Knowledge, attitudes and binge drinking among urban Chinese university students in Hong Kong

Background

Although dormitory residents have been identified as a high-risk group for alcohol misuse in Chinese university settings, the factors associated with their drinking behaviors has not be characterized.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among hostel residents in two Hong Kong universities (n = 1455) using self-administered, anonymous surveys. In addition to examining the knowledge levels and drinking-related attitudes, we examined the factors associated with binge drinking in this population using multivariable regression analysis.

Results

Among university dormitory residents, the prevalence of past-month binge drinking was 26.8% among males and 12.8% among females. It was noted that although respondents demonstrated attitudes conducive towards alcohol-free socialization, they exhibited low levels of alcohol-related knowledge (mean knowledge score: 3.3/ 10, SD = 2.0). While about 59% were aware that alcohol is a carcinogen and that some medications should not be taken with alcohol, only 10.4% were familiar with symptoms of alcohol poisoning and only 23% were familiar with relative amounts of alcohol in different beverage categories. Of the respondents the factors independently associated with past-month binge drinking were: male sex, older age, full-time hostel residence, drinking roommates, drinking romantic partner, participation in drinking games, and having pro-alcohol attitudes (OR ranging from 1.33-3.69). Alcohol-related knowledge was not associated with binge drinking.

Conclusions

Although southern China is a low alcohol consumption area, binge drinking is common among university residents and requires multi-prong interventions. Heavy drinking is a neglected health problem among urban Chinese university students. Interventions targeting binge drinkers need to counteract pro-alcohol attitudes and peer effects. Increasing alcohol knowledge may additionally help to reduce alcohol-related harms in this age group.

Key messages

Urban Chinese university dormitory residents demonstrate low levels of alcohol knowledge. Pro-alcohol attitudes and peers effects need to be addressed in university anti-binge drinking interventions.

Second-hand harms of alcohol use in urban Chinese university students: A study from Hong Kong

Background

Although second-harms alcohol harms, harms caused by the drinking of others, may contribute significantly to the public health burden of alcohol, these harms are an understudied area of public health research. This study aims to examine second-hand alcohol harms in among urban Chinese university students residing on campus who are were previously identified as a high risk group for alcohol misuse.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among hostel residents in two Hong Kong universities (n = 1455) using self-administered, anonymous surveys. We examined the prevalance and the factors associated with second-hand alcohol harms this population using multivariable regression analysis.

Results

Approximately 2/3 of the university residents experienced at least one second-hand drinking harm in the past year while 1/5 experienced 4 or more harms. The harms reported were: 1) inconveniences/disturbances (46.2%), psychological distress/anxiety/depression (32.9%), home arguments (28.3%), conflicts/arguments/insults in public (25.3%), worsened productivity/academics (22.2%), property damage/monetary loss (13.2%), accidents/injury/assault (11.7%) and having to deal with authorities/law enforcement (11.5%). Only 9.1% reported these harms to authorities. Participation in drinking games (OR = 1.44), having drinking roomates (OR = 1.37) or drinking romantic partner (OR = 1.89) were independently associated with likelihood of second-hand alcohol harms (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Although southern China is a low alcohol consumption region, there is a high prevalence of second-hand alcohol harms among university dorm residents. Universities in the region should rectify the near absence of alcohol-related topics in university health promotion.

Key messages

Harms from the drinking of others is a commonplace but underappreciated phenomenon among university campus residents. University health promotion in the region should include alcohol harms reduction topics.

Prehospital electrocardiogram shortens ischaemic time in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

INTRODUCTION

Total ischaemic time should be shortened as much as possible in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study evaluated whether prehospital 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) could shorten system delay in STEMI management.

METHODS

From November 2015 to November 2017, 15 ambulances equipped with X Series Monitor/ Defibrillator (Zoll Medical Corporation) were used in the catchment area of Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. Prehospital ECG was performed for patients with chest pain; the data were tele-transmitted to attending emergency physicians at the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) for rapid assessment. Data from patients with STEMI who were transported by these 15 ambulances were compared with data from patients with STEMI who were transported by ambulances without prehospital ECG or who used self-arranged transport.

