published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

Influenza is a serious public health problem that circulates worldwide affecting every age group and spreads easily from person to person. It can cause severe illnesses and deaths especially in high risk groups including the aged 65 or above. Influenza vaccination programme is an important issue in Hong Kong health care system. More preventive measures should be targeted on the elderly in practice. Mailing invitation, phone invitation, training-the-trainer program and home visit by nurse in primary care settings are found to be effective in increasing the influenza vaccination rate as evidenced by 10 systematic reviews. Several approaches of recommendations for increasing the utilization of influenza vaccination among elders in community have been proposed in this paper. Communication plan, pilot testing and evaluation plan have been discussed to implement and improve the proposed guidelines. / published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

One of the major issues concerning old age security is the adequacy of support systems for the aged population. Population aging and economic development in the People's Republic of China have raised the question about the ability of the family to take care of the elderly. Using the latest data collected by the Research Center on Aging in China of a national representative sample of the aged population, this study develops a model to examine the effectiveness of family support for the elderly during the current socio-economic transition of the society. The model also examines the adequacy and effectiveness of state welfare systems on the aged population and the effect of select socio-demographic factors on the well-being of the elderly in China. The investigation into the social, economic, and health aspects of the life of the elderly provides the background knowledge for understanding the support systems for the elderly in China. The multivariate analyses of the effects of the elderly support systems within the framework of shared functions of the primary groups, and the bureaucracy in achieving social goals, identify the important effects of the economic conditions of the family and the state income maintenance programs on the sense of well-being of the elderly. The findings lead to the conclusion that the cooperation of the family and the state is necessary to provide a secure life for an aged population. The patterns and trends of old age support in China are found to be constrained by the interplay of various social forces, among which the effect of politicalization of the social and economic conditions of the elderly is crucial. Policy recommendations include public assistance to the family, encouragement of the local effort, and national legislation on old age security.

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

published_or_final_version / abstract / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Philosophy