ABSTRACT
The first human H5N1 case was diagnosed in Hong Kong in 1997. Since then, experience in effective preparedness strategies that target novel influenza viruses has expanded. Here, we report on avian influenza preparedness in public hospitals in Hong Kong to illustrate policies and practices associated with control of emerging infectious diseases. The Hong Kong government's risk-based preparedness plan for influenza pandemics includes 3 response levels for command, control, and coordination frameworks for territory-wide responses. The tiered levels of alert, serious, and emergency response enable early detection based on epidemiological exposure followed by initiation of a care bundle. Information technology, laboratory preparedness, clinical and public health management, and infection control preparedness provide a comprehensive and generalizable preparedness plan for emerging infectious diseases.
Subject(s)
Communicable Diseases, Emerging/prevention & control , Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control , Influenza in Birds/prevention & control , Influenza, Human/prevention & control , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/prevention & control , Animals , Chickens/virology , Communicable Diseases, Emerging/epidemiology , Communicable Diseases, Emerging/virology , Hong Kong/epidemiology , Hospitals, Public/legislation & jurisprudence , Humans , Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/isolation & purification , Influenza in Birds/epidemiology , Influenza, Human/epidemiology , Influenza, Human/virology , Pandemics/prevention & control , Poultry Diseases/prevention & control , Poultry Diseases/virology , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/epidemiology , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/virologySubject(s)
Enterobacteriaceae/enzymology , Enterobacteriaceae/isolation & purification , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/epidemiology , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/microbiology , Travel-Related Illness , beta-Lactamases/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Enterobacteriaceae/genetics , Female , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/pathology , Hong Kong/epidemiology , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE. Medical professionalism has been widely discussed in western scholarly literature. However, since Hong Kong has a mixed Chinese-western culture, it remains uncertain whether Hong Kong health care professionals, medical students, and patients see medical professionalism in exactly the same way as westerners. The objective of the present study was to explore perceptions of medical professionalism in Hong Kong. DESIGN. Individual semi-structured interviews. SETTING. Medical faculty preceptors, residents, interns, nurses, and students from the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong. Subjects were recruited at an out-patient clinic of Queen Mary Hospital. PARTICIPANTS. We interviewed 39 subjects, including six medical faculty preceptors, six hospital residents, four medical interns, eight nurses, eight out-patients, and seven medical students. The interviews were transcribed and coded. Grounded theory was employed for framing and analysing the interviews. RESULTS. A total of 30 primary themes were identified and grouped under three secondary themes, ie 'Expectations of a professional doctor', 'Work values', and 'Patient care'. In general, the primary themes were consistent with recognised professional attributes in western bioethics, such as knowledge and skills, holistic care, and communication skills. A closer analysis suggested that traditional Chinese thought also played an important role in shaping the medical professionalism of Hong Kong. Challenges to be faced by Hong Kong doctors due to recent social changes were also identified. CONCLUSIONS. Medical professionalism in Hong Kong is shaped by both western medical ethics and traditional Chinese thought. The values treasured by Hong Kong health care professionals as well as technological advance, and the city's proximity to Mainland China makes Hong Kong health care unique. It is important to maintain the present work attitudes and at the same time adapt to new social changes.
