomenon of cough medicine abuse in Hong Kong. Focus group interviews were conducted to explore the perceived causes and effects of cough medicine abuse among Chinese young people in Hong Kong. The results from focus group interviews with cough medicine abusers, their family members, and service providers reveal that the primary factors accounting for adolescent cough medicine abuse are social pressure (peer and environmental influences), personal problems (evasion and avoidance), family (difficult relationships or harmful incidents), availability (ease of access), and ignorance. The research participants reported that their cough medicine dependence had serious side effects that threatened their physical and psychological wellbeing, as well as their interpersonal and family relationships. Based on the findings, several recommendations for the prevention of cough medicine abuse are proposed.     

New nursing roles: the experience of Scotland's consultant nurse/midwives

AIM: To describe career pathways of consultant nurses/midwives and identify postholders views on key factors in role initiation, development and progression to inform future development and appointment of nurse/midwife consultants in National Health Service Scotland. BACKGROUND: Nurse/midwife consultants represent the highest levels of clinical practice. Given the Scottish Executive Health Department's aim to treble numbers conditions and circumstances that enable them to flourish must be identified. METHOD: A postal survey was undertaken of all nurse/midwife consultants in post (n = 16). RESULTS: Key themes emerged around factors that consultant nurse/midwives considered important including mentorship, autonomy and clinical credibility. Barriers to role delivery included lack of understanding of roles and the wide scope of some posts. Considerable variation in support, conditions of service and line management arrangements was found. CONCLUSIONS: Development of a recognized career pathway and a consistent approach to employment and support of postholders is recommended.     

A qualitative study of the experiences of a group of Hong Kong Chinese women diagnosed with postnatal depression

AIM OF THE STUDY: To examine the lived experiences of a group of Hong Kong Chinese women diagnosed with postnatal depression. BACKGROUND: Postnatal depression affects approximately 1 in 10 childbearing women in Hong Kong. However, most studies of postnatal depression have been carried out in Western societies and no qualitative research was found describing the experience of Hong Kong Chinese mothers with postnatal depression. DESIGN: A phenomenological study was conducted. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews. A purposive sample of 35 women diagnosed with postnatal depression was interviewed. Interview data were analysed following Colaizzi's phenomenological methodology. RESULTS: Themes that emerged describing participants' experiences included trapped in the situation, ambivalent towards the baby, uncaring husband, and controlling and powerful in-laws. Women felt hopelessness, helplessness and loss of control. They were trapped in a situation that had no way of escape except by violent means, such as homicide or suicide. Feelings towards the baby were ambivalent, both hate and love. Several women had injured, or had thought of injuring or killing, their babies and/or themselves. Women's unhappiness was attributed to a noncaring husband, and controlling and powerful in-laws. Generally, women did not seek help until their depression was diagnosed by screening tests. CONCLUSION: This study has revealed insights into how women experienced postnatal depression in Hong Kong, and what they perceived as contributing to their depression. These insights may be used to guide interventions for women and their families to raise awareness regarding the support childbearing women need.     

EMS systems in Hong Kong

Emergency medical services (EMS) in Hong Kong, now a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, have a distinguished history spanning more than 50 years. This paper outlines the history and the development of the Hong Kong EMS, with a particular focus on the ambulance service, the design of the system and the training of its staff.     

Health care reform and the transformation of nursing in Hong Kong

Health care reform in Hong Kong in the 1990s has brought about dramatic change to the nursing discipline. This paper reports an ethnographic study which aimed at exploring the transformation of nursing in a regional hospital in Hong Kong during this period of reform. In the study, the restructuring of nursing work, its associated dynamics and resulting impacts upon the nursing profession were examined. A methodological triangulation approach to data collection encompassing interviews, participant observation and review of documents was used. The findings in this study suggest that the majority of nurses working in the case study hospital continue to be subject to medical dominance and are under management control. The emphasis on cost-effective care has however, fostered qualified nurses to claim more ownership of their professional judgement and autonomy. The health care reform has confirmed the status of two newly established groups of nurses, the nurse specialists and nurse managers. The development of the nursing profession is found to be closely connected to its work development. The preparation of the new generation of nurses, as revealed in this study, needs to emphasize the cognitive dimension of the professional competence. Some nurses need to be further educated in specialist practice and clinical management to maximize the contribution of nursing in health care delivery.     

