Olivia Fung - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Olivia Fung
Circulation, 2020
Background: There were inconsistent results in the relationship between poor sleep quality and ob... more Background: There were inconsistent results in the relationship between poor sleep quality and obesity among different population in previous studies. Our study evaluated the association between sleep quality and obesity in a representative adult population of Chinese subjects living in the Macao Special Administrative Region, China. Methods: This cross-sectional study was an analysis of 1426 participants aged 18 to 90 years from a community-based health needs assessment study titled “Healthy Living, Longer Lives”. Recruitment was conducted in seven districts of Macao from 2017 to 2018. Stratified sampling by age and gender strata was adopted. The Chinese version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess the sleep quality. Higher score of PSQI indicates worse sleep quality. Height, weight, and other covariates were collected by self-administered questionnaire. Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m 2 according to the WHO standard. Results: Of all pa...
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2018
When a disaster strikes, rescue workers are deployed to the disaster site to provide immediate re... more When a disaster strikes, rescue workers are deployed to the disaster site to provide immediate rescue support to victims. Given the unpredictable and overwhelming nature of disasters, rescue workers are at risk of suffering from negative psychological consequences. The goal of this review is to explore the psychological impact of a disaster on rescue workers. In this paper, a total of 55 articlesone qualitative study, 53 quantitative studies, and one mixed-methods studywere eligible for inclusion. The rescue workers identified in the literature included fire fighters, police officers, military personnel/soldiers, healthcare professionals, and volunteers. The literature revealed that these rescue workers who were deployed to disaster sites might suffer from acute stress disorder (ASD), anxiety and depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other psychological disorders. Generally, of all rescuers and nurses among the healthcare professionals, the unaffiliated volunteers were most susceptible to negative psychological consequences. The findings of this review indicated that rescue workers are at a high risk of experiencing psychological problems after a disaster deployment. Interventions are needed to mitigate negative psychological consequences and foster resilience in rescue workers.
Applied Catalysis A: General, 1993
Over the resin catalyst Amberlyst 15, and under our reaction conditions, the yield of MTBE (methy... more Over the resin catalyst Amberlyst 15, and under our reaction conditions, the yield of MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether), from the reaction of methanol and isobutene, is at a maximum in the temperature range of 40-60" C. Slightly higher temperatures (70-90" C) are needed when using zeolite H-ZSM-5 as catalyst for the etherification reaction. When isobutanol and methanol are passed over these catalysts at temperatures below lOO"C, extremely low conversions (< 1% by mass) are obtained. Over the resin catalyst and at 12l"C, 3.3% of MTBE+MIBE (methyl isobutyl ether) is obtained where MTBE: MIBE= 1: 7.4. Since the initial rate of the etherification reaction has been shown to be first order in the alkene, we investigated the dehydration reaction of isobutanol over H-ZSM-5. It was found that this reaction proceeds at temperatures above 15O"C, indicating that the formation of the butenes from isobutanol proceeds at a higher temperature than the etherification reaction. Furthermore, our results with Amberlyst 15 show that the resin catalyst is unable to catalyze the isobutanol dehydration reaction within ita recommended usable temperature range. A two-reactor system was therefore employed to implement the overall catalytic conversion of methanol and isobutanol to MTBE. For the dehydration step we employed a silica-alumina catalyst at 225 ' C, since this catalyst exhibits a higher dehydration activity for isobutanol than for methanol, as compared with y-alumina and H-ZSM-5. The product stream from the dehydration step was then fed to reactor 2 which was loaded with the Amberlyst 15 catalyst maintained at 50°C. The two-reactor system produced a significantly higher yield of MTBE+MIBE (27.8%), with the MTBE:MIBE ratio being reversed to 11.7: 1.
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2019
Disaster healthcare rescuers are at risk of experiencing negative psychological effects. However,... more Disaster healthcare rescuers are at risk of experiencing negative psychological effects. However, some are said to be resilient and to be protected from negative consequences. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the characteristics of those disaster healthcare rescuers who were considered resilient in rescue work, and examine whether they experienced any positive changes in their life after being involved in rescue work. Methods: Focused group interviews were conducted with disaster healthcare rescuers from Sichuan, China. Purposive sampling was used to identify those disaster healthcare rescue workers who were deployed to conduct disaster work, who were able to continue doing their daily work, and who were considered to be resilient and to have suffered no obvious negative psychological consequences. Interviews were conducted until the point of data saturation. An inductive content analysis approach was adopted to analyze the data. Results: A total of four focus group interviews were conducted with 21 disaster rescue workers who were considered to be resilient. The healthcare rescuers considered that the characteristics that contributed to resilience were: having personality strengths, utilizing appropriate coping strategies, having social support, and making adequate preparations for rescue work. The rescuers also reported that they experienced positive changes in their life after deployment. Conclusion: The characteristics of the resilience shown by disaster healthcare rescuers were identified. Adequate preparedness and training for disaster rescue work is essential for the resilience of rescue workers. The identified characteristics can be used for the development of a tool for the screening of disaster rescuers and the development of interventions to enhance resilience in rescue workers, with the ultimate aim of preventing disaster rescuers from experiencing negative psychological consequences.
Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 2010
Background: Nurses are often called upon to play the role of first responder when disaster occurs... more Background: Nurses are often called upon to play the role of first responder when disaster occurs. Yet the lack of accepted competencies and gaps in education make it difficult to recruit nurses prepared to respond to a disaster and provide assistance in an effective manner. Design: Based on the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Framework of Disaster Nursing Competencies and Global Standards for the Initial Education of Professional Nurses and Midwives, a training course titled "Introduction to Disaster Nursing" was designed and implemented with 150 students. A prepost survey design was used to assess changes in participants' self-rated disaster nursing competencies. The impact of the training course on participants' attitudes toward disaster nursing and their learning experience were also assessed. Findings: All participants passed the assessments and examination with an average score of 70%. Pre-and posttraining self-ratings of the disaster nursing competencies increased from 2.09 to 3.71 (p < .001) on a Likert scale of 1 to 5, and the effect size was large, with Cohen's d higher than 0.8. No significant difference in both examination results (60% group assignments; 40% written examination) and self-rated competencies was noted between the senior year students and graduate nurse participants by Mann-Whitney U test (p value = .90). The majority of participants indicated their willingness to participate as a helper in disaster relief and saw themselves competent to work under supervision. Conclusions: The ICN Framework of Disaster Nursing Competencies was instrumental to guide the training curriculum development. This introductory training course could be incorporated into undergraduate nursing education programs as well as serve as a continuing education program for graduate nurses. Clinical Relevance: The training program can be used for preparing generalist nurses of their nursing competencies in disaster preparedness, response and post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation.
International Disaster Health Care, 2016
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Sep 3, 2010
The aims of this study were to explore the perception of disaster among the head of household mai... more The aims of this study were to explore the perception of disaster among the head of household mainly responsible for family matters of Hong Kong families with young children, and the extent of their preparedness for disasters. Being prepared for disasters can minimize damage to our health, lives, and property. Families with young children are particularly vulnerable during disasters. A questionnaire was distributed to a convenience sample of families with young children in March and September in 2008. A total of 198 out of 220 questionnaires distributed to heads of households were collected and analyzed for this study. Most of the householders (94.4%) considered the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong in 2003 to have been a disaster. They considered that the disastrous events most likely to occur in Hong Kong were infectious disease outbreaks (96.5%) and major transport accidents (94.4%). In preparing for unexpected events, these families reported having stocked up on &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;young children&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s necessities&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; (82.8%, 73.7%) and &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;medications&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; (82.8%, 60.1%) sufficient for three and seven days respectively. These families also kept a flashlight with adequate batteries (74.7%), extra blankets (69.2%), and a first aid kit (60.6%) at home for safety. They reported &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;panic buying&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; for necessities during previous typhoon strikes (68.2%) and infectious disease outbreaks (46.0%). Only 9.1% considered themselves adequately prepared for disasters (9.1%). Although the families with young children in this study are prepared for disaster to some extent, their preparedness is still considered grossly inadequate and in need of public attention.
Journal of Nursing Research, 2015
Case-based learning (CBL) is an effective educational method for improving the learning and clini... more Case-based learning (CBL) is an effective educational method for improving the learning and clinical reasoning skills of students. Advances in e-learning technology have supported the development of the Web-based CBL approach to teaching as an alternative or supplement to the traditional classroom approach. This study aims to examine the CBL experience of Hong Kong students using both traditional classroom and Web-based approaches in undergraduate nursing education. This experience is examined in terms of the perceived self-learning ability, clinical reasoning ability, and satisfaction in learning of these students. A mixture of quantitative and qualitative approaches was adopted. All Year-3 undergraduate nursing students were recruited. CBL was conducted using the traditional classroom approach in Semester 1, and the Web-based approach was conducted in Semester 2. Student evaluations were collected at the end of each semester using a self-report questionnaire. In-depth, focus-group interviews were conducted at the end of Semester 2. One hundred twenty-two students returned their questionnaires. No difference between the face-to-face and Web-based approaches was found in terms of self-learning ability (p = .947), clinical reasoning ability (p = .721), and satisfaction (p = .083). Focus group interview findings complemented survey findings and revealed five themes that reflected the CBL learning experience of Hong Kong students. These themes were (a) the structure of CBL, (b) the learning environment of Web-based CBL, (c) critical thinking and problem solving, (d) cultural influence on CBL learning experience, and (e) student-centered and teacher-centered learning. The Web-based CBL approach was comparable but not superior to the traditional classroom CBL approach. The Web-based CBL experience of these students sheds light on the impact of Chinese culture on student learning behavior and preferences.
