In the Media

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the third leading cause of death in Hong Kong. To reduce the morbidity and mortality rates of CHD, active lifestyle modification could help by mitigating risk factors such as hypertension, high lipid levels and high cholesterol. Recent advances in technology have enabled the development of mobile phone applications to help patients manage their conditions, including one developed by scholars in the School of Nursing.

Professor Doris Yu Sau-fung and Assistant Professor Dr Polly Li Wai-chi developed the mobile app “i-Care”, which was tested with CHD patients. The app provides a cardiac rehabilitation programme in which patients can obtain comprehensive CHD information and record and review data on their blood pressure, blood glucose levels and the amount of exercise at any time. The programme also has a platform for communicating with nurses to ask questions and to develop a personalised plan. It is hoped that the “i-Care” application can help CHD patients improve their self-health management.

(am730 – January 3, 2022)

Ming Pao Daily News interviewed Dr Kelvin Wang Man-ping, Associate Professor, for a feature story on the health risks of waterpipe smoking.

Dr Wang clarified that water cannot filter the hazardous materials in tobacco and waterpipe smoking is in fact addictive. The added chemicals and flavours make waterpipe smoking more hazardous and the level of carbon monoxide is three times higher than that in cigarettes for the same amount of nicotine. Studies have found that the smoke inhaled in one hour of waterpipe smoking is equivalent to 100 to 200 cigarettes. He further indicated that sharing waterpipes can transmit diseases. Furthermore, waterpipe cannot help one quit smoking.

Meanwhile, the School of Nursing has collaborated with the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals to launch Hong Kong’s first artificial intelligence chatbot “Dr Wise” on WhatsApp. The chatbot simulates a human response and provides information about smoking cessation. It can also be transferred to a real counsellor during office hours to answer questions, if necessary.

(Ming Pao Daily News, Health.mingpao.com – January 3, 2022)

Many people search for COVID-19 vaccine information online, however, the internet is loaded with false information. It is difficult to distinguish the facts from myths, which contributes to vaccine hesitancy.

Dr Kelvin Wang Ming-ping, Associate Professor, and Dr Kevin Luk Tzu-tsun, Research Assistant Professor, have developed the chatbot “Vac Chat, Fact Check” to provide science-based information and recommendations. Apart from providing information on vaccine efficacy and safety and vaccination booking methods, the chatbot also debunks vaccine-related rumours and myths. It also has a self-assessment tool to help users understand whether they are suitable for vaccination or not.

(am730 – January 10, 2022)

Many international studies have confirmed that pre-diabetes is a golden opportunity for preventing diabetes. According to the latest data from the International Diabetes Federation, over one million Hong Kong citizens have pre-diabetes. It is highly likely they could develop diabetes if left untreated, which would increase the risk of stroke and other complications.

Dr Mandy Ho Man, Assistant Professor, and her team conducted a 12-month randomised trial on people who are obese and pre-diabetic. Through lifestyle modification, nearly half of the participants successfully lost 5% or more of their body weight; and over 30% had their blood glucose levels return to normal. Among most of the participants with the “three highs” – high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugars, their blood pressure and cholesterol returned to normal.

Dr Ho’s research team is now launching a Digital Diabetes Prevention Programme and recruiting people aged 40 to 60 with pre-diabetes, for lifestyle modification and weight management through online courses and mobile application, with the aim of preventing or delaying the onset of diabetes.

(am730 – January 17, 2022)

In recent years, patients with Parkinson’s disease have been encouraged to practice mindfulness yoga training to improve balance and concentration. A School of Nursing study earlier found that such practice could significantly improve the physical function, mood and resilience of these patients.

During COVID-19, however, many rehabilitation activities for patients have been suspended. As such, Dr JoJo Kwok Yan-yan, Assistant Professor, launched an online mindfulness yoga pilot programme for patients with Parkinson’s disease, which has received positive feedback.

With the support of the General Research Fund, the School will hold a series of similar courses to collect sufficient data to confirm online mindfulness yoga can improve the physical and mental health of patients with Parkinson’s disease.

(am730 – January 24, 2022)

As the latest outbreak of COVID-19 gripped Hong Kong, HKUMed stepped up to ease the burden on the healthcare system. Starting in February 2022, our teachers and students were recruited to take care of elderly COVID-19 patients at the Choi Wing Road Temporary Care Centre.

