45 research outputs found
SARS-related Perceptions in Hong Kong
To understand different aspects of community responses related to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), 2 population-based, random telephone surveys were conducted in June 2003 and January 2004 in Hong Kong. More than 70% of respondents would avoid visiting hospitals or mainland China to avoid contracting SARS. Most respondents believed that SARS could be transmitted through droplets, fomites, sewage, and animals. More than 90% believed that public health measures were efficacious means of prevention; 40.4% believed that SARS would resurge in Hong Kong; and ≈70% would then wear masks in public places. High percentages of respondents felt helpless, horrified, and apprehensive because of SARS. Approximately 16% showed signs of posttraumatic symptoms, and ≈40% perceived increased stress in family or work settings. The general public in Hong Kong has been very vigilant about SARS but needs to be more psychologically prepared to face a resurgence of the epidemic
Effects of School Closures, 2008 Winter Influenza Season, Hong Kong
In winter 2008, kindergartens and primary schools in Hong Kong were closed for 2 weeks after media coverage indicated that 3 children had died, apparently from influenza. We examined prospective influenza surveillance data before, during, and after the closure. We did not find a substantial effect on community transmission
Inquiry web-based learning to enhance information problem solving competences in science
Early research on using web information indicates that secondary students fail to
explore much web tools, use them naively and have serious difficulties to
understand and integrate web information. In response to these challenges, the
main goal of this research has been to design, implement and evaluate an
instructional approach that helps students learn from web information. We have
developed on-line learning materials which focus on specific curricular contents
and provide specific scaffolds to help students accomplish web-based tasks and
develop specific information problem-solving competencies. These scaffolds have
intended to give support to students involved in information-seeking activities as
they were asked questions, searched for information, organised and assessed their
findings, and created rich representations of their newly-constructed
understandings. We have designed a one year long study to investigate the depth
and accuracy of 127 secondary students, as regards their content understanding as
well as their development of information problem-solving competencies when
using on-line resources to solve instructional tasks. Our research demonstrates that
the experimental group performed computer-based activities statistically better
than the control group. Our findings also suggest that students were able to
develop accurate and in-depth understanding from web information if they could
appropriately use search and managerial strategies. This research lends evidence
to questions regarding the value of students engaging in on-line inquiry web-based
learning to enhance content understanding and to develop more efficient
information problem-solving competencies in secondary education
School Closure and Mitigation of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, kindergartens and primary schools were closed when local transmission of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 was identified. Secondary schools closed for summer vacation shortly afterwards. By fitting a model of reporting and transmission to case data, we estimated that transmission was reduced ≈25% when secondary schools closed