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The present trial examined the effectiveness of brief interventions for smokers who joined the Hong Kong Quit to Win Contest to quit smoking. A block randomized controlled trial allocated 1003 adult daily smokers to three groups: (i) The TEL group (n = 338) received a 5-min nurse-led telephone counselling; (ii) The SMS group (n = 335) received eight text messages through mobile phone and (iii) The CONTROL group (n = 330) did not receive the above interventions. Participants with biochemically verified abstinence at 6-month follow-up could receive cash incentive. The primary outcome was the self-reported 7-day point prevalence (PP) of tobacco abstinence at 6-month follow-up. The abstinence rate in the TEL, SMS and CONTROL group was 22.2, 20.6 and 20.3%, respectively (P for TEL versus CONTROL = 0.32; P for SMS versus CONTROL = 0.40). When abstinence at 2-, 6- and 12-month follow-up was modelled simultaneously, the TEL group had a higher abstinence than the CONTROL group (Adjusted OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.01--1.88, P = 0.04). In the Quit to Win Contest, the brief telephone counselling might have increased abstinence, but the text messages had no significant effect. Further studies on intensive intervention and interactive messaging services are warranted.

Background Behavioral theories suggest that a past quit attempt influences psycho-social determinants to predict smokers' intention to quit, although no study has tested the hypothesis among youth smokers. Methods A sample of 1561 Chinese secondary students, who were current smokers, were collected in a cross-sectional school-based survey in Hong Kong. Results For the 943 students with past quit attempts, those with lower daily cigarette consumption; who perceived smoking would not elicit positive social responses from others; who had one parent/teacher who prohibited them to smoke; who were aware of the health hazards of smoking and being male smokers, were more likely to have an intention to quit smoking. For the 618 students without a past quit attempt, those who did not perceive any benefit from smoking; who had parents and teachers to prohibit them to smoke and who received social support to quit, were more likely to have an intention to quit smoking. Conclusion Strengthening the prohibition of smoking and providing social support may help initiate the intention to quit among youth smokers without a past quit attempt, while de-normalizing social images of smoking, providing information about the health hazards of smoking and relieving nicotine addiction may sustain quitting intentions among youth smokers with past quit attempts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the outcome of a 2-hour introductory lecture on tobacco and health in improving the knowledge and attitudes of nursing students toward smoking and tobacco control. A group of 78 first-year undergraduate nursing students of a major university in Hong Kong were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire before and after the lecture. The findings indicated a significant improvement in knowledge of and attitudes about tobacco control. The study suggests that education about smoking and tobacco control should be introduced into the nursing curriculum at an early stage so appropriate knowledge, attitudes, and skills can be subsequently strengthened to prepare students to lead an effective role in delivering tobacco control nursing interventions. Finally, a model of integrating tobacco control content in the undergraduate nursing curriculum was recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To (a) identify Chinese nurses' tobacco-related knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP), including perception of competency in smoking-cessation interventions; (b) identify barriers and facilitators to smoking cessation interventions to patients; and (c) assess the learning needs and smoking status of nurses. Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in four major cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chongqing) in China from November to December 2003. Methods: 2,888 registered nurses working in hospitals affiliated with five university schools of nursing in these cities were invited to complete a questionnaire. An instrument used to assess tobacco-related KAP in Hong Kong was translated into Chinese and pilot tested to ensure reliability and validity. Findings: 2,179 questionnaires were returned and after exclusion of the grossly incomplete questionnaires, 1,690 were included in the present analysis. Only 2% of participants were current and 1% were former smokers; most had not received training for smoking-cessation interventions as part of their nursing education program. Two-thirds recognized smoking as a leading cause of preventable death and that smoking cessation was the most cost effective intervention, but only a third routinely assisted patients' quit attempts. Nurses who received training reported greater competence in providing smoking-cessation intervention, and more frequent practice of cessation interventions. Conclusions: Chinese nurses had some knowledge about the health effects of tobacco use, but seldom practiced smoking-cessation interventions. Those who had prior training had greater competence and more practice. Including tobacco control, especially smoking cessation, in nursing curricula in China has the potential to save millions of lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify key nursing issues for paediatric patients suspected of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in relation to the family-centred model of nursing care and to develop a data-based model of paediatric nursing care to be better applied in situations of suspected SARS or where outbreaks of other infectious diseases occur. Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive case series, which analysed the medical and nursing records of all highly-suspected/suspected SARS patients admitted to a major acute hospital in Hong Kong. Key nursing personnel were also interviewed. Results: The study included a total of 17 highly-suspected and 49 suspected SARS paediatric patients (age: 1–16). None of the paediatric patients was eventually diagnosed of SARS. Most cases presented fever (highly-suspected: 76.5%/ suspected: 100%), cough (64.7%/71.4%), nausea and vomiting (35.3%/28.6%). Nursing care was provided to the patients as necessary. Both the children and parents experienced fear of SARS, as well as separation anxiety arisen from hospitalization in a strict isolation setting. Conclusions: Infection control overshadowed the family-centred nursing practices in the management of SARS paediatric patients. A major nursing care issue for SARS paediatric patients was to achieve a careful balance between attending to patients' physical and psychological needs and adhering to the infection control guidelines, while at the same time offering psychological support to family members. The current philosophy and practice of family-centred nursing model neglect the special needs of children with infectious diseases and predominantly apply to children with non-infectious diseases that family visits are allowed and nursing care by parents are encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Telemedicine has been widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other health care professionals, Chinese medicine practitioners (CMPs) face practical challenges in providing telemedicine consultations. This study aims to explore CMPs' experience and perceptions of telemedicine service provision before and during the pandemic. Methods: A territory-wide cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Hong Kong between April and May 2022. A structured questionnaire with open-ended questions was used to investigate the provision of and perception on telemedicine service, as well as usability of telemedicine among CMPs. Results: A total of 195 CMPs participated the survey. Before COVID-19, 42% (81/195) had been providing telemedicine services, and the proportion doubled during COVID-19. CMPs in the private sector are the main providers. Mobile apps including WhatsApp, WeChat, and Zoom were commonly used for consultations (75%, 120/161). Barriers in providing telemedicine included inability of conducting physical examination on patients (69%, 134/195), legal and ethical concerns over medical negligence (61%, 118/195), and patients' incompetence on e-literacy (50%, 98/195). Respondents urged professional and regulatory bodies to provide an explicit clinical guideline that demonstrate best practice in traditional Chinese medicine telemedicine, and to clarify legal and ethical implications of such practice. Conclusions: CMPs demonstrated their competency in telemedicine, and most of them provided telemedicine during COVID-19. Development of appropriate guidelines on the provision of telemedicine would support CMPs to continue provision after the pandemic, whereas a user-friendly and comprehensive telemedicine e-platform would enhance quality of such service. Facilitating patients with lower e-literacy to access telemedicine is key to reduce disparities.