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 2010
The aims of this study were to explore the perception of disaster among the head of household mai... more The aims of this study were to explore the perception of disaster among the head of household mainly responsible for family matters of Hong Kong families with young children, and the extent of their preparedness for disasters. Being prepared for disasters can minimize damage to our health, lives, and property. Families with young children are particularly vulnerable during disasters. A questionnaire was distributed to a convenience sample of families with young children in March and September in 2008. A total of 198 out of 220 questionnaires distributed to heads of households were collected and analyzed for this study. Most of the householders (94.4%) considered the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong in 2003 to have been a disaster. They considered that the disastrous events most likely to occur in Hong Kong were infectious disease outbreaks (96.5%) and major transport accidents (94.4%). In preparing for unexpected events, these families reported having stocked up on &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;young children&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s necessities&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; (82.8%, 73.7%) and &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;medications&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; (82.8%, 60.1%) sufficient for three and seven days respectively. These families also kept a flashlight with adequate batteries (74.7%), extra blankets (69.2%), and a first aid kit (60.6%) at home for safety. They reported &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;panic buying&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; for necessities during previous typhoon strikes (68.2%) and infectious disease outbreaks (46.0%). Only 9.1% considered themselves adequately prepared for disasters (9.1%). Although the families with young children in this study are prepared for disaster to some extent, their preparedness is still considered grossly inadequate and in need of public attention.
Journal of Emergency Management, 2013
A cross-sectional study among a convenience sample of nurses in China was conducted to understand... more A cross-sectional study among a convenience sample of nurses in China was conducted to understand the factors affecting Chinese nurses&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; willingness to report to work in a disaster. A total of 946 questionnaires were collected. Nearly 90 percent of nurses regarded disaster self-help information, an evacuation plan, and contingency measures a must in preparing for disaster care. Many nurses indicated willingness to work during a disaster that may threaten the safety of their family members than when there is a life-threatening infectious disease outbreak (83.6 and 69.6 percent, p = 0.000). Nurses with longer years of clinical experience were more willing to work in both situations (p = 0.014 and 0.000). Fear of contracting an infectious disease and spreading it to family members was a major factor for nurses&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; unwillingness to report to work. Hospital administrators should understand their workforce&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s willingness in reporting to work and provide appropriate disaster training and support to maximize workforce in a disaster.
Rehabilitation Nursing, 2014
To examine the potential value of a creative art-based activity as a caring modality for promotin... more To examine the potential value of a creative art-based activity as a caring modality for promoting holistic well-being among chronic stroke patients, and to explore the feelings and meanings that stroke patients derived from their experience in leisure art-based creative engagement (LACE). Qualitative design. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted. Qualitative content analysis was performed. The design and implementation of LACE was guided by Watson&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s theory of caring. Twenty-four participants completed the study. Four themes emerged from participants&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; account of experiences with the LACE: (1) appreciation of opportunities, (2) appreciation of self, (3) appreciation of others, and (4) appreciation of life. From the perspective of the participants, engaging in LACE enhances their sense of enjoyment and self-expression. Furthermore, they perceived LACE as an affirmation of life and an empowering process strengthening their connection and appreciation with the self and others. This study adds evidence to existing literature on Watson&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s theory-guided design and implementation of caring initiatives for community rehabilitation and has laid the groundwork for developing further evidence-based research in leisure art-based caring occasions for promoting holistic well-being in stroke rehabilitation.
Supportive Care in Cancer, 2014
The aim of the study was to test a hypothesised model that supportive care needs (SCNs) have a me... more The aim of the study was to test a hypothesised model that supportive care needs (SCNs) have a mediating effect on the relationship between characteristics of (Chinese) head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors and their quality of life (QoL). A total of 285 Chinese HNC survivors who had finished cancer treatment 1 year earlier completed a self-reported survey covering demographic and clinical characteristics, the Chinese version of the Short-Form Supportive Care Needs Questionnaire (SCNS-SF34-C), the supplementary module of access to healthcare and ancillary support services and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer (FACT-H&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;N). The final path model showed that optimism, educational level, any coexisting disease, number of somatic symptoms, household income, eating ability, support from others, whether the cancer is under control or not and travelling time from home to hospital have direct or indirect effects, or both, on the QoL of HNC survivors, by way of unmet SCNs in the psychological, physical and/or health system information domains, which account for 64 % of the variance in the total FACT-H&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;N score. Our study demonstrated the mediating effects of SCNs in the association between HNC survivors and their QoL. Early needs assessment may help healthcare professionals to identify the actual needs of these survivors, and providing the information that HNC survivors want is a significant factor in meeting their psychological needs and thereby improving their overall QoL.
