Celia H. Y. CHAN, Cecilia L. W. CHAN
Abstract
introduction From March 2003, Hong Kong health care system has been subjected into an unprecedented challenge under the outbreak of corona virus pneumonia (CVP), which has been called severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Throughout several weeks after the outbreak, there were 20-40 people confirmed of getting infected on a daily basis. By 1 May, 1600 people has been infected SARS with 162 deaths. On 26 April, a male nurse who has been infected when taking care of SARS patients died. With the accumulation of the number of SARS patients, together with the normal routine medical care, the whole health care system has been under high tension. Together with the highly infectious nature of CVP, medical staff are experiencing tremendous strain and occupational stress.