RESULTS

Data were analysed from 197 patients with STEMI. The median patient delay for activation of the emergency response system was 90 minutes; 12% of patients experienced a delay of >12 hours. There was a significant difference in delay between patients transported by ambulance and those who used self-arranged transport (P<0.001). For system delay, the use of prehospital ECG shortened the median time from ambulance on scene to first ECG (P<0.001). When performed upon ambulance on scene, prehospital ECG was available 5 minutes earlier than if performed in ambulance compartment before departure. Use of prehospital ECG significantly shortened AED door-to-triage time, AED door-to-first AED ECG time, AED door-to-physician consultation time, and length of stay in the AED (P<0.001 for all comparisons).

CONCLUSION

Prehospital ECG shortened ischaemic time prior to hospital admission.

Abstract P1-11-18: Neoadjuvant Use of 5-Fluorouracil/Epirubicin/Cyclophosphamide (FEC) Followed by Docetaxel (T) with Concurrent COX-2 Inhibitor in Women with Stage II/III Breast Cancer: A Sub-Analysis of Cardiac Function

BACKGROUND: Anthracycline and taxane have been widely used and studied in neoadjuvant setting for treatment of locally advanced breast cancer. Although addition of COX-2 inhibitors might enhance the anticancer effect of chemotherapy, many studies were halted with the concern of possible cardiotoxicity. This sub-study is to evaluate the change in cardiac function of patients during treatment with pre-operative FEC-T with concurrent celecoxib until and after surgery.

METHODS: A group of 47 patients, age ranged from 33 to 58 years (mean age 46±6 years), who received four cycles of 3-weekly FEC followed by four cycles of 3-weekly T with concurrent oral celecoxib before surgery (F: 500mg/m2; E: 100mg/m2; C: 500mg/m2; T: 100mg/m2; Celecoxib: 200mg bid), were studied. Echocardiography was performed at baseline, after 4 cycles of FEC and after 4 cycles of T before surgery, and 6 months, 12 months and 18 months after surgery to evaluate changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) across time-points. Paired sample statistics was conducted.

RESULTS: Patients tolerated well with this regimen. Neither life-threatening toxicity nor clinical symptom of cardiac toxicity was observed. Of 47 evaluable cases, LVEF was assessed in 47 patients pre-operatively and in 32 patients post-operatively. During concurrent celecoxib treatment, the mean LVEF increased from 68.5%±6.6% at baseline to 72.3%±3.6% after FEC and to 73.0%±4.1% after T. When compared to baseline, the changes were statistically significant after FEC (p=0.002) and after T (P&lt;0.0001) in 47 patients. LVEF however did not change at 6 months (72.8%±3.8%), 12 months (72.7%±3.1%) and 18 months (72.4%±3.3%) after surgery in 32 patients. The remaining 15 patients are still under follow up for cardiotoxicity until 1 year after surgery.

CONLCUSIONS: Neoadjuvant FEC-T with concurrent celecoxib is well-tolerated. The short-term treatment increased LVEF during the course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and remains good LVEF after surgery. This is an interesting finding which warrants further investigation of the possible protective effect on cardiac function.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-11-18.

Triple wire technique for a bifurcation lesion and a subtotal occlusive lesion

In a critical distal right coronary artery bifurcation lesion, the proximal course of the posterior descending artery was also subtotally occluded. The posterior descending artery gave rise to a small sidebranch just before the occlusion. In the subsequent revascularization procedure, the bifurcation lesion was double-wired. One wire was placed in the postero-lateral branch, and another wire was intended for placement in the posterior descending artery, but it repeatedly selected the sidebranch despite multiple shapings of the wire tip. While the second wire was deliberately kept in the sidebranch, a third wire was used and crossed the occlusive lesion without much difficulty. The second wire was then withdrawn and the revascularization procedure proceeded in the usual manner. The positioning of the second wire in the sidebranch significantly shortened the procedure.