ABSTRACT
Traditionally, chemotherapy administration has been a medical role in Hong Kong. In 1998, two chemotherapy nurses took over part of this role within a major oncology day care centre after completing a course in chemotherapy administration and patient care. The aim of this study was to measure and evaluate the quality of care by using a self-developed audit form and the Worthing Chemotherapy Satisfaction Questionnaire (WSCQ). All records of patients who had had i.v. cannulas inserted by nurses over a period of one year were audited for the accuracy of the i.v. cannulation (n=2217). Also, patient satisfaction was assessed in 50 patients. The results showed that the accuracy of i.v. cannulation was kept constantly above 80% from the eighth month of auditing onwards. It was also found that patients preferred the use of a butterfly needle for the administration of chemotherapy. The study revealed that the level of information received regarding treatment (r=0.36, P=0.011) and satisfaction of practical advice on caring for side effects (r=0.35, P=0.012) were determinants of patients' overall satisfaction. Furthermore, anxiety when patients received chemotherapy could also be associated with overall satisfaction (r=-0.27), although the P value was of borderline significance only (P=0.58). In conclusion, the study reflected a high level of quality of care in relation to this element of nurse-led practice.
ABSTRACT
The implementation of a Primary Health Care system in Macau has created the need to study the prevalence of Congenital Anemias in the population to facilitate the planning of measures needed for their control. Blood samples from 3815 women attending the antenatal clinics were screened for beta-thalassemia using MCH values as the preliminary test, followed by quantitation of Hb A2 and Hb F. Isoelectric-focusing was used to screen 1091 cord blood samples for the presence of Hb Bart's. The prevalence of alpha- and beta-thalassemia carriers was found to be 6.2% and 3.6%, respectively.
