1,316 research outputs found
Use of smartphones by art and design students for accessing library services and learning
Purpose â The purpose of this paper is to explore art and design studentsâ use of smartphones for accessing library services and learning at the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI). Design/methodology/approach â A questionnaire survey involving 51 HKDI students was conducted to examine the studentsâ utilization of apps and the internet on mobile devices to find information for the purpose of academic learning, social networking, and collaborative learning. Findings â Survey results showed that while the HKDI students were all smartphone owners and active users of such mobile communication devices, only a minority of them âfrequentlyâ use these mobile devices for formal learning purposes. They demonstrated a keen preference to use search engines, social communications, and other diverse use of smartphones. Except for research and image/audio-visual needs, the rest of their needs and usage behaviour is similar to mainstream university students. Practical implications â The results suggest opportunities for the libraries to develop services and facilities that could better fulfil studentsâ information needs, and to improve the network coverage outside the library. Originality/value â This is probably the first study of its kind to explore art and design studentsâ use of smartphones for learning needs. In particular, the recent capability of smartphones and mobile internet speed are comparable with desktops, it is vital to re-examine the much changed environment and user needs.postprin
Gestational Exposure to Antidepressants and Risk of Seizure in Offspring: A systematic review and meta-analysis
In spite of the preliminary evidence suggesting a link between gestational use of antidepressant and neurodevelopmental disorders in their offspring, the association between maternal use of antidepressants during pregnancy and the risk of neurologically-related adverse outcomes such as neonatal seizure is still unclear. This study summarises the available evidence on the association between gestational exposure to any antidepressants and the risk of seizure in neonates and children. We found that gestational antidepressant exposure is associated with a 2.3-fold higher incidence of seizure in offspring. Although a causal relationship cannot be confirmed in view of other potential confounders, our findings warrant future research on related clinical aspects, and possibly more careful monitoring of foetal neurodevelopment in pregnant women taking antidepressants during pregnancy. However, this does not suggest the abrupt withdrawal of antidepressants during pregnancy for all cases at risk of seizure in offspring as this must be balanced with the risk of negative consequences caused by untreated maternal depression, and decision-making should be individualised for each patient
A community study on burden and depressive symptoms among carers of demented relatives
Background: Most mild to moderate demented patients
are cared at home. Studies have shown that carers face
increased stress and are prone to depression. In order to
understand their needs, a collaboration study between
District Board, Community Rehabilitation Network and
local hospitals was done. Objective: (1) To understand
care needs of demented patients and their carers in the
family. (2) To assess difficulties faced by carers and evaluate
their stress. (3) To find out which factors may aggravate
or relieve carer stress. Method: The study was performed
by interviewing 100 carers by questionnaire. Three main
themes were studied: (1) presence of depression by Center
for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), (2)
caregiver burden by Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), patientsâ
memory and behavioural problems by Revised Memory
and Behaviour Problems Checklist (RMBPC), patient ADL
performance, and (3) carer coping abilities by Brief COPE
and perceived social support by Multidimensional Scale
of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Results: 49% of
patients are in moderate to severe stage, with moderate to
high ADL dependency level (mean ADL score: 62.4, with
40% of patients scoring 60 or below). On average carers
spent 13.8 hours per day on their relative. 24% of carers
have rated self-perceived health status as poor or very
poor. 36% have little or no knowledge about the dementia
illness. Regarding carer depression, 49% had CES-D score
in the moderately and severely depressed range. Caregiver burden was high with ZBI score of 38.2 (>24 being highly
associated with depression). Memory and behavioural
symptoms were common with mean RMBPC 38.2. Carer
coping abilities as measured by Brief COPE was 24.6.
Perceived social support as measured by MSPSS was
56.2. Carer depression was found to be correlated with
cognitive and behaviour problems as well as carer burden;
whereas it was negatively correlated with social support.
After multiple linear regression analysis, caregiver burden
was the most significant factor contributing to caregiver
depression (ÎČ=0.55, T=5.43, p<0.001). Conclusions: This
cohort of carers, having spent long hours caring for their
demented relatives had limited knowledge, poor perceived
health and emotional problems. They had high burden
and showed signs of depression. Caregiver depression
was found to be associated with a higher level of burden.published_or_final_versio
Colorectal carcinoma in Hong Kong: epidemiology and genetic mutations.
The incidence of colorectal carcinoma is rising at an alarming pace in Asian urban societies such as Hong Kong. Detailed examination of the epidemiological pattern and genetic mutation of colorectal cancer in the Hong Kong Chinese population is overdue. We compared the reported age incidence of colorectal carcinoma in Hong Kong with that of Scotland and other countries. Hong Kong showed a much higher incidence of colorectal carcinoma among the young age groups. By comparison with other countries, this raised incidence among the young appeared to be related to southern Chinese societies. The recent dramatic rise in colorectal cancer in Hong Kong was largely attributable to an increase in the over 50 years age group, while the young incidence remained unchanged. We also defined the mutation spectrum of p53 and Ki-ras in 67 unselected cases by direct DNA sequencing. Interestingly, insertion/deletion mutations in p53 from colorectal carcinoma in Hong Kong showed a significantly higher frequency (17.2%) than the Scottish data (0%) and the world database (6.6%), although the overall frequency of p53 mutation (43%) in Hong Kong was similar to others. The high incidence of colorectal carcinoma in young people and the raised proportion of frameshift mutations in p53 encourage further search for a genetic basis for susceptibility to this disease in the Hong Kong Chinese population
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