scholarly journals A mixed-methods study on toilet hygiene practices among Chinese in Hong Kong

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Wu ◽  
Tai Pong Lam ◽  
Hoi Yan Chan ◽  
Kwok Fai Lam ◽  
Xu Dong Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Improvement Measures ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Public Toilets

Abstract Background Public toilets are a common transmission vector of infectious diseases due to environmental contamination. Research on Chinese people’s hygiene practices in public lavatories are lacking. This study examined Chinese people’s hygiene practices in public lavatories in Hong Kong. Methods We conducted qualitative interviews and a self-administered questionnaire survey with local residents from June 2016 to April 2018. Four focus group discussions and three individual interviews informed the design of the questionnaire. We recruited interviewees and survey respondents via social service centers. The interviews and questionnaire focused on the public’s daily practices and hygiene behaviors in public toilets. Content analysis of qualitative data was conducted. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to examine the association between age and toilet hygiene behaviors. Results Our qualitative component revealed a range of handwashing practices, from not washing at all, washing without soap, to washing for a longer time than instructions. Other toilet use practices were identified, such as not covering toilet lid before flushing and stepping on toilet seats due to dirtiness, and spitting into toilet bowls or hand basin. Totally, 300 respondents completed the questionnaire. Among them, 212 (70.9%) were female and 246 (86.1%) were aged 65 or below. More than two thirds always washed hands with soap (68.7%) and dried hands with paper towels (68.4%). Up to 16.2% reported stepping on toilet seats and 43.9% never covered the toilet lid before flushing. Over one fourth (26.4%) spit into squat toilets/ toilet bowl. Regression analyses showed that the elderly group were less likely to report stepping on toilet seats (adjusted odds ratio, AOR = 0.17, 95%CI 0.03–0.88), flushing with the toilet lid closed (AOR = 0.40, 0.16–0.96), but more likely to spit into squat toilets/ toilet bowl (AOR = 4.20, 1.50–11.74). Conclusions Hong Kong Chinese’s compliance to hygiene practices in public toilets is suboptimal. Stepping on toilet seat is a unique Chinese practice due to the dirtiness of toilet seats. Spitting practices may increase the risk of airborne infectious diseases and need improvement. Measures are needed to improve toilet hygiene behaviors, including public education campaigns and keeping toilet environment clean.

Improving Public Toilet Environment and Hygiene Practices in an Asian City: Voices From Hong Kong Residents

2021 ◽  
pp. 101053952199368
Author(s):  
Kai Sing Sun ◽  
Tai Pong Lam ◽  
Wai Sin Tang ◽  
Hoi Yan Chan ◽  
Kwok Fai Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Preventive Measure ◽  
Hong Kong Chinese ◽  
Lower Income ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
The Government ◽  
Public Toilets ◽  
Method Approach

Toilet hygiene is an important preventive measure for infectious diseases, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and COVID-19. This study explored public’s opinions on improving toilet environment and hygiene practices in Hong Kong. A mixed-method approach was applied. We conducted 4 focus groups plus 3 individual interviews among the Hong Kong Chinese, followed by a questionnaire survey with 300 respondents recruited from various districts. Difference in response distributions between groups with different demographics was tested by Pearson χ2 test. Instead of advocating for advanced toilet facilities, respondents were mostly concerned about basic hygiene issues. Malfunctioning facilities resulting from poor toilet management, such as clogged toilets, stained facilities, and problematic flushing systems, were most cited as barriers to toilet hygiene practices. Three quarters of the survey respondents expressed concerns over worn and poorly maintained toilets, shortage of janitors, and cleansing supplies. However, respondents who were older ( P < .001), less educated ( P < .001), and had lower income ( P = .001) were significantly more likely to find hygiene conditions in public toilets satisfactory. The findings reflected the substandard of the current provisions as a developed city in Asia. Enhanced efforts by the government to maintain basic toilet supplies and facilities is the key to improving public compliance to toilet hygiene practices.