试论临床护理专家的咨询者角色

临床护理专家（CNS）对护理学科尤其是护理专业化的发展有着举足轻重的作用;CNS承担着多种角色,其中咨询者角色虽不是最基本、最重要的角色,但可理解为一个基本和综合性的角色。探讨对咨询者角色的认识,介绍其研究、实践及发展中存在的问题,以此对 CNS 认证提出相关建议,对咨询者角色职能发挥作出展望。     

我国香港、台湾地区护理管理立法可鉴之处一览

中华人民共和国卫生部颁布的《护士管理办法》,自1994年开始实施至今已经十年有余了。随着我国医疗卫生体制改革的推进,随着医疗服务市场的不断发展《,护士管理办法》的内容有待完善和修改。笔者仅以此文,介绍一下我国港台地区在护理管理方面具有特色的一些立法规定,相信会对日后完善内地护理管理工作有益。     

The experience of first‐time Hong Kong Chinese fatherhood: A qualitative exploratory study

The father's involvement in childrearing can positively influence health outcomes not only for the man himself but also for his partner and their children. However, the experience of first‐time fatherhood is limited in Chinese communities. The aim of this study is to explore men's experience of first‐time fatherhood and coping in Hong Kong. An exploratory qualitative design was used. A purposive sample of 44 first‐time Chinese fathers who had participated in a couple‐based cognitive‐behavioral intervention for postnatal depression were recruited for telephone interviews at 1–3 months postpartum. Data were collected by a semistructured interview guide and analyzed using thematic analysis. The process involved in men's transition to first‐time fatherhood reveals four major themes: changes in daily life, new paternal roles and responsibilities, availability of resources to enhance adaptation, and coping strategies. The findings have implications for health care professionals and policy‐makers in the provision of comprehensive perinatal care and family‐friendly policies to aid men's transition to first‐time fatherhood in Chinese communities.     

香港护理教育见闻与启示

介绍香港护理教育概况、特点及与内地的异同。在香港,护理教育以本科为主,课程设置切合临床护理工作的实际需要,重视实践教学环节并突出对学生实际工作能力的培养;教学模式多元化且基本没有固定教材;师资实力雄厚,整体素质比较高。其教学管理有序、高效,教学任务分配较合理,教师有充分的发展空间,此外对学生的评价方式多样并以形成式评价为主。发展内地护理教育,需尽快更新教学及相应的管理理念,加快改革各个教学环节。     

中国香港地区患者资源中心访学的启示

主要介绍中国香港地区部分医院设立患者资源中心的情况.该中心以医用资源分析、评估、合理配置为前提,建立起全过程、多层次的医院服务,本着“关怀与分享”和“以患者为中心”的思想,以物质、技术和精神三种资源为手段,以患者及家属为服务对象,为患者提供治疗、康复和保健所需要的物质帮助、心理支持和技术支持,以供国内同行学习和借鉴.     

Nurses' attitudes towards perinatal bereavement support in Hong Kong: a pilot study

The purpose of this study is to explore nurses' attitudes towards perinatal bereavement care and to identify required support and training needs for nurses on bereavement care in Hong Kong. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, and 110 nurses were recruited from the obstetrics and gynaecology unit in one of the largest public hospitals in Hong Kong. The majority of nurses held a positive attitude towards bereavement care. A significant difference in nurses' attitudes towards bereavement support was found in terms of demographics, practical experiences and training factors. The results showed that only 25.5% (n = 28) of nurses had bereavement-related training. In contrast, 90.9% of nurses showed a positive response to grief training and 90.0% would share experiences with colleagues and seek support when feeling under stress. The findings also suggest that nurses' attitudes towards bereavement care are positively correlated with bereavement care training needs (r = 0.53) and hospital policy support (r = 0.55). Hong Kong nurses' attitudes towards perinatal care emphasized their need for increased knowledge and experience, improved communication skills, and greater support from team members and the hospital. These findings may be used for Hong Kong health care professionals to improve support of nurses, to ensure delivery of sensitive bereavement care in perinatal settings and to enhance nursing school curricula.     

Caring in nursing: perceptions of Hong Kong nurses

Ten registered nurses in Hong Kong were interviewed on their perceptions of caring behaviours in their clinical settings, barriers to these behaviours, and possible ways to overcome those barriers. Findings showed that respondents valued the importance of expressive behaviours and interpersonal communication skills in providing holistic patient care. They felt constrained by social, economic, cultural, and personal variables such as staff shortages, the traditional task-orientated approach of nursing, the dominance of medicine in the healthcare system, the influence of Chinese culture on work attitudes, and their limited skills and lack of education. The situation could be improved through better staff education, colleague support, effective human resources allocation, and promotion of a democratic working environment. A creative approach is necessary to integrate these strategies into a healthcare system dominated by technology and economic constraints.     