Journal of Emergency Management, 2013
Inadequate healthcare workforce during a disaster affects the survival and health outcome of vict... more Inadequate healthcare workforce during a disaster affects the survival and health outcome of victims. During disaster strikes, nurses may face a dilemma regarding whether or not to report for duty, facing professional duty and their personal and/or family safety that may be at stake. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. This study seeks for a better understanding of the factors affecting nurses&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; willingness and readiness to report for duty in a disaster. A total of 269 currently practicing registered nurses completed the questionnaire. Results showed that only 68.7 percent and 53.2 percent of nurses were willing to report to work during a disaster. Male nurses were more likely to report to work than females during disaster (p = 0.007) and infection outbreak (p = 0.002) situations. Nurses with young children were less likely to report to work during an infectious disease outbreak (34.5 percent vs 55.4 percent, p = 0.033). It is concluded that about one-third of nurses indicated that they would not report to work when a disaster strikes. This raises a warning signal for healthcare managers that they need to plan ahead to maintain an adequate workforce when disasters strike. Managers are urged to do more to understand the factors leading to nurses&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; unwillingness to report to work and to undertake realistic staffing planning to cope with the extra demand.
Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2009
Aims and objectives. The aims of the study were to identify nurses' perception of disaster, wheth... more Aims and objectives. The aims of the study were to identify nurses' perception of disaster, whether they considered some of the events that have occurred in Hong Kong to be disasters and the types of disastrous events that they considered likely in Hong Kong.
Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2008
Title. Disaster preparedness among Hong Kong nurses. Aim. This paper is a report of a survey to e... more Title. Disaster preparedness among Hong Kong nurses. Aim. This paper is a report of a survey to explore Hong Kong nurses' disaster preparedness. Background. Increasingly frequent global disasters are posing threats to human health and life. The World Health Organization has called for countries to have detailed plans at all levels in order to be prepared for disasters that may arise. Method. A questionnaire was distributed to convenience samples of practising Registered Nurses studying in Master's degree programmes at a Hong Kong university in 2007. Results. Of a possible 174, 164 questionnaires were returned (Response rate 94%). Almost all nurses (97AE6%) considered the government health department to be the organization most involved in disastrous situations. The majority (84AE8%) were aware of the existence of a protocol on disaster management at their workplace. About one-third would respond in accordance with protocol (38AE4%) or rely on directions from their immediate supervisors (34AE8%) if a disaster occurred. Almost all the nurses (97%) considered themselves not adequately prepared for disasters. They recognized that a protocol for disaster management (85AE4%) and training and drills for disasters (both 84AE1%) are useful tools. Conclusion. Nurses in Hong Kong are not adequately prepared for disasters, but are aware of the need for such preparation. Disaster management training should be included in the basic education of nurses.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2014
The purpose of this study was to explore Hong Kong nurses" perceptions of competencies required f... more The purpose of this study was to explore Hong Kong nurses" perceptions of competencies required for disaster nursing. Focus group interviews and written inquiry were adopted to solicit nurses" perceived required competencies for disaster care. A total of 15 nurses were interviewed and 30 nurses completed the written inquiry on their perceived competencies related to disaster nursing. The International Council for Nurses" (ICN) framework of disaster nursing competencies, consisting of four themes and ten domains, was used to tabulate the perceived competencies for disaster nursing reported by nurses. The most mentioned required competencies were related to disaster response; with the ethical and legal competencies for disaster nursing were mostly neglected by nurses in Hong Kong. With the complexity nature of disasters, special competencies are required if nurses are to deal with adverse happenings in their serving community. Nurses" perceived disaster nursing competencies reported by nurses were grossly inadequate, demonstrating the needs to develop a comprehensive curriculum for public health. The establishment of a set of tailor-made disaster nursing core competencies for the community they served is the first step in preparing nurses to deal with disastrous situations for the health of the public.
International Journal of Cardiology, 2013
International Journal of Cardiology, 2013
Geriatrics & Gerontology International, 2012
The present study aims to explore the concerns relating to disasters among the elderly in Hong Ko... more The present study aims to explore the concerns relating to disasters among the elderly in Hong Kong, as well as the extent and predictive factors of their preparedness for disasters. The elderly are considered a vulnerable population, without the ability to protect themselves during disasters. Their accurate perception and preparedness for disasters can minimize damage to their health or threats to their lives when disasters strike. Elderly people who had installed an emergency call service in Hong Kong were contacted by telephone for an interview between the months of June to September 2010. A total of 1137 questionnaires were analyzed for the present study. Elderly people considered major transport accidents (54.3%), fires (47.9%) and storms/flooding (41.5%) as the disasters most likely to occur in Hong Kong. In preparing for disasters, many of the elderly reported having a survival pack easily accessible (86.9%), knowing how to shut down the water, gas and electricity (79.2%), and knowing how to contact their family members (54%). A total of 255 (22.4%) elderly people were classified as being prepared for disaster. Those who were born in Hong Kong (OR = 1.471), living with other family members (OR = 1.742), had neighbors to provide support (OR = 2.92) and perceived themselves as having the ability to help themselves (OR = 1.34) were more prepared for disasters. The majority of elderly people are not prepared for disasters. Health professionals working with the elderly should recognize their characteristics and develop strategies to cater to their special needs in preparing for disasters.
