Occurrence of spleen qi deficiency as defined by Chinese medicine in Parkinson disease

Objective:To investigate the frequency of deficiency of spleen qi (DSQ) in persons with Parkinson disease (PD) as well as the correlation between DSQ and PD.Methods:This study comprised three parts:determining the frequency of DSQ in participants with PD;comparing the frequency of DSQin PD and non-PD participants;and monitoring DSQ in participants with PD for 24 weeks.Outcome measurements were a modified DSQ scale and the Chinese version of the Parkinson Disease Questionnaire 39 (C-PDQ39).Results:A total of 187 participants with PD (mean ages 69.9 ± 9.6 years) completed the assessment in Part 1.Of these,170 (90.9%) were diagnosed as having DSQ.Thirty non-PD participants (mean ages 66.6 ± 10.2 years) completed the assessment in Part 2.Of these 11 (36.7%) were diagnosed as having DSQ.Positive correlations between total DSQ score and Hoehn-and-Yahr (H&Y) stage (correlation 0.316;P <.001),as well as between DSQ and total C-PDQ39 score (correlation 0.572;P <.001),were observed.For Part 3,47 participants from Part 1 were observed for 24 weeks.Variation in DSQ symptoms was noted,but all participants developed DSQ by the end of the study.Conclusions:DSQ is 2.5 times higher in PD participants than in the non-PD participants.More PD participants had DSQ in the advanced H&Y stages.A larger study is needed to validate these results on the prevalence of DSQ in persons with PD.

Chinese medicine practitioner turnover rate and the development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong,China

Objective:To establish that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region(HKSAR)government is actively promoting Chinese medicine(CM)and to examine turnover rate of Chinese medicine practitioners(CMPs)in Hong Kong,China in light of this governmental push.Methods:This study covered two major areas:reviewing CM development in Hong Kong,and assessing the turnover rate of CMPs in Hong Kong.The first part of the paper is a historical review.The investigation of turnover rate had two sections.Section 1,quantitative method,involved online questionnaires;Section 2,qualitative method comprised interviews with CMPs from different types of CM clinics to ascertain the reasons for the turnover among CMPs.Results:A total of 123 online questionnaires were received in Section 1(55 from male CMPs;66 from female CMPs;2 respondents were unwilling to disclose their sex).The proportion of CMPs who had resigned in 2018e19 was 22.8%(28),of whom 5.7%(7)had resigned twice in one year.The rates of resignation in 3 years and 5 years were up to 40.7%(50)and 56.9%(70),respectively.Six CMPs were interviewed in Section 2.Young CMPs were more likely to resign than seniors.The large gap between actual salary and expectations appeared to be the main reason for the high rate of resignation.Conclusion:HKSAR government keenly desires to promote CM in Hong Kong,however,high turnover rate of CMPs was detected even under this positive governmental support.There is an urgent need to conduct a more representative study of the reasons for the inclination of CMPs in Hong Kong.The study highlights an important issue in CM development,and these results should remind different stakeholders in the CM industry and the government that CMPs need better career prospects and support in various areas.