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The NP-APN role in healthcare systems is expanding and will benefit from international networking and support.

The purpose of this systematic review was to identify, with supporting evidence, the effect of infertility on couples. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and CINHAL Plus articles were searched for relevant studies (2000-2014) published in English. Twenty articles were included in this review. The results showed that infertility affected couples in the following four aspects of their life: psychological well-being, marital relationships, sexual relationships, and quality of life. There is evidence that infertility has a negative effect on the psychological well-being and sexual relationships of couples, but the evidence is inconclusive for the effect on marital relationships and quality of life.

Background: The purpose of this review was to explore the uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, its associated factors, and the facilitators of and barriers to HPV vaccination among adolescents. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted through 5 electronic databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Medline, and PsycInfo from January 2006 to March 2015 for studies examining the uptake, awareness, knowledge, acceptability, and intention of adolescents with regard to HPV vaccination. Results: Twenty-eight studies were identified and included. The HPV vaccination uptake rate (at least 1 dose) varied significantly among countries, ranging from 2.4% to 94.4%. Scotland achieved the highest uptake of all the studies included in this review, while Hong Kong had the lowest, at 2.4% to 9.1%. This review also showed that adolescents had limited awareness and knowledge of HPV infections and vaccines, even 10 years after the vaccine had become available. Conclusions: It is recommended that barriers to the uptake of the vaccine should be addressed, and that school-based sexual health education of HPV infection and vaccine promotion should be reinforced.

Title. Disaster preparedness among Hong Kong nurses. Aim. This paper is a report of a survey to explore Hong Kong nurses' disaster preparedness. Background. Increasingly frequent global disasters are posing threats to human health and life. The World Health Organization has called for countries to have detailed plans at all levels in order to be prepared for disasters that may arise. Method. A questionnaire was distributed to convenience samples of practising Registered Nurses studying in Master's degree programmes at a Hong Kong university in 2007. Results. Of a possible 174, 164 questionnaires were returned (Response rate 94%). Almost all nurses (97AE6%) considered the government health department to be the organization most involved in disastrous situations. The majority (84AE8%) were aware of the existence of a protocol on disaster management at their workplace. About one-third would respond in accordance with protocol (38AE4%) or rely on directions from their immediate supervisors (34AE8%) if a disaster occurred. Almost all the nurses (97%) considered themselves not adequately prepared for disasters. They recognized that a protocol for disaster management (85AE4%) and training and drills for disasters (both 84AE1%) are useful tools. Conclusion. Nurses in Hong Kong are not adequately prepared for disasters, but are aware of the need for such preparation. Disaster management training should be included in the basic education of nurses.