Circulation, 2020
Background: There were inconsistent results in the relationship between poor sleep quality and ob... more Background: There were inconsistent results in the relationship between poor sleep quality and obesity among different population in previous studies. Our study evaluated the association between sleep quality and obesity in a representative adult population of Chinese subjects living in the Macao Special Administrative Region, China. Methods: This cross-sectional study was an analysis of 1426 participants aged 18 to 90 years from a community-based health needs assessment study titled “Healthy Living, Longer Lives”. Recruitment was conducted in seven districts of Macao from 2017 to 2018. Stratified sampling by age and gender strata was adopted. The Chinese version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess the sleep quality. Higher score of PSQI indicates worse sleep quality. Height, weight, and other covariates were collected by self-administered questionnaire. Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m 2 according to the WHO standard. Results: Of all pa...
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2018
When a disaster strikes, rescue workers are deployed to the disaster site to provide immediate re... more When a disaster strikes, rescue workers are deployed to the disaster site to provide immediate rescue support to victims. Given the unpredictable and overwhelming nature of disasters, rescue workers are at risk of suffering from negative psychological consequences. The goal of this review is to explore the psychological impact of a disaster on rescue workers. In this paper, a total of 55 articlesone qualitative study, 53 quantitative studies, and one mixed-methods studywere eligible for inclusion. The rescue workers identified in the literature included fire fighters, police officers, military personnel/soldiers, healthcare professionals, and volunteers. The literature revealed that these rescue workers who were deployed to disaster sites might suffer from acute stress disorder (ASD), anxiety and depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other psychological disorders. Generally, of all rescuers and nurses among the healthcare professionals, the unaffiliated volunteers were most susceptible to negative psychological consequences. The findings of this review indicated that rescue workers are at a high risk of experiencing psychological problems after a disaster deployment. Interventions are needed to mitigate negative psychological consequences and foster resilience in rescue workers.
Applied Catalysis A: General, 1993
Over the resin catalyst Amberlyst 15, and under our reaction conditions, the yield of MTBE (methy... more Over the resin catalyst Amberlyst 15, and under our reaction conditions, the yield of MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether), from the reaction of methanol and isobutene, is at a maximum in the temperature range of 40-60" C. Slightly higher temperatures (70-90" C) are needed when using zeolite H-ZSM-5 as catalyst for the etherification reaction. When isobutanol and methanol are passed over these catalysts at temperatures below lOO"C, extremely low conversions (< 1% by mass) are obtained. Over the resin catalyst and at 12l"C, 3.3% of MTBE+MIBE (methyl isobutyl ether) is obtained where MTBE: MIBE= 1: 7.4. Since the initial rate of the etherification reaction has been shown to be first order in the alkene, we investigated the dehydration reaction of isobutanol over H-ZSM-5. It was found that this reaction proceeds at temperatures above 15O"C, indicating that the formation of the butenes from isobutanol proceeds at a higher temperature than the etherification reaction. Furthermore, our results with Amberlyst 15 show that the resin catalyst is unable to catalyze the isobutanol dehydration reaction within ita recommended usable temperature range. A two-reactor system was therefore employed to implement the overall catalytic conversion of methanol and isobutanol to MTBE. For the dehydration step we employed a silica-alumina catalyst at 225 ' C, since this catalyst exhibits a higher dehydration activity for isobutanol than for methanol, as compared with y-alumina and H-ZSM-5. The product stream from the dehydration step was then fed to reactor 2 which was loaded with the Amberlyst 15 catalyst maintained at 50°C. The two-reactor system produced a significantly higher yield of MTBE+MIBE (27.8%), with the MTBE:MIBE ratio being reversed to 11.7: 1.
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2019
Disaster healthcare rescuers are at risk of experiencing negative psychological effects. However,... more Disaster healthcare rescuers are at risk of experiencing negative psychological effects. However, some are said to be resilient and to be protected from negative consequences. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the characteristics of those disaster healthcare rescuers who were considered resilient in rescue work, and examine whether they experienced any positive changes in their life after being involved in rescue work. Methods: Focused group interviews were conducted with disaster healthcare rescuers from Sichuan, China. Purposive sampling was used to identify those disaster healthcare rescue workers who were deployed to conduct disaster work, who were able to continue doing their daily work, and who were considered to be resilient and to have suffered no obvious negative psychological consequences. Interviews were conducted until the point of data saturation. An inductive content analysis approach was adopted to analyze the data. Results: A total of four focus group interviews were conducted with 21 disaster rescue workers who were considered to be resilient. The healthcare rescuers considered that the characteristics that contributed to resilience were: having personality strengths, utilizing appropriate coping strategies, having social support, and making adequate preparations for rescue work. The rescuers also reported that they experienced positive changes in their life after deployment. Conclusion: The characteristics of the resilience shown by disaster healthcare rescuers were identified. Adequate preparedness and training for disaster rescue work is essential for the resilience of rescue workers. The identified characteristics can be used for the development of a tool for the screening of disaster rescuers and the development of interventions to enhance resilience in rescue workers, with the ultimate aim of preventing disaster rescuers from experiencing negative psychological consequences.
Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 2010
Background: Nurses are often called upon to play the role of first responder when disaster occurs... more Background: Nurses are often called upon to play the role of first responder when disaster occurs. Yet the lack of accepted competencies and gaps in education make it difficult to recruit nurses prepared to respond to a disaster and provide assistance in an effective manner. Design: Based on the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Framework of Disaster Nursing Competencies and Global Standards for the Initial Education of Professional Nurses and Midwives, a training course titled "Introduction to Disaster Nursing" was designed and implemented with 150 students. A prepost survey design was used to assess changes in participants' self-rated disaster nursing competencies. The impact of the training course on participants' attitudes toward disaster nursing and their learning experience were also assessed. Findings: All participants passed the assessments and examination with an average score of 70%. Pre-and posttraining self-ratings of the disaster nursing competencies increased from 2.09 to 3.71 (p < .001) on a Likert scale of 1 to 5, and the effect size was large, with Cohen's d higher than 0.8. No significant difference in both examination results (60% group assignments; 40% written examination) and self-rated competencies was noted between the senior year students and graduate nurse participants by Mann-Whitney U test (p value = .90). The majority of participants indicated their willingness to participate as a helper in disaster relief and saw themselves competent to work under supervision. Conclusions: The ICN Framework of Disaster Nursing Competencies was instrumental to guide the training curriculum development. This introductory training course could be incorporated into undergraduate nursing education programs as well as serve as a continuing education program for graduate nurses. Clinical Relevance: The training program can be used for preparing generalist nurses of their nursing competencies in disaster preparedness, response and post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation.
International Disaster Health Care, 2016
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Sep 3, 2010
The aims of this study were to explore the perception of disaster among the head of household mai... more The aims of this study were to explore the perception of disaster among the head of household mainly responsible for family matters of Hong Kong families with young children, and the extent of their preparedness for disasters. Being prepared for disasters can minimize damage to our health, lives, and property. Families with young children are particularly vulnerable during disasters. A questionnaire was distributed to a convenience sample of families with young children in March and September in 2008. A total of 198 out of 220 questionnaires distributed to heads of households were collected and analyzed for this study. Most of the householders (94.4%) considered the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong in 2003 to have been a disaster. They considered that the disastrous events most likely to occur in Hong Kong were infectious disease outbreaks (96.5%) and major transport accidents (94.4%). In preparing for unexpected events, these families reported having stocked up on &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;young children&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s necessities&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; (82.8%, 73.7%) and &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;medications&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; (82.8%, 60.1%) sufficient for three and seven days respectively. These families also kept a flashlight with adequate batteries (74.7%), extra blankets (69.2%), and a first aid kit (60.6%) at home for safety. They reported &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;panic buying&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; for necessities during previous typhoon strikes (68.2%) and infectious disease outbreaks (46.0%). Only 9.1% considered themselves adequately prepared for disasters (9.1%). Although the families with young children in this study are prepared for disaster to some extent, their preparedness is still considered grossly inadequate and in need of public attention.
Journal of Nursing Research, 2015
Case-based learning (CBL) is an effective educational method for improving the learning and clini... more Case-based learning (CBL) is an effective educational method for improving the learning and clinical reasoning skills of students. Advances in e-learning technology have supported the development of the Web-based CBL approach to teaching as an alternative or supplement to the traditional classroom approach. This study aims to examine the CBL experience of Hong Kong students using both traditional classroom and Web-based approaches in undergraduate nursing education. This experience is examined in terms of the perceived self-learning ability, clinical reasoning ability, and satisfaction in learning of these students. A mixture of quantitative and qualitative approaches was adopted. All Year-3 undergraduate nursing students were recruited. CBL was conducted using the traditional classroom approach in Semester 1, and the Web-based approach was conducted in Semester 2. Student evaluations were collected at the end of each semester using a self-report questionnaire. In-depth, focus-group interviews were conducted at the end of Semester 2. One hundred twenty-two students returned their questionnaires. No difference between the face-to-face and Web-based approaches was found in terms of self-learning ability (p = .947), clinical reasoning ability (p = .721), and satisfaction (p = .083). Focus group interview findings complemented survey findings and revealed five themes that reflected the CBL learning experience of Hong Kong students. These themes were (a) the structure of CBL, (b) the learning environment of Web-based CBL, (c) critical thinking and problem solving, (d) cultural influence on CBL learning experience, and (e) student-centered and teacher-centered learning. The Web-based CBL approach was comparable but not superior to the traditional classroom CBL approach. The Web-based CBL experience of these students sheds light on the impact of Chinese culture on student learning behavior and preferences.
