Undiagnosed Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures in an Octogenarian During the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic.

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures are frequently misdiagnosed or under-recognized in the older population, leading to disease progression and reduced quality of life. This case of an 87-year-old woman with acute back pain highlights the importance of early diagnosis and management of fragility fractures. During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, patients with a history of well-managed osteoporosis experienced worsening symptoms of vertebral collapse due to activity limitations and prolonged immobilization. The initial diagnosis of spinal stenosis delayed appropriate treatment for four months. Serial magnetic resonance imaging revealed compression fractures at L1 and L3, and a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan showed osteoporosis with a T-score of -3.2. Pharmacological therapy, including bisphosphonates, was initiated. A comprehensive rehabilitation program with a multidisciplinary approach, with bracing, and lifestyle changes helped stabilize the spine, reduce pain, and maximized function. Her condition improved with close monitoring and guidance during home exercises. This case exemplifies the necessity of a precise and timely diagnosis of osteoporotic vertebral fractures to initiate management and mitigate disease progression.

Adapting the COVID Stress Scale (CSS) to investigate the level of stress among Hong Kong Chinese people 1 year after the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Stress is a crucial driver that affects hygiene behavior. The Hong Kong population lacks a COVID-19 or pandemic related stress measure investigating the COVID-19 related stress after one year of outbreak. DESIGN AND METHODS: The original COVID Stress Scale (CSS) was translated and culturally adapted into the Chinese (Cantonese) version (CSS-C). Six hundred and twenty-four participants were recruited from the general public to examine the internal consistency, and concurrent and convergent validity of the CSS-C. The test-retest reliability of CSS-C was examined using 39 university students. RESULTS: People with old age, women, single, low educational level and borderline and abnormal levels of anxiety and depression were likely to perceive high level of COVID-19 related stress. All CSS-C subscales demonstrated good internal consistency, moderate to good test-retest reliability, and weak to moderate correlations with various mental health-related measures. DISCUSSION: The CSS could help monitor the stress associated the current and potential future pandemics.

Caring for Older People during and beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences of Residential Health Care Workers.

Older people and health care workers in residential care homes are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. As COVID-19 has been spreading around the world for more than two years, the nature of care delivery has been substantially transformed. This study aims at understanding the long-term and ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on the delivery of care in residential care homes. It investigates how the delivery of care has been transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic and how health care workers adapted to these changes from the perspectives of frontline health care workers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from February to December 2021 with a purposive sample of 30 health care workers from six residential care homes in Hong Kong. Thematic analysis identified three themes, including (1) enhancing infection prevention and control measures; (2) maintaining the psychosocial wellbeing of residents; and (3) developing resilience. Discussions and implications were drawn from these findings.

Living in a Region With a Low Level of COVID-19 Infection: Health Belief Toward COVID-19 Vaccination and Intention to Receive a COVID-19 Vaccine in Hong Kong Individuals.

INTRODUCTION: Vaccination is vital for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals' vaccination intention is a good predictor of vaccine uptake and is influenced by individuals' health belief toward vaccination. Regions with different levels of pandemic severity may present varying effects. This study aimed to determine the influence of health belief on COVID-19 vaccination intention in a region with a low level of COVID-19 infection. METHODS: This cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted on a quota sample of 800 adults in Hong Kong before the commencement of the local COVID-19 vaccination program. The Health Belief Model Scale-COVID-19 was developed to assess health belief toward COVID-19 vaccination. The contribution of health belief on explaining intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine was assessed using logistic regression. RESULTS: The subjects demonstrated moderate levels in all aspects of health belief. Only 28.9% of the subjects indicated an intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. After controlling for age, educational level, marital status, and high risk status, the logistic regression analysis indicated that perceived benefits of vaccination (OR = 1.615; CI 95%: 1.443-1.807; P < .001), perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 (OR = 1.130; CI 95%: 1.032-1.237; P = .008), cues to action toward vaccination (OR = 1.212; CI 95%: 1.108-1.326; P < .001), and perceived barriers to vaccination (OR = .696; CI 95%: .641-.756; P < .001) were associated with intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. CONCLUSION: Vaccination campaigns in regions with good control of the pandemic should promote the benefits of vaccination, emphasizing how it can help individuals regain a sense of normalcy in their daily lives and stop the spread of COVID-19. Although the COVID-19 pandemic affects countries worldwide, this study highlights the importance of adopting specific vaccination promotion strategies for regions with different levels of pandemic severity.

Reuse of face masks among adults in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, over 99% of adults in Hong Kong use face masks in public. With the limited supply of face masks in the market and the uncertainty about the future development of COVID-19, reusing face masks is a legitimate way to reduce usage. Although this practice is not recommended, reusing face masks is common in Hong Kong. This study aimed to examine the practice of reusing face masks among adults in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with their health beliefs toward this health crisis. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. A quota sample of 1000 adults was recruited in Hong Kong in April 2020. Guided by the Health Belief Model, the subjects were invited to answer questions on their practice of reusing face masks and health beliefs toward COVID-19 through telephone interview. Their practice on reuse, storage, and decontamination of used face masks were summarized by descriptive statistics. The difference in health beliefs between the subjects who reused and did not reuse face masks was examined by conducting an independent t test. The association between health beliefs and reuse of face masks was determined by conducting a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: One-third (n = 345, 35.4%) of the subjects reused face masks in an average of 2.5 days. Among them, 207 subjects stored and 115 subjects decontaminated their used face masks by using various methods. The subjects who reused face masks significantly perceived having inadequate face masks (t = 3.905; p <  0.001). Having a higher level of perception of having inadequate face masks increased the likelihood of reusing face masks (OR = 0.784; CI 95%: 0.659-0.934; p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Despite having 90 face masks in stock, the adults who reused face masks significantly perceived that they had inadequate face masks. Concerted effort of health care professionals, community organizations, and the government will improve individuals' practice in use of face masks and alleviate their actual and perceived feeling of having inadequate face masks, which lead them to reuse.

Practice and technique of using face mask amongst adults in the community: a cross-sectional descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: The proper use of face mask comprises the correct practice and wearing technique and is important in preventing the spread of respiratory infections. Previous studies have addressed only the aspect of practice and failed to provide a detailed account of face mask usage amongst community-based populations. This study examined the practice and technique of using face mask amongst adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive design was adopted. A quota sample of 1500 adults was recruited in Hong Kong during a nonepidemic state between January and February 2017. The participants' practice of using face mask in five given situations was assessed using a questionnaire. Their technique in using face mask, including 12 steps, was assessed using an observation checklist. Statistical tests were used to compare the differences in practice and technique amongst adults of different gender and age groups. RESULTS: Findings revealed that the performance of the participants in both categories was unsatisfactory. In terms of practice, less than one-fifth of the participants reported that they always wore face mask when taking care of family members with fever (14.7%) or respiratory infections (19.5%). Male adults and those aged 55-64 reported low frequency in using face mask during required situations. In terms of technique, none of the participants performed all the required steps in using face mask correctly. More than 90% of the participants did not perform hand hygiene before putting on (91.5%), taking off (97.3%), or after disposing (91.5%) face mask. Adults aged 55 and above performed poorer than adults in the younger age groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with previous findings obtained during an epidemic, the performance of the participants during a nonepidemic state was less satisfactory. The possibility of developing fatigue after exposure to repeated epidemics was discussed. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the use of face mask in a community and reveals the underperformed areas. Effort is required to enhance the proper practice of using face mask, convey the message that hand hygiene is an essential step in wearing and taking off a face mask and increase the public's general concern in the value of using face mask.