Introduction: The Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score coma scale is a recently introduced coma scale. The objectives of this study were to assess the interrater reliability of the Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score coma scale when physicians and nurses in the emergency department apply the Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score on patients clinically suspected to have acute stroke and to look for any association between Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score coma scale and in-hospital mortality. Methods: Prospective study of 105 patients clinically suspected to have acute stroke recruited in an emergency department in a 4-month period. The Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score coma scale and Glasgow Coma Scale of each patient were assessed by one doctor and one nurse independently. The interrater reliability between physicians and nurses using the Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score and Glasgow Coma Scale score was assessed. The association between the Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score coma scale and in-hospital mortality was analysed using logistic regression, controlled for age, sex and diagnosis. Results: Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score had a good interrater reliability when applied to patients suspected to have acute stroke (kappa = 0.742, 95% confidence interval = 0.626-0.858). This was comparable to Glasgow Coma Scale score with a kappa = 0.796 (95% confidence interval = 0.694-0.898). For every 1-point increase in Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score coma scale, a reduction in in-hospital mortality was observed with an odds ratio of 0.76 (95% confidence interval = 0.63-0.91, p = 0.003), controlled for age, sex and diagnosis. Conclusion: The Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score may be a tool that can be used by emergency department doctors and nurses in assessing clinical stroke patients.

Background: Adrenaline autoinjectors (AAInj) facilitates early administration of adrenaline and remains the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis. However, only a minority of anaphylaxis survivors in Hong Kong are prescribed AAInj and formal guidance do not exist. International anaphylaxis guidelines have been largely based on Western studies, which may not be as relevant for non-Western populations. Objective: To formulate a set of consensus statements on the prescription of AAInj in Hong Kong. Methods: Consensus statements were formulated by the Hong Kong Anaphylaxis Consortium by the Delphi method. Agreement was defined as greater than or equal to 80% consensus. Subgroup analysis was performed to investigate differences between allergy and emergency medicine physicians. Results: A total of 7 statements met criteria for consensus with good overall agreement between allergy and emergency medicine physicians. AAInj should be used as first-line treatment and prescribed for all patients at risk of anaphylaxis. This should be prescribed prior to discharge from the Accident and Emergency Department together with an immediate referral to an allergy center. The decision for prescribing AAInj should be based

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Background: Similar to many Asian cities, there is no statutory provision for the determination of the duty borne by bystander first aiders when assisting victims in Hong Kong. Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the views of a Good Samaritan Law by first-aid learners in Hong Kong. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among first-aid course participants from the two largest training providers in Hong Kong using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: In total, 1223 questionnaires were completed and returned. Only 12.1% (147/1211) of participants have ever heard of Good Samaritan Law. After a short description of Good Samaritan Law was provided, 71.4% (848/1188) agreed or strongly agreed on a Likert-type scale that a Good Samaritan Law is necessary; 95.2% (1148/1223) support the enactment of a Good Samaritan Law in Hong Kong. Conclusion: The majority of first-aid learners in Hong Kong supported the enactment of Good Samaritan Law. Overcoming the fear of litigation and improving bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation rate is a priority for improving survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest in Hong Kong.

Introduction: Temperature is a key factor influencing the occurrence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, yet there is no equivalent study in Hong Kong. This study reports results involving a large-scale territory-wide investigation on the impacts of ambient temperature and age-gender differences on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcome in Hong Kong. Methods: This study included 25,467 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases treated by the Hong Kong Fire Services Department between December 2011 and November 2016 inclusive. Simple correlation and regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases and temperature, age and gender. Calendar charts were used to visualise temporal patterns of pre-hospital emergency medical services related to out-ofhospital cardiac arrest cases. Results: A strong negative curvilinear relationship was found between out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and daily temperature (r 2 > 0.9) with prominent effects on elderly people aged ≥85 years. For each unit decrease in mean temperature in °C, there was a maximum of 5.6% increase in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases among all age groups and 7.3% increase in the ≥85 years elderly age group. Men were slightly more at risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest compared with women. The demand for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest-related emergency medical services was highest between 06:00 and 11:00 in the wintertime. Conclusion: This study provides the first local evidence linking weather and demographic effects with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Hong Kong. It offers empirical evidence to policymakers in support of strengthening existing emergency medical services to deal with the expected increase in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the wintertime and in regions with a large number of elderly population.