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 2010
The aims of this study were to explore the perception of disaster among the head of household mai... more The aims of this study were to explore the perception of disaster among the head of household mainly responsible for family matters of Hong Kong families with young children, and the extent of their preparedness for disasters. Being prepared for disasters can minimize damage to our health, lives, and property. Families with young children are particularly vulnerable during disasters. A questionnaire was distributed to a convenience sample of families with young children in March and September in 2008. A total of 198 out of 220 questionnaires distributed to heads of households were collected and analyzed for this study. Most of the householders (94.4%) considered the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong in 2003 to have been a disaster. They considered that the disastrous events most likely to occur in Hong Kong were infectious disease outbreaks (96.5%) and major transport accidents (94.4%). In preparing for unexpected events, these families reported having stocked up on &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;young children&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s necessities&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; (82.8%, 73.7%) and &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;medications&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; (82.8%, 60.1%) sufficient for three and seven days respectively. These families also kept a flashlight with adequate batteries (74.7%), extra blankets (69.2%), and a first aid kit (60.6%) at home for safety. They reported &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;panic buying&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; for necessities during previous typhoon strikes (68.2%) and infectious disease outbreaks (46.0%). Only 9.1% considered themselves adequately prepared for disasters (9.1%). Although the families with young children in this study are prepared for disaster to some extent, their preparedness is still considered grossly inadequate and in need of public attention.
Journal of Emergency Management, 2013
A cross-sectional study among a convenience sample of nurses in China was conducted to understand... more A cross-sectional study among a convenience sample of nurses in China was conducted to understand the factors affecting Chinese nurses&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; willingness to report to work in a disaster. A total of 946 questionnaires were collected. Nearly 90 percent of nurses regarded disaster self-help information, an evacuation plan, and contingency measures a must in preparing for disaster care. Many nurses indicated willingness to work during a disaster that may threaten the safety of their family members than when there is a life-threatening infectious disease outbreak (83.6 and 69.6 percent, p = 0.000). Nurses with longer years of clinical experience were more willing to work in both situations (p = 0.014 and 0.000). Fear of contracting an infectious disease and spreading it to family members was a major factor for nurses&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; unwillingness to report to work. Hospital administrators should understand their workforce&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s willingness in reporting to work and provide appropriate disaster training and support to maximize workforce in a disaster.
Rehabilitation Nursing, 2014
To examine the potential value of a creative art-based activity as a caring modality for promotin... more To examine the potential value of a creative art-based activity as a caring modality for promoting holistic well-being among chronic stroke patients, and to explore the feelings and meanings that stroke patients derived from their experience in leisure art-based creative engagement (LACE). Qualitative design. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted. Qualitative content analysis was performed. The design and implementation of LACE was guided by Watson&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s theory of caring. Twenty-four participants completed the study. Four themes emerged from participants&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; account of experiences with the LACE: (1) appreciation of opportunities, (2) appreciation of self, (3) appreciation of others, and (4) appreciation of life. From the perspective of the participants, engaging in LACE enhances their sense of enjoyment and self-expression. Furthermore, they perceived LACE as an affirmation of life and an empowering process strengthening their connection and appreciation with the self and others. This study adds evidence to existing literature on Watson&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s theory-guided design and implementation of caring initiatives for community rehabilitation and has laid the groundwork for developing further evidence-based research in leisure art-based caring occasions for promoting holistic well-being in stroke rehabilitation.
Supportive Care in Cancer, 2014
The aim of the study was to test a hypothesised model that supportive care needs (SCNs) have a me... more The aim of the study was to test a hypothesised model that supportive care needs (SCNs) have a mediating effect on the relationship between characteristics of (Chinese) head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors and their quality of life (QoL). A total of 285 Chinese HNC survivors who had finished cancer treatment 1 year earlier completed a self-reported survey covering demographic and clinical characteristics, the Chinese version of the Short-Form Supportive Care Needs Questionnaire (SCNS-SF34-C), the supplementary module of access to healthcare and ancillary support services and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer (FACT-H&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;N). The final path model showed that optimism, educational level, any coexisting disease, number of somatic symptoms, household income, eating ability, support from others, whether the cancer is under control or not and travelling time from home to hospital have direct or indirect effects, or both, on the QoL of HNC survivors, by way of unmet SCNs in the psychological, physical and/or health system information domains, which account for 64 % of the variance in the total FACT-H&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;N score. Our study demonstrated the mediating effects of SCNs in the association between HNC survivors and their QoL. Early needs assessment may help healthcare professionals to identify the actual needs of these survivors, and providing the information that HNC survivors want is a significant factor in meeting their psychological needs and thereby improving their overall QoL.
