In the Media

The continuing COVID-19 pandemic has left some people vulnerable to emotional instability, stress and anxiety. The School therefore offered tips on psychological well-being.

(healthyd.com – July 25, 2020)

Professor Doris Yu commented in the South China Morning Post that social distancing as a coronavirus control measure may lead to critical health threats for older adults with chronic illnesses.

The closure of non-essential services for the elderly limited older adults’ access to care. Although various social media platforms have been developed to strengthen the self-care ability of patients, many older adults do not know how to access such services.

Professor Yu has been trying to help through her Jockey Club NICE-LINK project, a tele-nursing programme that has provided prompt tele-based health consultations with tailored written health reminders. She said that subsequent tele-visits showed there had been a good health response to this outreach.

Professor Yu advocated for the integration of tele-nursing with the health care system during the challenging COVID-19 outbreak.

(South China Morning Post – July 31, 2020)

Dr Jo Jo Kwok, Assistant Professor, said Parkinson’s Disease (PD) patients may experience symptoms of anxiety and depression. Since the disease can affect patients’ mobility, they may lose confidence due to misunderstanding and discrimination from people who do not understand their condition.

Her study in 2019 found out that practicing mindfulness yoga could help improve PD patients’ mobility and enhance their ability to cope with negative emotions and maintain a positive psychological outlook.

Dr Kwok has developed an online Mindfulness Yoga programme for early and mid-stage PD patients: http://yoga.nursing.hku.hk/

(Headline, Oct 5, 2020)

Dr Kelvin Wang, Associate Professor, delivered a talk entitled “COVID-19 Pandemic Online Health Information” at the RGC public lecture co-organised by Hong Kong Public Libraries and the Research Grants Council of The University Grants Committee on September 12, 2020. Dr Wang indicated that the timeliness, accuracy and trustworthiness of information could facilitate the execution of preventive measures and also lessen people’s anxiety.

(Ming Pao Daily News – October 6, 2020)

Dr Kelvin Wang is also Co-Investigator of the project "Relationship between Information Sharing and Family Well-being during the COVID-19 Outbreak”, which was the focus of a “Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project” Press Conference on October 20. The event was co-organised by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the School of Public Health and the Technology-Enriched Learning Initiatives of The University of Hong Kong.

Dr Wang reported on a survey of 4,914 people in late May and found that family e-chat groups where people sent or received messages on happy/interesting matters about themselves/their families and daily life matters, or expressed care and encouragement, were related to better family communication, greater family harmony and happiness.

Dr Wang said that combatting “anti-pandemic fatigue” was a top priority. He suggested that the younger generation spend more time teaching the elderly how to use information technology, especially instant messaging tools, given the reduction of social gatherings during the pandemic

The School will launch a new Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced Leadership Track) [BNurs(ALT)] Programme in the academic year 2021/22.

Details of admission requirements will be announced in early 2021 and programme information may be available on the JUPAS website in March/April 2021. Amendment fees for a change of programme choice may be waived by the JUPAS Office. Note that these arrangements are subject to approval by the Nursing Council of Hong Kong and HKU Senate.

(Oriental Daily News & Sing Tao Daily News – October 31, 2020; Hong Kong Economic Times – November 2, 2020)

The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH) teamed up with HKU researchers on a study which found that heated tobacco products (HTPs) could not help smokers to quit. An earlier survey in 2018-19, led by Dr Kelvin Wang, Associate Professor, showed that 44% of 1,012 smokers surveyed intended to quit using HTPs for smoking cessation. However, their likelihood of successful quitting after six months was not enhanced. In contrast, smokers who used smoking cessation services were 70% more likely to abstain from cigarettes at the six-month follow-up, compared with those who did not use the services. The findings were published in Tobacco Control.

(881903.com, TVB News, news.mingpao.com, hk.on.cc, topick.hket.com, am730 – December 10, 2020; Ming Pao Daily News, Oriental Daily News, am730, RTHK Radio Programme – Backchat Dec 11, 2020)