Preference for online health information among Chinese

If soon-to-be-aged (STBA) adults do not do well in disease prevention or chronic illness care, their health problems may add a heavy load to the health care system and its costs. Objective: This study aims to identify factors that were associated with Chinese STBA adults’ preference for online health information (POHI). Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2005-2006 among Hong Kong adults. Results: Out of the 516 respondents, one-third indicated their preference to get health information via the Internet. Five significant independent factors were found to be associated with POHI: 10th grade education or above, being employed, perceiving they had good language ability, knowing someone who could teach them, and Chinese who placed a higher value on learning as they grew older. Conclusions: With these findings, practitioners could work out some ways to support STBA adults for online health-related learning and health literacy.published_or_final_versio

An evaluation of the factor structure of the instrumental activities of daily living involvement and capacity scales of the minimum data set for home care for elderly Chinese community dwellers in Hong Kong

The objective of this study was to evaluate the factor structure of the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Involvement and Capacity scales of the Chinese version of the Minimum Data Set-Home Care (MDS-HC) in a sample of Chinese older adults living in Hong Kong (n=3,523). The results of confirmatory factor analyses supported the one-factor model for both IADL Involvement and IADL Capacity scales. Evidence indicated that both scales had good internal consistency (.88) and were reliable and valid in assessing IADL among elderly Chinese community dwellers.postprin

香港老人科护士的发展

全球人口老龄化是一个大趋势，很多国家均面临着人口老龄化问题。根据世界卫生组织公布的2008 年人口年龄统计数字，多达30 个国家的老龄人口占全国总人口两成或以上[1]。其中，日本60岁以上人口已占总人口的29%，欧洲国家如西班牙、德国及意大利均占26%[1]。 香港特别行政区现在也正面对着严峻的人口老化问题。根据香港政府统计处的数字，2008 年香港60 岁或以上人口占总人口的17%[2]，远高于中国各省的平均数（12%）[1]。香港政府统计处推算，在2020 年，香港的老龄人口将高达26%[2]。早在20 世纪70 年代，香港政府已开始为人口老龄化问题作准备，投放资源，培训专业团队。为老人提供专门的医护服务。本文将简述香港的老人科专科护士的发展史，介绍老人科专科护士的入职资格及相关培训，及其工作范畴和职责。最后，我们将探讨老人科专科护士的未来发展问题。published_or_final_versio

A psychometric evaluation of a negative mood scale in the MDS-HC using a large sample of community-dwelling Hong Kong Chinese older adults

Background: negative mood is an important construct when assessing the health of older persons. The profile of mood states questionnaire is commonly used to measure mood; however, it might not be suitable for older adults with low education level and those who are not originated North American.Objective: to examine a negative mood scale formed by nine items in the Mood Section of the Minimum Data Set-Home Care of the Resident Assessment Instrument. Methods: a secondary analysis of data from 3,523 older persons aged 60 or over who had first applied for the long-term care services in Hong Kong and completed the screening tool in 2006. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to test the factor structure and multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis to test the gender invariance of the Negative Mood Scale in the Minimum Data Set-Home Care. Its reliability using Cronbach's alpha was examined. Results: both a three-factor model at the first level and a one-factor model at the second level provided excellent fits to the overall data, and held equally well for both males and females, and two randomly split samples. Multiple-group confirmatory factor analyses revealed both genders demonstrating an equivalent pattern of factor loadings. Cronbach's alpha value was acceptable for the overall data (0.66). Conclusions: the Negative Mood Scale is a reliable and valid scale and both genders responded to it using the same framework and metric, suggesting it could be used to measure negative mood in Chinese community-dwelling older adults. Further testing of the instrument is needed. © The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved.postprin

Residents with Alzheimer’s Disease in Long-Term Care Facilities in Hong Kong: Patterns of Hospitalization and Emergency Room Use

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Introduction: Long-term care needs in Hong Kong

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New anti-smoking legislation on youth smoking and quitting behaviours via a smoking cessation hotline

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A proactive family smoking cessation intervention for parents of children 0-18 months: a randmoised controlled trial

Parallel Session 1 – Population Health & Policy: abstract no. S1Symposium Theme: Translating Health Research into Policy and Practice for Health of the Populationpublished_or_final_versio

Service learning in medical and nursing training: A randomized controlled trial

The purpose of this study was to explore the long term effect of a service learning project on medical and nursing students' knowledge in aging and their attitudes toward older adults. A total of 124 students were recruited and then randomized to intervention group (IG) and control group (CG). A pre-and-post-intervention design measured students' knowledge in aging (using modified Palmore's Fact on Aging Quiz) and attitudes toward older adults (using Kogan's Old People Scale). A total of 103 students completed all the activities and questionnaires. After the intervention, there were significant differences between the IG and CG on Palmore's mental health (MH) (P =.04), Palmore's total score (P =.02) and Kogan's negative attitudes toward older adults (P =.001). All students increased their positive attitude toward older adults after the intervention. However, both the IG and CG showed a decrease in positive attitudes 1 month after the interventon, and such decrease varied, depending on the programme which students attended. The current study showed that the 10-week service learning activities significantly increased medical and nursing students' overall knowledge of aging and their understanding of mental health needs in old age, and reduced their negative attitudes toward older adults. However, the effect is not long-lasting. On the other hand, its effect on positive attitudes toward older adults cannot be concluded. Periodic contacts with older adults via service learning activities may be needed to sustain attitude change toward older adults. © 2011 The Author(s).published_or_final_versionSpringer Open Choice, 21 Feb 201

Development and validation of Chinese Health Literacy Scale for Diabetes

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To develop and to test the psychometric properties of the Chinese Health Literacy Scale for Diabetes. BACKGROUND: Patients with diabetes encounter many challenges when making health decisions in their daily lives, as they have access to many different kinds of health information. Health literacy issues are new topics in Chinese society. Without a valid and reliable instrument in Chinese, it is difficult to measure the level of health literacy and promote the concept of health literacy in Chinese societies. DESIGN: A methodological study with a sample of 137 patients with type 2 diabetes aged 65 years or older. METHOD: Chinese Health Literacy Scale for Diabetes was developed with reference to the revised Bloom's taxonomy model. Psychometric tests (content validity, item analysis, construct validity, discriminative ability and test-retest reliability) were conducted. Correlations between Chinese Health Literacy Scale for Diabetes and four relevant measures were tested. Cronbach's alpha and alpha if item deleted were calculated to assess internal consistency. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha for Chinese Health Literacy Scale for Diabetes and its four subscales (remembering, understanding, applying and analysing) were 0.884, 0.885, 0.667, 0.654 and 0.717, respectively. The Chinese Health Literacy Scale for Diabetes was significantly correlated with the Diabetic Knowledge Scale (r = 0.398, p < 0.001), the Diabetic Management Self-Efficacy Scale (r = 0.257, p < 0.001), the Preschool and Primary Chinese Literacy Scale (r = 0.822, p < 0.001) and the Chinese Value of Learning Scale (r = 0.303, p < 0.001). It took an average of seven minutes to complete this 34-item instrument. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study support the Chinese Health Literacy Scale for Diabetes as a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the health literacy of Chinese patients with diabetes. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: We recommend that clinicians use this tool to assess patients' health literacy before conducting any kind of health promotion.postprin