Katherine Ka Pik Chang

Publications (4)6.9 Total impact

• Article: Prevalence of and risk factors for needlestick and sharps injuries among nursing students in Hong Kong.

  Kin Cheung, Shirley Siu Yin Ching, Katherine Ka Pik Chang, Shuk Ching Ho
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Although nursing students are at greater risk for needlestick injuries (NSIs) and sharps injuries (SIs) than staff nurses, there is a lack of research on NSIs and SIs in students, especially in different years of study. The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for and prevalence of NSIs and SIs among nursing students in different years of study. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey study using a questionnaire confirmed to be valid and reliable, with a content validity index of 0.96 and reliability index of 0.82. RESULTS: A total of 878 nursing students (response rate, 76.61%), participated in the study. NSIs/SIs, NSIs, and SIs were significantly increased by year of study (P < .001) in both the study period and 12-month prevalence. Four predictors for NSIs/SIs were final-year study (odds ratio [OR], 11.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9-36.7), perception of not receiving prevention training (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.1-7.5), perception of not using a kidney dish to contain used needles and sharps (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 1.7-10.3), and perception of not immediately discarding used needles and syringes into a sharps box (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.2-7.4). CONCLUSIONS: Preclinical training, reinforcement of kidney dish use, immediate discarding of used needles, and adequate clinical supervision are essential elements in reducing the risk of NSIs and SIs.
  American journal of infection control 05/2012; · 3.01 Impact Factor
• Article: Analysis of needlestick injuries among nursing students in Hong Kong.

  Kin Cheung, Shuk Ching Ho, Shirley Siu Yin Ching, Katherine Ka Pik Chang
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Research has shown that nursing personnel are exposed to the serious risk of contracting bloodborne diseases from needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs). Only a few studies have examined the problem among nursing students. In Hong Kong, there is an equal lack of research in this area. A review of accident reports in one university was employed to determine the injury rate, causation, and epidemiological profile of NSIs. Descriptive statistics, prevalence, incidence density, cumulative incidence, and Fisher's exact test were used to analyze the data. From January 2002 to December 2006, there were a total of 51 reported cases of NSIs (43 needlestick injuries and 8 sharps injuries). The annual prevalence of NSIs in four academic years from 2002-2003 to 2005-2006 ranged from 0.6 to 1.6 cases while the incidence rate was one new case per 100 nursing students per academic year. The cumulative incidence of NSIs for year-one, year-two and year-three students were 0, 0.03 and 0.004 respectively. The majority of needlestick injuries (n=25; 58.14%) were from contaminated needles. Procedures involved in the needlestick injuries were giving injection (n=22; 51.16%), collecting urine specimen (n=5; 11.63%), removal of urinary catheter (n=4; 9.30%), and checking blood glucose using glucometer (n=3; 6.98%). Giving injection (n=5; 62.50%) also accounted for the highest percentage of sharps injuries. Specific activities that were identified were opening the needle cap, opening ampoules, inserting the needle and mixing dirty and clean material in one kidney dish. Results showed that nursing students are at high risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens because of NSIs. A hierarchy control involving engineering, administrative and personal behavioral activities is recommended to reduce the occurrence of NSIs among nursing students.
  Accident; analysis and prevention 11/2010; 42(6):1744-50. · 1.65 Impact Factor
• Article: A study on investigating unplanned readmission patterns.

  Moon Fai Chan, Frances Kam Yuet Wong, Katherine Ka Pik Chang, Susan Ka Yee Chow, Loretta Yuet Foon Chung, Rance Pui-Leung Lee, Wai Man Lee
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: To explain frequent hospital readmissions, this study aimed to determine whether definable subtypes exist within a cohort of subjects with chronic illness with regard to factors associated with a patient's readmission patterns and to compare whether these factors vary between subjects in groups with different profiles. A descriptive correlational survey was conducted and data were collected by using a structured questionnaire. Seventy-four readmitted subjects were recruited in three general hospitals in Hong Kong. Five outcome variables were employed in the study: predisposing characteristic, need factors, health behaviour, health status or outcomes and enabling resources. A cluster analysis yielded two clusters. Each cluster represented a different profile of the sample on patient use of healthcare services. Cluster A consisted of 41.9% (n = 31) and Cluster B consisted of 58.1% (n = 43) of the patients. Cluster A patients, more of whom were male, were younger, more educated, had higher activities of daily living scores and fewer of them had received community nurse services than patients of Cluster B. Cluster A patients (32.3%) had more than one readmission record within 28 days than Cluster B patients (9.3%, p = 0.017). Our study shows that community nurse services can reduce the rate at which they are readmitted a second time. However, such services may have a positive effect only on a group of patients whose profile is similar to the patients in Cluster B and not for patients such as those in Cluster A. A clear profile may help healthcare policy makers make appropriate strategies to target a specific group of patients to reduce their readmission rates. The identification of risk for future healthcare use could enable better targeting of interventional strategies within these groups. The results of this study might provide hospital managers with a model to design specified interventions to reduce unplanned hospital readmissions for each profile group.
  Journal of Clinical Nursing 05/2007; 17(16):2164-73. · 1.12 Impact Factor
• Article: Learning intravenous cannulation: a comparison of the conventional method and the CathSim Intravenous Training System.

  Katherine Ka-Pik Chang, Joanne Wai-Yee Chung, Thomas Kwok-Sing Wong
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Intravenous cannulation is a nursing procedure carried out in some clinical units that may induce trauma and discomfort. Nurses should be well prepared before practising the procedure with clients. Conventionally, a plastic arm was used for practice but, with innovative developments in technology, a computer program called the CathSim Intravenous Training System (CathSim ITS) is available for this purpose. This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of learning using a plastic arm with the CathSim ITS. Twenty-eight nurses were divided into two groups and randomly assigned to the two different methods: plastic arm (control group) or CathSim ITS (experimental group). Both groups were provided with 1 hour of theory input and 2 hours of nursing laboratory work. When the nurses felt ready to practise on clients, their performances were assessed by researchers with an intravenous cannulation qualification using a validated checklist. Prior to the assessment, trait and state anxiety levels were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Hong Kong Chinese adaptation) to check whether anxiety would affect the performance. Following the assessment, a semi-structured interview was conducted to reveal my knowledge acquired through using the selected method. Both the control and CathSim ITS groups demonstrated a high success rate, scoring 100% and 92.86%, respectively, with their first client. The semi-structured interviews revealed that the CathSim ITS group appreciated several features of their assigned method. However, there is room for further development.
  Journal of Clinical Nursing 02/2002; 11(1):73-8. · 1.12 Impact Factor