Background: The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Hong Kong posed many challenges for health promotion activities among a group of older adults with low socio-economic status (SES). With concerns that this vulnerable group could be at higher risk of contracting the disease or spreading it to others, the implementation of health promotion activities appropriate to this group was considered to be essential during the epidemic., Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of delivering a telephone health education programme dealing with anxiety levels, and knowledge and practice of measures to prevent transmission of SARS among a group of older adults with low SES., Design: Pretest/posttest design., Settings: Subjects were recruited from registered members of a government subsidized social service center in Hong Kong and living in low-cost housing estates., Participants: The eligibility criteria were: (1) aged 55 or above; (2) able to speak Cantonese; (3) no hearing impairment, and (4) reachable by telephone. Of the 295 eligible subjects, 122 older adults completed the whole study., Methods: The interviewers approached all eligible subjects by telephone during the period of 15-25 May 2003. After obtaining the participants' verbal consent, the interviewer collected baseline data by use of a questionnaire and implemented a health education programme. A follow-up telephone call was made a week later using the same questionnaire., Results: The level of anxiety was lowered (t=3.28, p<0.001), and knowledge regarding the transmission routes of droplets (p<0.001) and urine and feces (p<0.01) were improved after the intervention. Although statistical significant difference was found in the practice of identified preventive measures before and after intervention, influence on behavioral changes needed further exploration., Conclusion: The telephone health education seemed to be effective in relieving anxiety and improving knowledge of the main transmission routes of SARS in this group, but not the practice of preventing SARS. Telephone contact appears to be a practical way of providing health education to vulnerable groups when face-to-face measure is not feasible and may be useful in raising health awareness during future outbreaks of emerging infections.

Objectives: To examine the needs, uncertainties, and experiences of parents during their child's hospitalization with highly suspected severe acute respiratory syndrome (HSS), and to identify ways to improve their psychological preparedness and communication with health care professionals and their isolated children during future infectious disease outbreaks., Methods: Qualitative, semistructured interviews were conducted in July 2003 with parents of HSS pediatric patients. Seventeen HSS patients were hospitalized in a pediatric outpatient clinic of a major academic medical center in Hong Kong, between March 20 and May 28, 2003, during severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Seven parents (41%) consented to participate in the study., Results: Four major themes were identified from the interviews: 1) fear of immediate isolation and infection control procedures, 2) sources of anxiety, 3) coping, and 4) communication with children and health care professionals., Conclusions: Findings indicate a need to improve the psychological preparedness of the parents regarding the child's immediate isolation during hospitalization. Ample preparation and appropriate communication among parents, health care workers, and children might minimize fear and anxiety, sustain trust, and facilitate mutual understanding during an infectious disease outbreak.

This is a pilot study of a randomized controlled trial of an individualized motivational intervention (IMI) provided by nurses to help smoking parents of sick children quit smoking. Eighty parents who brought their sick children to the hospital were entered into the study. The intervention group received an IMI from a trained nurse counselor and telephone reminders were given 1 week after the intervention. The quit rate at 1 month was 7.5% (95% CI, 0-21) in the intervention group and 2.5% (95% CI, 0-7) in the control group. Preliminary results indicated that the IMI provided by nurses seemed to be effective in helping resistant parents of sick children stop smoking. They also suggested that it was acceptable and feasible to implement such intervention in a pediatric outpatient clinic/ward in Hong Kong.