Psychometrics and population norm of the Chinese (HK) SF-36 Health Survey_version 2

Objective: To establish the psychometric properties and norm of the Chinese (HK) SF-36 version 2 Health Survey for the adult population in Hong Kong (HK) to facilitate its application and interpretation. Design: A cross-sectional random telephone survey of the general adult population. Subjects: 2410 Chinese adults randomly selected from the general Chinese adult population in Hong Kong. The mean age of the subjects was 42.9 (S.D. 17.3) years, 48% were men and 38% had one or more chronic disease. Main outcome measures: Responses to the SF-36v2 Health Survey questions were extracted. Item-scale correlations, internal and test-retest reliabilities, and the factor structure of the SF-36v2 Health Survey scores were analysed. The SF-36v2 Health Survey scores were calculated by the standard algorithm to establish the population norm. Results: All items had 100% scaling success indicating discriminant validity. Internal consistency and test-retest reliabilities of all scales were good (coefficients 0.66 to 0.89). The hypothesized two-factor structure underlying construction of the physical and mental health summary scales was confirmed. The psychometric properties of the SF-36v2 Health Survey were generally better than version 1. There were significant differences in the population norms between versions 1 and 2 of the Chinese (HK) SF-36 Health Survey, especially in the role-physical and role-emotional scales. Conclusion: The Chinese (HK) SF-36v2 Health Survey is valid and reliable for measuring HRQOL of Chinese adults in Hong Kong, and population norm is now available to support the interpretation of its scores.published_or_final_versio

Factors influencing the career interest of medical graduates in obstetrics and gynaecology in Hong Kong: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey.

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Brief problem-solving treatment in primary care (PST-PC) was not more effective than placebo for elderly patients screened positive of psychological problems

Objectives To evaluate whether screening followed by brief problem-solving treatment by primary care doctors (PST-PC) could improve health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and reduce consultation rates in the elderly. Design A single-blind randomized placebo controlled trial (RCT). Setting Two government funded primary care clinics in Hong Kong. Participants Two hundred and ninety nine Chinese patients aged 60 years or over, with positive screening scores for psychological problems by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Interventions One hundred and forty nine subjects were randomized to receive brief PST-PC from primary care doctors (treatment) and 150 to group video-viewing (placebo). All subjects were followed up by telephone at 6, 12, 26 and 52 weeks. Main Outcome Measures Changes in SF-36 HRQOL scores, HADS scores and monthly consultation rates were compared within and between groups. Results Study completion rates were 69-71%. There was significant improvement in the SF-36 role-emotional (RE) and mental component summary (MCS) scores at week 6 in the PST-PC group but not in the placebo group. Several SF-36 scores improved significantly in the placebo (video) group at week 6-52. Mixed effects analysis adjusting for baseline values and cofounders did not show any difference in any of the outcomes between the PST-PC and placebo (video) groups. Conclusions Screening followed by brief PST-PC was associated with a short-term improvement in HRQOL in Chinese elderly patients screened positive of psychological problems, but the HRQOL benefit was not greater than those found in the placebo group who participated in group-viewings of health education videos. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.postprin

Assessing self-efficacy behaviour of type 2 diabetes mellitus in primary care

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Confirmatory factor analysis on traditional Chinese version of 26-item Diabetes Self-Efficacy Scale (C-DSES) in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

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Patient morbidity and management patterns of community-based primary health care services in Hong Kong

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Population norm of Chinese (HK) SF-12 health survey-version 2 of Chinese adults in Hong Kong

Objective: To establish the normative values of the SF-12 Health Survey-Version 2 (SF-12v2) for the Chinese adult population in Hong Kong (HK) and to determine factors associated with variations in scores. Design: Two cross-sectional telephone surveys with the Chinese (HK) SF-12 Health survey and a structured questionnaire in 2008 and 2009. Subjects: 2533 Chinese adults aged ≥18 years randomly selected from the general population in Hong Kong. Main outcome measures: Mean SF-12v2 domain scale and summary scores were calculated and population age-sex adjusted SF-12v2 norms were established. The effect of sociodemographic and morbidity factors on SF-12v2 scores, and the effect of SF-12v2 scores on service utilization rates were determined by multivariate regressions. Results: Mean SF-12v2 scores of subjects were significantly lower than the 1998 norm in all but the general health and vitality domains. Being female and the presence of chronic or acute illness were associated with worse SF-12v2 scores, but higher education level or being married were associated with better SF-12v2 scores. SF-12v2 scores were independent determinants of outpatient consultations and Accident and Emergency visits. Conclusion: The Chinese (HK) SF-12v2 data can now be interpreted more meaningfully with reference to the general population norms. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) should be taken into account in the estimation of outpatient health service needs.link_to_OA_fulltex