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Knowledge of cardiac resuscitation among Hong Kong citizens

Hong Kong Med J 2003;9:323-328

A survey revealed that cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge (CPR) of the Hong Kong general public was very poor, falling behind US and European cities. The survey results are published in the new issue Hong Kong Medical Journal.

The University of Hong Kong Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Knowledge Study Group interviewed 357 citizens (aged 16 years or above) by telephone. Only 12% of the interviewees had received CPR training before. The figure was far lower than the suggestion of the American Heart Association that, at least 20% of adults need to be trained in CPR before substantial reduction of morbidity and mortality from out-of-hospital arrest is possible.

The CPR knowledge of those received CPR training was not satisfactory either. On a short quiz of CPR knowledge, the average total score of trained people was only 5.24 (maximum score, 9). Only one out of the 42 trained persons correctly answered all the questions. Because failure of any one step in CPR would result in failure of the resuscitation attempt, the effectiveness of CPR performed by these trained people in real situation was in doubt.

Authors pointed out that to improve the Hong Kong public’s knowledge on CPR, intensified educational efforts and exploration of new approaches were warranted.

Tuen Mun hospital followed up 72 patients of atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS) for 2 years, and revealed that more than 20% of such patients had premaglinant or malignant disease during the period. The research results are published in the new issue Hong Kong Medical Journal.

From 1998 to 1999, 21 854 Papanicolaou smear samples were evaluated at Tuen Mun Hospital, and 83 (0.4%) of them were interpreted as containing AGUS. Among the 72 patients who attended followed up, 43% had significant diseases of the genital tract. Follow-up for 2 years revealed that the incidence of significant disease, such as adenocarcinoma of cervix and endometrial carcinoma, ranged from 8% (AGUS-favour reactive) to 90% (AGUS-favour neoplasia).

Researchers pointed out that the histological outcome of AGUS was so broad that they included benign and neoplastic changes of both squamous and glandular cell from the cervix, uterus, or even other parts of the body. AGUS patients should undergo early thorough investigation of the cause, because many of them will have premalignant or malignant disease.