Validation of the 10-item Chinese perceived stress scale in elderly service workers: one-factor versus two-factor structure

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Is brief daily body-mind-spirit practice desirable for staff who provide services for elderly people? Two pilot studies with care and professional workers

Symptoms-focused approach only had limited short-term effects in addressing burnout. A new trend is toward a positive approach in fostering well-being at workplace. The current study piloted a daily spiritual practice programme which provided a 15-minute small group meeting with staff of elderly services towards the end of every workday for one month at two study sites. Repeated measures on burnout, daily spiritual experience (DSE) and engagement were taken at pre, post and 1 month after intervention. The two groups showed different patterns in burnout reduction and increase of DSE. It is worthwhile pursuing randomized controlled trial on the programme.postprin

Slowed muscle force production and sensory organization deficits contribute to altered postural control strategies in children with developmental coordination disorder

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Measuring Engagement at Work: Validation of the Chinese Version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale

Background: Work engagement is a positive work-related state of fulfillment characterized by vigor, dedication, and absorption. Previous studies have operationalized the construct through development of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Apart from the original three-factor 17-item version of the instrument (UWES-17), there exists a nine-item shortened revised version (UWES-9). Purpose: The current study explored the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale in terms of factorial validity, scale reliability, descriptive statistics, and construct validity. Method: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in 2009 among 992 workers from over 30 elderly service units in Hong Kong. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses revealed a better fit for the three-factor model of the UWES-9 than the UWES-17 and the one-factor model of the UWES-9. The three factors showed acceptable internal consistency and strong correlations with factors in the original versions. Engagement was negatively associated with perceived stress and burnout while positively with age and holistic care climate. Conclusion: The UWES-9 demonstrates adequate psychometric properties, supporting its use in future research in the Chinese context. © 2011 The Author(s).published_or_final_versionSpringer Open Choice, 21 Feb 201

Prevalence and correlates of metabolic syndrome in Hong Kong Chinese adults—a random community sample study

The study investigates the prevalence and correlates of metabolic syndrome (MS) among Hong Kong Chinese adults. Random cluster sampling design and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) MS criteria were adopted. Totally 737 adults participated in questionnaire survey and received waist circumference (WC) measurement. Among them 335 showed central obesity (WC > 80 and 85 cm for women and men respectively). Subsequently 229 accepted blood test. Totally 71 participants met MS criteria, suggesting an overall prevalence of 14.1%. Both central obesity and MS increase sharply with age. Chi-square/ANOVA analyses revealed significant positive associations between central obesity with: being male, marital status being married/cohabit, lower education level, occupation as manager or housewife, and alcohol consumption. For MS, the significant positive correlates were: lower education level, occupation as service workers or housewife, lower income level, and alcohol consumption. After controlling for age, binary logistic regression analyses suggested the significant risk factors for central obesity were being male (OR=1.4), married/cohabit (OR=1.8), longer working hours (OR=1.5), eating less vegetables (OR=1.5), and alcohol consumption (OR=1.8). For MS, after controlling for age, only alcohol consumption appeared to be significant risk factor (OR=2.3). The mMultivariate binary logistic regressions also supported that age group and alcohol consumption were significant predictors of MS. The past study applying IDF MS criteria in Hong Kong adults revealed a prevalence of 7.4% only. Adopting a convenience sample of active working adults may largely explain the underestimation in previous study. To conclude, adopting randomized cluster sampling and IDF criteria, the study revealed aA prevalence rate of MS at 14.1% revealed in the current study seems to be a better estimate since the randomized cluster sampling method was adopted. Alcohol consumption appears to be the strongest risk factor of MS, which however needs further investigation

Evaluating Compassion-Mindfulness Therapy for Recurrent Anxiety and Depression: A Randomized Control Trial

Objective: To evaluate the effects of compassion–mindfulness therapy (C-MT), an adapted version of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy that integrates compassion training.Method: Individuals aged 17–69 with recurrent depressive and anxiety symptoms were recruited from a community mental health service unit. Half of the participants were randomized to an 8-week C-MT program (n = 41) and the other half to a wait-list control condition (n = 41).Results: Intent-to-treat analyses showed significant improvements in all measures in the treatment group. The effect sizes for depression and anxiety were 1.11 and 1.10, respectively, and those for physical distress, daily functioning, positive affect, and negative affect ranged from 0.71 to 1.04. All improvements were sustained at the 3-month follow-up.Conclusions: The results provide preliminary support for C-MT as a viable treatment option for individuals with recurrent depression and anxiety symptoms. Time-limited treatments such as C-MT should be promoted in social work practice.postprin

Can Rhythmical Auditory Stimulation Alter Gait Pattern in Children with Asperger Syndrome?

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Basic communicating and counselling skills for family physicians

Family physicians often encounter psychological problems in patients under their care. Treating these problems is integral to a holistic conception of primary healthcare. This article describes the nature, basic principles, and therapeutic process of counselling; dispels myths, biased perceptions, and misconceptions about it; and illustrates how counselling techniques may be applied by family physicians in their practice. The authors make a proposal to confront limitations and contradictions of treating psychological problems in primary healthcare: setting up synergistic partnerships between family physicians and health counsellors.published_or_final_versio

Confirmatory factor analysis of the stagnation scale-a traditional chinese medicine construct operationalized for mental health practice

Background Traditional Chinese medicine stagnation ("yu") syndrome is characterized by a cluster of mind/body obstruction-like symptoms. Previous studies have operationalized the concept as a psychological construct through scale development, producing a three-factor 16-item inventory with good psychometric properties. Purpose The study aimed to further validate the Stagnation Scale by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and examine self-appraisal of stagnation as an illness. Method A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on a random community sample of 755 adults recruited by cluster sampling in Hong Kong. Results CFA revealed a good fit of the three-factor model (CFI=.95; RMSEA=.077; SRMR=.043). ROC analysis suggested a cutoff score at 50 on stagnation total score for predicting self-appraisal of an illness condition, with false positive and negative rates at 25.8% and 23.3%, respectively. Overall, 6.2% participants self-appraised to suffer stagnation symptoms to a degree of an illness, and for it, 1.9% participants intended to seek treatment. Stagnation showed positive correlations with physical distress, depression, and anxiety (r=.59-.76, p<.01) and negative correlation with age (r=?.22, p<.01). Conclusion The Stagnation Scale appeared to be robust in factorial and construct validity. With prevalence of illness by self-appraisal at 6.2% and intention for treatment at 1.9%, stagnation is a fairly common condition associated with treatment-seeking behaviors. © International Society of Behavioral Medicine 2011.published_or_final_versionSpringer Open Choice, 21 Feb 201

大型灾难后社区复康: 2004 南亚海啸的启示

Conference Theme: Rehabilitation after Disaster - 災後康復: 四川汶川地震傷患康復論壇postprint第十一屆京港醫學交流會議, 四川成都, 2009年10月24-25日.The 11th Beijing-Hong Kong Medical Exchange Meeting, Chengdu, Sichuan, 24-25 October 2009