Newsletter No. 284

中大通訊 CUHK Newsletter 2 痛 」是身體的感覺之一,也是科學家甚感興趣的 課題,原來男性和女性對於「痛」的感覺很不 相同,反應也不一樣。 那打素護理學院鄧麗芳教授曾進行一項研究,邀請了一 百七十八名十九至四十五歲的健康人士參與,男女各 半,以找出兩性對痛楚的感覺。 研究以「痛楚機」進行,第一部分測試參加者對痛楚的 敏感度。「痛楚機」會在參加者的手指上施加壓力,並 逐漸增強,直至參加者感到痛為止。研究顯示,當壓力 增至三百八十五點七克時,女性感到痛,男性則在四百 五十三點六克時才表示痛。 第二部分測試參加者的忍痛能力。研究人員利用「痛楚 機」一直增加壓力,直至參加者無法忍受為止。結果是 女性平均只可承受七百三十二點六克的壓力,男性則為 九百六十八點六克。 女性更懂得應付痛楚 鄧教授指出,痛楚是很複雜的課題,人對痛的感知其實 受到很多因素的影響,例如社會文化認為男性要勇敢、 堅強,所以男性不會隨便叫痛。「與男性相比,女性的 痛楚敏感度很高,很多研究亦證實女性的感官比男性的 敏銳。而生理上,女性經歷過經痛和陣痛,讓她們更懂 得如何應付痛楚。」所以,當男性感到痛時,大都不理 會,還勉強繼續工作;相反女性則會盡快求醫。 她補充說:「當女性表示痛的時候,她們並不是為了吸 引別人注意。所以,醫護人員在照顧病人和選擇治療方 案時,不必考慮病人的性別,應注意病人對痛楚的承受 能力,而這是因人而異的。」 愈焦慮愈痛 該項研究亦反映了痛楚與焦慮的關係。研究對象愈焦 慮,痛楚感覺就愈強烈,這與外國研究的結果相同。 「但有趣的是,在我們的實驗裡,這種現象只在男性身 上出現,特別是平日已容易焦慮的男性。」 鄧教授解釋,曾有研究指出,面對焦慮環境時,男性血 壓會上升,使身體進入作戰狀態;而女性則會心跳加 速,以備逃跑。只要減少焦慮,便有助舒緩痛楚。「其 中一個有效的方法是聽音樂。若能經常保持心境開朗, 也是減低焦慮的好方法。」 鄧教授期望這個研究,可以讓醫護人員更了解痛楚感覺 背後的機制,從而更好地協助病人紓解痛楚。她希望下 一步的研究能夠在病房中進行,從臨床層面探討痛楚與 焦慮的關係。 A re there gender differences in pain perception? To answer this question, a laboratory study using pressure-induced pain was conducted to examine the pain threshold and pain tolerance levels of 178 Hong Kong Chinese adults (89 men and 89 women) between the ages of 18-45 years. The results of the study suggest that women had a significantly lower threshold and tolerance for pain than men and anxiety is an important factor in determining pain report in men. These findings are consistent with those obtained in overseas studies. What then is the significance of these findings for men and women in Hong Kong with regard to their pain experience? In Hong Kong culture, it is generally believed that women can tolerate more pain than men. It is however important to realize that this does not mean that women feel less pain than men. Despite their greater pain burden, women have learned to handle pain better than men do. Women use more coping strategies to deal with pain possibly because of their frequent encounter with pain in menstruation, and in labour and childbirth. The fact that Hong Kong women are living longer these days means that they are likely to suffer from chronic pain conditions. Greater awareness of gender differences in pain perception will ensure women will not be disadvantaged in painmanagement. Also, since anxiety may affect the sensory perception of pain in men, it is important that men learn how to cope with pain more effectively. Research interest in pain and gender is only beginning to emerge in Hong Kong society and public interest on this topic is increasing. More attention to gender issues should help ease pain for the individual person, male or female. 痛楚感覺男女大不同 Are There Gender Differences in Pain Perception? ■ 中大建築系教授獲規劃署九百萬元 研究香港風環境 CUHK Architecture Professor Awarded HK$ 9 Million by Planning Department to Study Hong Kong’s Wind Environment ■ 諾貝爾獎得獎人講座反應熱烈 本港與內地學界現場直播 Nobel Laureate Lecture Broadcast Live to Local Schools and Mainland Universities ■ 中大划艇隊六連冠 CUHK Rowing Team Champion for the Sixth Year in a Row ■ 中大人同賞萬眾童心籌款音樂會 CUHK-Children’s Choir Fundraising Concert Features Music for a Good Cause ■ 中國工程院農業學部代表團來訪 其他消息 Other News Items 以下消息詳情,請上網 http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/iso/newslter/ 閱 覽: Details of the following news items are available at http://www.cuhk.edu . hk/iso/newslter/: Chinese Academy of Engineering Delegates Visit CUHK ■ 中大工程學生嶄新科技發明於Intel Cup比賽全國奪冠 ■ 商界領袖參與「星級學長計劃」 致力培育中大MBA學生 Business Leaders Nurture MBA Students Through Elite Mentorship Programme ■ 政治學權威學者Larry Diamond於 香港中文大學談全球民主化之障礙 Authority in Comparative Politics Larry Diamond Lectures at The Chinese University ■ 醫院、大學和社區共創健康生活 Setting up of Patients’ Corner Through a Hospital-University- Community Partnership ■ 13 Research Projects Receive Funding Support 以下項目詳情,請上網 http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/iso/ newslter/issue/284/discoveries.htm 閱覽: ■ 青少年參加跳舞派對的風險行為研究 「 • Prof. Lee Chi Kin John, dean of Faculty of Education, has been re-appointed by the Secretary for Education and Manpower as a member of the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation for one year from 1st October 2006. • Prof. Helen Meng, professor in the Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, has been re-appointed by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology as a member of the Digital 21 Strategy Advisory Committee for two years from 1st October 2006. • Prof. Yeung Chung Kwong, professor of surgery, has been appointed by the Medical Council of Hong Kong to the panel of assessors for the purpose of conducting disciplinary inquiry for one year from 5th September 2006. • Prof. Wing Yun Kwok, professor in the Department of Psychiatry, has been appointed by the Medical Council of Hong Kong to the panel of assessors for the purpose of conducting disciplinary inquiry for one year from 5th September 2006. • Prof. So Kee Long Billy, associate pro-vice-chancellor, has been appointed as a member of the Council of The Open University of Hong Kong for three years from 1st October 2006. • Prof. Low Chee Keong, associate professor in the School of Accountancy, has been appointed as a member of the Listing Committee of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited for one year from May 2006. • Prof. Lau Tak Fai Joseph, director of Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, has been appointed as a member of the Children and Youth Service Development Sub-committee of the Friends of Scouting 2006/2007. (Information in this section is provided by the Communications and Public Relations Office. Contributions should be sent direct to that office for registration and verification before publication.)

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