香港康复探访及启示

介绍香港康复的现状,包括康复性质,公立医院康复的设置层次和康复流程,医院康复人员的构成和各自的职责,康复部门的设置,各级医院康复的运作,从业人员的管理和考核;比较香港和内地康复的异同,总结香港康复对四川康复发展的启示。     

A profile of the caring attributes of Hong Kong and Thailand psychiatric nurses

Despite the unique cultural characteristics of psychiatric nurses in Hong Kong and Thailand little has been written about them or their caring practices. This study set out to examine the caring practices and demographic features of nurses working in these two countries where the development of the nursing education system has distinct similarities, yet where culture, career paths and qualifications differ. The Caring Attributes Questionnaire (CAQ), previously used in general nursing samples, was modified and validated for the study and administered to 275 and 227 psychiatric nurses in Hong Kong and Thailand, respectively. The results showed that more of the Hong Kong nurses were educated at the degree level and they tended to be younger, while both had around the same number of years of experience. The CAQ scores increase significantly with position, age and years of experience in the Hong Kong sample yet not for qualifications, while there were no significant differences detected in the Thai sample. The Thai sample had significantly lower CAQ scores and the results suggest that neither education nor experience modify these qualities of a psychiatric nurse, and it may be that nurses are still learning "on the job" rather than in the school. These findings are discussed in the light of findings from other international studies and recommendations for future studies are made.     

School-based youth health nurses: roles, responsibilities, challenges, and rewards

A case study and focus-group discussions were conducted with 10 youth health nurses (nurses) employed in the recently introduced School-Based Youth Health Nurse Program (SBYHNP) to identify their roles, responsibilities, and professional development needs. Major roles are support, referral, health promotion, and marketing. Clients include high school students, teachers, and parents; the majority of whom are female and aged 13-16 years. Health issues addressed during individual consultations are predominantly psychosocial but also include medical, sexual health and sexuality issues, health surveillance, and risk-taking behaviors. Nurses also provide clients with health information and promote enhanced personal skill development during these consultations. Health promotion strategies undertaken by nurses were predominantly health education and health information displays. Nurses reported marketing their role and function within the school to be an essential and often difficult aspect of their role. Professional development through the SBYHNP was excellent; however, there was concern relating to the availability of future educational opportunities. The SBYHNP provides nurses with a new, challenging, autonomous role within the school environment and the opportunity to expand their role to incorporate all aspects of the health-promoting schools' framework.     

香港医院手术室人性化护理见闻

香港医院手术室护理处处体现以人为本的护理理念。手术室环境布置体现以病人为本；家人进入手术室陪伴手术患儿；手术后病人疼痛处理及时到位；重视术中病人的保温、预防压疮及下肢静脉血栓形成等手术中护理。“日间手术室”的特色服务，体现了人性化服务。     

Development of basic nursing education in China and Hong Kong

Hong Kong returned to the sovereignty of the People's Republic of China in July 1997. In the past, Hong Kong has been greatly influenced by the British system of nurses' training, which was very different from that in mainland China. As Hong Kong is now a part of China again, there is an increased opportunity for the exchange of experience and ideas among nurse educators. The First China-Hong Kong Nursing Education Conference has provided opportunities for the authors to gain a deeper understanding of the development of nursing education in China and Hong Kong. The authors believe that it is also important for China and Hong Kong to increase networking with the international nursing community. This paper has been written largely based on the information gathered from papers presented in the Conference and the discussion with nurse educators who attended the Conference, together with a review of literature. This paper focuses on comparing the history and present development of basic nursing education in both places. The future direction for the development of nursing education in these two places will also be discussed.     

Chinese husbands' presence during labour: a preliminary study in Hong Kong

This study compares the childbirth outcomes of women whose husbands were present during labour with those whose husbands were absent. A retrospective comparative design was used. Sixty-three Hong Kong Chinese primigravid mothers recruited from childbirth education classes were allocated to one of two groups: those whose husband attended labour (n = 45) and those whose husband was not in attendance (n = 18). Details of demographic characteristics, maternal history and antenatal attendance were obtained along with obstetric measures of maternal anxiety, pain perception, dosage of analgesia used, and length of labour. The results indicated that women whose husbands were present during labour used significantly higher dosage of analgesia than those whose husbands were absent. No significant differences were found between groups in other outcome measures. The researcher concluded that nurse-midwives in Hong Kong need to find ways to help husbands provide the type of support that may help their partners during labour.