Publication of the Journal was inevitably affected by the outbreak of SARS in the past few months. Energy and time were not directed to scholarly projects but daily work relevant to extreme service loads and extensive infection control measures. We have published two issues this year though; the Editor and the Editorial Board extend our regret to the subscribers for the publication delay. In our Special Issue (Vol. 39 No. 1), however, we managed to capture the snapshots through interviewing a number of local colleagues who are at the frontline in fighting the deadly disease.
The overwhelming frontline service has an impact on our publication work. It is noted that we have a dramatically reduced number of manuscript submission and a relatively slow down reviewing process. We believe that there were some problems in resuming normal publication in these beginning months of the transition. However, the Editorial Board promises that the quality of the publication will never suffer. With all the hard work of the Editorial Board members, it is confident that we will definitely produce outstanding publications to serve the international nursing communities and the academic membership.
In the coming year, the Editorial Board would maintain an attractive, informative and efficiently published journal for our subscribers. To remain the journal foremost in publishing the best of scholarly work, we will now publish three issues a year (Issue of April, August and December). Aiming to create a platform for exchanging ideas and thoughts on advancing professionalism, the Editorial Board has decided to introduce a new and fascinating feature in our Journal. We aim to attract an abundance of high quality work produced by authors serving different areas of specialties or instigating from a variety of healthcare services. We are expecting sources of manuscripts ranging from practitioners' work to scholarly projects. Beginning with next volume, the Journal will contain research-based articles, interview reports, College news and events update, reflective papers and literature review bulletins relating to a variety of topics and contexts.
Scholars, administrators, and clinical nurses are therefore called to submit their work based on a well-researched stand. The Journal serves as an avenue to convey the evidence-based merits or professional accomplishments. Meanwhile, the Editorial Board has an obligation to cultivate the scientific talent and passion to the academic world among new generations. Junior practitioners and students across healthcare professions are encouraged to write and share their enthusiasms and inspirations to their career. The intention is to publish research reports and papers to inform innovations of clinical practice or promising advancement.
At present the waiting list for publication is not so long as in the past. You may see many opportunities that the submitted work will be reviewed and got into print more rapidly than before! The Editors take this chance to thank all authors, readers and referees for their continuing support. Remember that the Journal is a credit to your contributions; this means that we always look forward to receiving your best work!
Marian W. L. Wong
(Dr)
Editor-in-Chief
過去幾個月來，沙士爆發確實為本刊編輯工作帶來不少的影響。為了廣泛性預防及對抗這個世紀疫症，大量的時間及精力都花費在需求迫切的臨床服務和控制感染措施上；由於上述因素延及文稿審閱和撰批過程，今年本雜誌只能趕及出版兩期，編者和編輯組特為延誤出版事宜深表歉意，可幸在特刊(第三十九卷第一期)內，本組亦能在沙士肆虐期間，及時訪問了本港一些前線醫護人員及有關人仕，透過他們分享親身經歷及感受，刊出的文章足以掌握了當時醫護界參與抗炎的真實事件片段和寶貴資料，確實可以為時代做見証。
醫護人員奮力對抗沙士間接也影響雜誌的編輯工作。由於投稿的數量顯著減少及批閱文稿過程受阻，免不了延誤雜誌的出版進度。編者深信在沙士離去初期，編輯工作亦會面臨一些困難，但編輯組決不因此妥協；憑著一向努力和堅守的精神，編輯組向國際護理同業及各界學者保証，本雜誌日後將會維持出版高質素的作品。
在未來的一年，編輯組將會為各位讀者提供一份精采和富資訊的護理雜誌；為求達致高度學術水準，本刊將會每年出版三期(二零零四年的四月版、八月版、十二月版)。為了鼓勵不同層面及服務領域的同業和學者投稿，讓訂閱讀者可以有一個合適的場地，與專家同業分享其服務範疇內的成果和見地，本刊在未來日子將以一個嶄新形象出現。本雜誌希望日後能收錄以多元化描寫的專業題材和文稿。本刊將會刊載專家審批的文獻、研究報告、訪問匯報、學院新聞和事務報告、反思日誌、及參考文獻分析報告等類型的文章。
編者誠意邀請各位學者及臨床同業將你們全面研究的課題和項目、或以實証為本的實務功績一一記錄下來，再撰寫文稿投寄給本刊。與此同時，編輯組深感有使命去培養新一代的護理同業對發展科研及鑽研學術的興趣和潛質，特此鼓勵年青的護士和護理學生撰文分享個人對專業的熱誠及情操，期待此舉可為本刊添加一股朝氣。編輯組引入以上種種變動，目的是能吸納更多高質素的文章，藉此增進與各地護理同業分享臨床實務發展和創新護理的成果。
由於近來積存稿件的數目較先前減少，所以你們投寄的文章將會較快被審閱。編者特此向各位作者、讀者及批閱文章同業的支持，表達謝意。希望各位明白這本雜誌是有賴你的支持才可屹立至今，謹記我們一直期待刊登你的作品！
王慧蓮(博士)
總編輯
Before the up coming of the new journal features in April, we would like to continue sharing with our subscribers some interesting articles in this issue. In the clinical forum, we can see how hard nurses strived to combat the lethal disease � SARS. Through application of the Roy Adaptation Model in an intensive care unit in Hong Kong, physical and psychological needs of a critically ill SARS patient were assessed and addressed to in a systematic and holistic manner.
The emphasis of holistic care again appears in an article from our colleagues in China. The authors, in the light of advancing towards a holistic care model, studied the demand by patients undergoing elective surgery for pre-operative visits. Through the findings, we can envisage that pre-operative visits are significant and welcomed by patients.
Apart from choosing an appropriate care delivery model, evaluating the effectiveness of nursing interventions is similarly important. Studying patients' satisfaction with the care that delivered is one of the major nursing concerns. In the research forum, the authors of the article 'Surveying patient satisfaction: Challenging for nursing research', discussed in details on the concept, measurements and problems in measuring patient satisfaction. Finally, to facilitate the readers in choosing a suitable measurement tool from the so many different instruments, the authors have also made invaluable suggestions to the justification made to the choice.
Lo Sau Kuen, Ivy P.
C. Yiu
Issue Editors
在刊出新形象的四月版雜誌之前，我們在本期仍會繼續為讀者介紹一些饒有趣味的文章。在護理實務欄內，大家可以見證到護理同業怎樣艱辛地去抵抗致命性的傳染病──嚴重急性呼吸系統綜合症（SARS）透過Roy的護理模式（Roy Adaptation Model），香港一所醫院的深切治療部護士為一位危殆病人作出了全面的生理及心理評估，並採取系統化及全人護理的模式，成功地協助病人完成整個治療過程。
而另一篇國內同業的文章中，將全人護理概念更推展至手術前關顧。作者為外科擇期手術病人對護士手術前探訪的需求，作出了詳細探討。從科研的結果中，我們可體會到這些探訪的重要性，並且備受病人關注及接納。
除了需要選擇合適的護理模式，評估護理成效亦是護理實務的重要一環，而病人對護理的滿意程度是其中一種評估的指標。在本期的科研論壇中 "Surveying patient satisfaction: challenging for nursing research" 文章的幾位作者為本刊之讀者詳盡的報導如何評估病人之滿意程度、採用什麼評估方式及過程中面對的困難。最後，作者亦提出了一些寶貴建議，使有志研究病人滿意程度之讀者能得到啟發，在設計整個科研過程時必須作出週詳的考慮。
盧秀娟、姚寶珠
今期主編