The Choi Wing Road Temporary Care Centre, set up by the Social Welfare Department of the HKSAR Government at the Choi Wing Road Sports Centre, provided 150 beds for elderly patients from the Hospital Authority, who were waiting for admission or required care while recovering from COVID-19.

The teachers and students were responsible for clinical assessment and patient care at the centre. At a press briefing, our Year 5 nursing students expressed their dedication to help the overwhelmed healthcare system; to put knowledge into practice by taking care of patients in need; and to contribute to the effort to fight the pandemic.

Beginning from March 21, the service expanded to Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Community Isolation Facility, which provided 1,000 beds. Medical and nursing teachers and students from HKUMed also rendered their support at this centre to help look after 400 elderly patients.

(881903.com, dotdotnews.com, HK01, HKTKWW, Line Today Indonesia, Now News, Oriental Daily News, on.cc,
RTHK Instant News, TOPick.hket.com, Wen Wei Po, Yahoo News – February 25, 2022; CRNTT.com, mingpaoCanada.com, news.mingpao.com, Now News, Oriental Daily News, Wen Wei Po – February 26, 2022;
HKCD Instant News, Ming Pao Vancouver – March 20, 2022; Ming Pao.com, Kinliu.hk – March 21, 2022)

A TV programme “Anti-Epidemic News Express”（防疫速遞）, broadcast on RTHK channel 32, interviewed HKU medical and nursing students, who participated at the Community Isolation Facilities.

Ms Irene Ho Oi-ki, a Bachelor of Nursing (Full-time) Year 5 student shared her experience of providing nursing care for COVID-19 elderly patients at the Choi Wing Road Temporary Care Centre. Besides nursing services, she took care of the mental health of patients and their carers by showing empathy and helping to find ways for family members to connect and communicate. She felt honoured to provide nursing services to the public during the fifth wave of the pandemic and said this was a precious opportunity to boost her confidence in serving the community and overcoming challenges in her nursing career.

(RTHK – March 25, 2022)

At a press briefing organised by the School of Nursing, School of Public Health, Department of Medicine (Cardiology), and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, the first Personalized Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment for Chinese (P-CARDIAC) was launched. This is the first artificial intelligence (AI) cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease risk score specifically for Chinese, and the first in-depth prediction model of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) risk in Hong Kong.

Dr Celine Chui Sze-ling, Assistant Professor of School of Nursing and School of Public Health, indicated that the CVD risk in the general public in Hong Kong can be more accurately predicted using P-CARDIAC. Interventional treatment can then be carried out to reduce the risk of premature death caused by CVD in Hong Kong by 25%.

At the press briefing, a mobile application for patients to manage CVD risk developed by Department of Medicine (Cardiology) was also launched.

(On.cc, Headline Daily Online, Sky Post Online, Sing Tao Daily, Oriental Daily, am730 – April 01, 2022;
Metro Daily – April 28, 2022; www.dotdotnews.com – May 10, 2022; Ming Pao, Line Today Hong Kong – May 16, 2022;
IMoney Issue 761 – May 21, 2022, Sing Pao, TOPick.hket.com – May 23, 2022)

At the Breastfeeding Friendly Community Initiative Award Ceremony on May 30, corporates were presented with excellence awards for their substantial efforts in cultivating a breastfeeding-friendly culture. The 2^nd Phase of the “BreastfeedingGPS” App was also launched at the ceremony.

The project leader Dr Kris Lok Yuet-wan, Assistant Professor of School of Nursing, pointed out that the App has been downloaded over 6,500 times and searched 58,000 times since its launch in September 2020. It once ranked no.3 on the Hong Kong App Store.

Promoting a friendly attitude towards breastfeeding in the community is also essential. The School has trained 1,392 staff in 107 public facilities to facilitate correct information on breastfeeding, as of May 2022. Nearly 90% of participants said they felt more confident in supporting breastfeeding mothers after the training, and about 60% said the programme could significantly increase their knowledge and supportive attitude towards breastfeeding.

(Yahoo News, Sky Post, TOPick, HK01, Ming Pao, On.cc Instant News, ODN – June 1, 2022;
HKSAR Government Press Release, HKET – June 2, 2022)