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AIMS: The present study was designed to determine the psychosocial correlates of fluid compliance among patients receiving haemodialysis at two Hong Kong renal dialysis centres. BACKGROUND: There has been little consistency in the findings of correlations among any psychosocial variables and compliance behaviour. There is a need to further study these variables in an attempt to predict haemodialysis patient compliance to fluid restriction. METHODS: Ninety-two Chinese haemodialysis patients completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Form C Scale (MHLC), the Social Support Questionnaire, Short Form Scale (SSQ6) and a self-designed socio-demographic questionnaire. Daily interdialytic weight gain (DIWG) measure was used as an indicator of fluid compliance. RESULTS: The prevalence of compliance behaviour of Chinese haemodialysis patients was higher than that reported in western studies. There were significant negative correlations found between DIWG and total score on internal health locus of control and social support satisfaction score. However, internal health locus of control did not predict a significant portion of the DIWG variance. Significant predictors of DIWG included satisfaction with social support, comorbidity and monthly family income. Satisfaction with social support was the largest predictor of DIWG. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that assessing family income, comorbidity, and satisfaction with social support may be useful in identifying haemodialysis patients potentially at risk for difficulties in compliance with fluid restriction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-nine family caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients in Hong Kong were asked about their perceived difficulty in managing caregiver tasks. Results showed that the level of difficulty in handling the three main aspects of tasks, that is the direct care, intrapersonal tasks, and interpersonal ties, were similar (chi2 = 0.71, P > 0.05). The individual tasks identified as extremely difficult included compensation for personal time (31%), updating knowledge of reimbursement mechanism (20.7%), and emotionally accepting the likelihood of a progressive downward course of illness (17.2%). Mann-Whitney tests indicated that caregivers who had a shorter duration of caregiving experience perceived significantly greater difficulty in direct care (P < 0.05), intrapersonal tasks (P < 0.05), and overall tasks (P < 0.05). These findings indicate the need for the provision of counselling and educational support for these caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine changes in the work nature of nurses after the introduction of Health Care Assistants (HCAs). Background: HCAs with a role similar to those adopted in the UK of assisting the nurse were piloted in a teaching hospital in Hong Kong. Method: A quasi-experimental design was used to compare the observed activities of HCAs and nurses in four wards of a teaching hospital, before and after the introduction of HCAs. As the amount of staff activity is influenced by the amount of work, patient dependency data were gained from record reviews and nurse interviews. Findings: HCAs in orthopaedic and medical wards provided more basic care than those in surgical and gynaecological wards. Nurses in wards with HCAs performed significantly fewer activities than nurses in control wards. Conclusions: HCAs presence accounted for a reduction in both direct and indirect care provided by nurses. Overall, HCAs provided more basic than technical and indirect care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the quality of life of Hong Kong Chinese people diagnosed with acute coronary syndromes in China. Reduction in the quality of life of the clients; Goal of treatment of the clients with acute coronary syndromes; Psychosocial outcomes of clients diagnosed with acute coronary syndromes.