Prevalence of influenza vaccination and associated factors among Chinese nursing home health care workers

BACKGROUND: Influenza vaccination (IV) in nursing home health care workers (nHCWs) can reduce mortality of nursing home older adults. There is no study examining the prevalence of IV in Chinese nHCWs ...postprin

Effectiveness of influenza vaccination in institutionalised older adults: a systematic review

This journal suppl. entitled: 19th Medical Research Conference; Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong KongBACKGROUND: Influenza infection is common among institutionalised older adults. Many non-randomised observational studies on influenza vaccination suggested that it could reduce influenza-related hospitalizations and mortality in institutionalised older adults. Criticism regarding the effectiveness of influenza vaccine estimated by non-randomised observational studies includes the frailty selection bias and use of non-specific outcome like all-cause mortality. A systematic review of studies of influenza vaccination in institutionalized older adults to ...postprin

A postgraduate diploma course in community geriatrics for primary care doctors: Experience of first three years

This paper describes the setting up of a postgraduate diploma course in Community Geriatrics for primary care physicians and the experience gained in its first three years of running. This study programme was set up in response to the rapidly rising elderly population in Hong Kong and the fact that most of the primary care doctors practising today had an inadequate undergraduate curriculum in the health care issues that are relevant to older people. The objectives of the Course are to improve the knowledge, skills and confidence of primary care physicians in the care of elderly people. It also emphasises the aspects of care that are unique to elderly people. The Course is delivered by different modes of learning: distance learning, face-to-face problem-orientated seminars and small group clinical teaching. Learning centres are established in different regional hospitals in Hong Kong in order to allow small group clinical teaching while, at the same time, reducing travelling time for the students. Information technology is also used to facilitate teaching and learning, as well as to encourage communication among teachers and students. The Course was oversubscribed for all its intakes in the first three years of running. Some graduates have taken on visiting medical officer positions at elderly homes.published_or_final_versio

A randomised controlled trial to compare immunogenicity between intramuscular and intradermal trivalent influenza vaccination in nursing home older adults

BACKGROUND: Immunosenescence in older adults contributes to unsatisfactory immunogenicity towards influenza vaccine. Intradermal (ID) administration of influenza vaccine has been suggested to improve immunogenicity but there is no study regarding the immunogenicity of ID influenza vaccination in nursing home older adults ...postprin

Evaluation of the learning outcomes of a year-long postgraduate training course in community geriatrics for primary care doctors

There are increasing expectations on primary care doctors to shoulder a bigger share of care for patients with common geriatric problems in the community. This study aims to examine the outcomes of a postgraduate training course in geriatrics for primary care doctors. A questionnaire developed by the research team was sent to the course graduates (years 2001-2007). Ninety-eight replies were received with a response rate of 52.4% (98/187). Difference in the ratings by the respondents before and after taking the course was analyzed using the nonparametric Wilcoxon signed rank test. Most respondents felt more rewarding and had participated more in geriatric care, and the majority had improvement in their communication skills with elderly patients after taking the course. Moreover, the graduates are more confident in diagnosing and managing common geriatric problems, and deciding to which specialty to refer the elderly patients. Of the referrals, there was a significant increase to private geriatricians and a significant reduction to other specialists. The average number of elderly patients seen per day had also increased. However, little change was observed about making nursing home visits, the frequency of which remained low. Many graduates expressed difficulties in conducting nursing home visits. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.postprin

Comparing effectiveness between intramuscular and intradermal trivalent influenza vaccination in nursing home residents: a randomised controlled trial

Oral PresentationBACKGROUND: There is no study comparing clinical effectiveness between intradermal (ID) and intramuscular (IM) administration of influenza vaccination in nursing home older adults ...postprin

Systems dynamics in the community care pathway at the end-of-life: the Hong Kong experience

BACKGROUND: Since 2009, the HKWC-CGAT in collaboration with TWGHs JC C&A Home piloted the “EOL Program for RCHE in HKWC” program. The program offered 2 EoL care pathways on top of existing care framework: 1) AED pathway: residents remain in RCHE during last stage of life and stay there until very last moment of life; 2) FYKH pathway: resident be transferred to the hospital via expedite pathway at the last moment of life to receive hospice and palliative care until he/she passed away. The program has served 32 residents, 9 have chosen the AED pathway and two passed away peacefully in 2010. Success of this program highlights the need to examine interplaying factors in EoL care pathway and reflect on practical implications for quality EoL care. OBJECTIVE: To identify system factors that contributes to EoL care decision making and dignified EoL Care Pathways. METHOD: This is a qualitative study with individual interviews and focus groups conducted. Participants was …published_or_final_versio

Local adverse effect of intradermal administration of influenza vaccination is an indicator of satisfactory immunogenicity

BACKGROUND: There are few studies concerning the association between immunogenicity of intradermal (ID) administration of influenza vaccination and adverse effect of vaccination ...postprin

Emergence of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in Nursing Homes With High Background Rates of MRSA Colonization

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Dignified Care in LTC Settings: A Systemic- Interpretive Framework for Community-Based End-of-Life Care Pathway in Hong Kong

Conference Theme: Clinical, Legal and Administrative ChallengesFree Paper Presentation IIpublished_or_final_versio