PATIENT PERSPECTIVE IN HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS IN FINLAND

2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 306-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenni Kleme ◽  
Marika Pohjanoksa-Mäntylä ◽  
Marja Airaksinen ◽  
Hannes Enlund ◽  
Helena Kastarinen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Perspective ◽  
Public Involvement ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Patient And Public Involvement ◽  
Public Consultation ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
National Recommendation ◽  
Long Acting

Objectives: The need to consider the patient perspective in health technology assessments (HTA) has been widely recognized. In July 2012, the Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea) published a national recommendation for integrating the patient perspective into the HTAs of pharmaceuticals. The aim of this study is to describe the development of the recommendation for integrating the patient perspective into the HTA process of pharmaceuticals in Finland.Methods: The development of the recommendation was based on a review of international recommendations and experiences of patient and public involvement in HTA. The draft recommendation was tested in two focus group discussions (n = 7 patients) and three individual interviews among diabetes patients (type 1 or 2) using long-acting insulin treatment. The recommendation was open for public consultation in April 2012 and revised according to the comments received.Results: Patients will be involved in multiple stages of Fimea's HTA process. The recommendation includes step-by-step instructions on how to assess the patient perspective. The main focus is on qualitative interviews, which will be conducted at the beginning of the assessments to gain information, particularly on patient preferences and values, including positive and negative outcomes important to patients and ethical and social aspects of the medicine's use.Conclusions: The recommendation will act as a tool to integrate patients’ experiences, needs and preferences into Fimea's HTAs of pharmaceuticals.

scholarly journals Reactions to and explanations for the birth of a baby with albinism: a qualitative study in Busoga, Uganda

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e040992
Author(s):  
Julie Taylor ◽  
C Bradbury-Jones ◽  
Peter Ogik ◽  
Fazira Kawuma ◽  
Jane Betts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Difference ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Early Death ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Least Developed Countries ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Real Person ◽  
Sharing Circles

ObjectivesBabies born with the genetic condition albinism lack pigment in their hair, skin and eyes due to compromised melanin production. This leads to poor vision and the risk of early death due to skin cancer. In Uganda, one of the least developed countries in the world, their lack of pigmentation makes them very different in appearance within their communities. Local explanations of albinism include links to witchcraft and the supernatural. We aimed to explore reactions to the birth of a baby with albinism in Uganda.DesignSecondary analysis of birth stories derived from qualitative interviews and focus group discussions in sharing circles.SettingInterviews took place in the Busoga subregion (kingdom) in the eastern part of Uganda.ParticipantsSeventy-three (73) participants took part in eight sharing circles (n=56) and 17 individual interviews. Participants included people with albinism, parents of people with albinism and a range of other interested parties, including local leaders and teachers.ResultsReactions were generally those of shock and rejection, although cases of acceptance were also recorded. The varied explanations given to account for this unexpected event included accounts involving witchcraft, ghosts, animal familiars and religion, as well as genetics. In a framework surmising that someone must possess a dark skin to be intrinsically valued in African societies a baby with albinism does not fulfil this requirement of ‘personhood’. The mother was often blamed for having produced some ‘thing’ that is not a proper person.ConclusionsWe argue that a biomedical explanation, although unlikely to displace other understandings, helps to establish a baby with albinism as a real person with a genetic difference, and hence fosters greater acceptance.

scholarly journals A Qualitative Exploration on the Challenges of Transfer Students in an Asian Educational Context

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 3238
Author(s):  
Shirley Siu Yin Ching ◽  
Kin Yuen Tam ◽  
Lillian Weiwei Zhang ◽  
Jeremy Ng ◽  
Kin Cheung
Keyword(s):  
Community College ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Transfer Students ◽  
Educational Context ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Self Perceptions ◽  
Induced Stress ◽  
Extra Curricular Activities ◽  
Research Gap ◽  
Qualitative Exploration

Limited research has been conducted on community college (CC) transfer students’ (TS) experiences in four-year universities, particularly in Asian contexts. To fill this research gap, in this qualitative study, 124 TS from various disciplines in a Hong Kong university participated in 39 focus groups and seven individual interviews. Unlike their Western counterparts, our TS were relatively better prepared and more academically adaptive. Nevertheless, their social integration was restricted by a lack of time for extra-curricular activities, a sense of inferiority and incompetence, and restricted social circles that did not enable interaction with non-TS. These challenges and their implications are discussed. In particular, this study has highlighted differences between the special education systems for CC transfer in Hong Kong and those in Western CC models. The study has also highlighted the study-induced stress, and poor self-perceptions that TS experience, despite their academic abilities.