Journal of Emergency Management, 2013
Inadequate healthcare workforce during a disaster affects the survival and health outcome of vict... more Inadequate healthcare workforce during a disaster affects the survival and health outcome of victims. During disaster strikes, nurses may face a dilemma regarding whether or not to report for duty, facing professional duty and their personal and/or family safety that may be at stake. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. This study seeks for a better understanding of the factors affecting nurses&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; willingness and readiness to report for duty in a disaster. A total of 269 currently practicing registered nurses completed the questionnaire. Results showed that only 68.7 percent and 53.2 percent of nurses were willing to report to work during a disaster. Male nurses were more likely to report to work than females during disaster (p = 0.007) and infection outbreak (p = 0.002) situations. Nurses with young children were less likely to report to work during an infectious disease outbreak (34.5 percent vs 55.4 percent, p = 0.033). It is concluded that about one-third of nurses indicated that they would not report to work when a disaster strikes. This raises a warning signal for healthcare managers that they need to plan ahead to maintain an adequate workforce when disasters strike. Managers are urged to do more to understand the factors leading to nurses&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; unwillingness to report to work and to undertake realistic staffing planning to cope with the extra demand.
Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2009
Aims and objectives. The aims of the study were to identify nurses' perception of disaster, wheth... more Aims and objectives. The aims of the study were to identify nurses' perception of disaster, whether they considered some of the events that have occurred in Hong Kong to be disasters and the types of disastrous events that they considered likely in Hong Kong.
Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2008
Title. Disaster preparedness among Hong Kong nurses. Aim. This paper is a report of a survey to e... more Title. Disaster preparedness among Hong Kong nurses. Aim. This paper is a report of a survey to explore Hong Kong nurses' disaster preparedness. Background. Increasingly frequent global disasters are posing threats to human health and life. The World Health Organization has called for countries to have detailed plans at all levels in order to be prepared for disasters that may arise. Method. A questionnaire was distributed to convenience samples of practising Registered Nurses studying in Master's degree programmes at a Hong Kong university in 2007. Results. Of a possible 174, 164 questionnaires were returned (Response rate 94%). Almost all nurses (97AE6%) considered the government health department to be the organization most involved in disastrous situations. The majority (84AE8%) were aware of the existence of a protocol on disaster management at their workplace. About one-third would respond in accordance with protocol (38AE4%) or rely on directions from their immediate supervisors (34AE8%) if a disaster occurred. Almost all the nurses (97%) considered themselves not adequately prepared for disasters. They recognized that a protocol for disaster management (85AE4%) and training and drills for disasters (both 84AE1%) are useful tools. Conclusion. Nurses in Hong Kong are not adequately prepared for disasters, but are aware of the need for such preparation. Disaster management training should be included in the basic education of nurses.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2014
The purpose of this study was to explore Hong Kong nurses" perceptions of competencies required f... more The purpose of this study was to explore Hong Kong nurses" perceptions of competencies required for disaster nursing. Focus group interviews and written inquiry were adopted to solicit nurses" perceived required competencies for disaster care. A total of 15 nurses were interviewed and 30 nurses completed the written inquiry on their perceived competencies related to disaster nursing. The International Council for Nurses" (ICN) framework of disaster nursing competencies, consisting of four themes and ten domains, was used to tabulate the perceived competencies for disaster nursing reported by nurses. The most mentioned required competencies were related to disaster response; with the ethical and legal competencies for disaster nursing were mostly neglected by nurses in Hong Kong. With the complexity nature of disasters, special competencies are required if nurses are to deal with adverse happenings in their serving community. Nurses" perceived disaster nursing competencies reported by nurses were grossly inadequate, demonstrating the needs to develop a comprehensive curriculum for public health. The establishment of a set of tailor-made disaster nursing core competencies for the community they served is the first step in preparing nurses to deal with disastrous situations for the health of the public.
International Journal of Cardiology, 2013
International Journal of Cardiology, 2013
Geriatrics & Gerontology International, 2012
The present study aims to explore the concerns relating to disasters among the elderly in Hong Ko... more The present study aims to explore the concerns relating to disasters among the elderly in Hong Kong, as well as the extent and predictive factors of their preparedness for disasters. The elderly are considered a vulnerable population, without the ability to protect themselves during disasters. Their accurate perception and preparedness for disasters can minimize damage to their health or threats to their lives when disasters strike. Elderly people who had installed an emergency call service in Hong Kong were contacted by telephone for an interview between the months of June to September 2010. A total of 1137 questionnaires were analyzed for the present study. Elderly people considered major transport accidents (54.3%), fires (47.9%) and storms/flooding (41.5%) as the disasters most likely to occur in Hong Kong. In preparing for disasters, many of the elderly reported having a survival pack easily accessible (86.9%), knowing how to shut down the water, gas and electricity (79.2%), and knowing how to contact their family members (54%). A total of 255 (22.4%) elderly people were classified as being prepared for disaster. Those who were born in Hong Kong (OR = 1.471), living with other family members (OR = 1.742), had neighbors to provide support (OR = 2.92) and perceived themselves as having the ability to help themselves (OR = 1.34) were more prepared for disasters. The majority of elderly people are not prepared for disasters. Health professionals working with the elderly should recognize their characteristics and develop strategies to cater to their special needs in preparing for disasters.