This study explored the perceptions of pregnant women on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the effects of perceptions during the SARS epidemic in Hong Kong during March 2003. A survey was conducted at the maternity clinic of a regional hospital. 980 pregnant Chinese women completed self-administered questionnaires on their knowledge of SARS, their awareness of personal hygiene and their perception of any additional strain on their daily life. We concluded that, the SARS crisis brought drastic changes to the lives of most people in Hong Kong. Midwives played a pivotal role in providing care, health education and counselling to help pregnant women in during and after the crisis.

Nurses should think beyond time in the discourse of effective nurse-patient communication, as it often relates to manpower. An understanding of how nurses perceive their time availability for nurse-patient communication and their use of time for this aspect contribute to the discourse regarding how to improve patient-centred care.

This study aims to explore the roles and responsibilities of seven newly appointed nurse consultants (NCs) in various clinical specialties in Hong Kong as a pioneer project. Qualitative approaches using direct observation and semi-structured interviews were adopted with two full-day observations on the seven NCs plus 56 semi-structured interviews of NCs, nurses, doctors and patients. Five major NCs' roles and responsibilities had been identified, namely providing expert practice, initiating service development, leading education, guiding continuous quality improvement (CQI) and conducting research and providing evidence-based practice. The seven NCs within this study have by and large achieved building professional excellence, respect and trust within their own spheres. It is strongly recommended that the NC post be formally established in the new Nurses Career Structure to enable expert clinical nurses to develop a clinical career to contribute to service and patient care to its maximum.