scholarly journals Placement Advisors as Innovators. How Professionals Use Enhanced Discretion in Germany’s Public Employment Services

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
CAROLIN FREIER ◽  
MONIKA SENGHAAS
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Public Employment ◽  
Labour Market Situation ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Employment Services ◽  
Employment Agency ◽  
Logic Of Action ◽  
Market Situation ◽  
Innovation Project ◽  
Activation Policy

Abstract Employees of the public employment services (PES) are street-level bureaucrats who shape activation policy on the ground. This paper examines how PES staff use enhanced discretion in an innovation project carried out by the German Federal Employment Agency. Applying a bottom-up perspective, we reconstruct PES employees’ logic of action and the dilemmas they face in improving counselling and placement services. According to our findings, placement staff use enhanced discretion to promote more individualised support and an adequate matching of jobseekers and employers. The use of discretion is framed by organisational norms and reward mechanisms and by the current labour market situation. Our analyses are based on qualitative interviews and group discussions with placement staff.

scholarly journals Fall-Related Activity Avoidance among Persons with Late Effects of Polio and Its Influence on Daily Life: A Mixed-Methods Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 7202
Author(s):  
Christina Brogårdh ◽  
Jan Lexell ◽  
Catharina Sjödahl Hammarlund
Keyword(s):  
Late Effects ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Strategic Thinking ◽  
Related Activity ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Activity Avoidance ◽  
Social Events

Falls are common among persons with late effects of polio (LEoP), which may lead to fear of falling and activity avoidance in everyday life. Here, we assessed the occurrence of fall-related activity avoidance among persons with LEoP and explored how these experiences influenced daily life. Fourteen ambulatory persons (seven women; mean age 70 years) with LEoP participated. They responded to the modified Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly (mSAFFE) and participated in individual interviews, which were analysed by systematic text condensation. Each quotation was deductively analysed from its representation with regard to mSAFFE. We found that many persons often avoided activities related to standing and walking, for example, taking a bath, performing household chores, walking outdoors, attending social events if there were stairs in the building and travelling by public transport, due to fear of falling, increased pain and fatigability. To facilitate the performance of daily activities participants expressed that strategic thinking and aids were important to use. In conclusion, fall-related activity avoidance is common in persons with LEoP, which negatively influence daily life and social participation. To increase daily functioning in this population, fall-related activity avoidance should be included in a multifaceted fall management program.

Attitudes and Perceptions Related to Smoking among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in a Low-Income, Multiethnic Setting

1998 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline L. Dunn ◽  
Phyllis L. Pirie ◽  
Harry A. Lando
Keyword(s):  
Native American ◽  
Low Income ◽  
White Women ◽  
Smoking Behavior ◽  
Smoke Exposure ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Smoking During Pregnancy ◽  
Attitudes And Perceptions ◽  
Passive Smoke ◽  
Local Residents

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into attitudes and perceptions about smoking during pregnancy, passive smoke exposure, barriers to quitting, and program preferences among women in a low-income, ethnically diverse setting. Design. Nine focus group discussions were conducted with African-American, Native American, and white women. Discussions were moderated by local residents who shared the same ethnic background as group participants. Setting. Discussions were held in neighborhood centers and clinics in an urban area. Subjects. A total of 57 women participated. Moderators recruited participants from within their social networks and from neighborhood programs. The informal process of recruitment did not allow calculation of response rates. Measures. A series of open-ended questions with selected probes was used to guide the conversation. Results. Participants were aware that smoking during pregnancy is harmful and were concerned to varying degrees about their smoking behavior. Most women who smoked took active steps to reduce the risks. Actions were frequently accompanied by beliefs that rationalized moderate levels of smoking. While concerned, women were uncertain about what constituted harmful, passive smoke exposure. Personal barriers to quitting included being around others who smoked, feelings of stress and boredom, addiction, and not believing smoking is dangerous enough. Participants tended to value pregnancy-related advice from female friends and relatives over advice from professionals. Conclusions. Results suggest that many women respond to warnings about smoking during pregnancy, but actions are not necessarily measured, in quit rates. Misconceptions about the risks may help to rationalize continued smoking. Subjects lacked knowledge about how best to reduce the risks of passive smoke. Educational efforts may be effective when directed at networks of women who share information. The nature of qualitative data collection prevents extrapolation of these results to a larger population.

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