scholarly journals Efficacy And Feasibility of Telephone-Delivered Educational Intervention in Knowledge Transfer of COVID-19 Related Information to Elderly in Hong Kong: A Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mong Yung Fung ◽  
Yu Hong LEE ◽  
Yan Tung Astor LEE ◽  
Mei Ling WONG ◽  
Tik Sze Joyce LI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Educational Intervention ◽  
Student Feedback ◽  
Phone Call ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Student Volunteers ◽  
Paired T Test

Abstract BackgroundEducational interventions were necessary to clarify COVID-19 related misconceptions among Hong Kong older adults. Yet, face-to-face interventions were infeasible under the pandemic. The primary objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a healthcare student-led, telephone-delivered intervention in educating older adults on COVID-19 related health topics. Feasibility, satisfaction level in subjects and impacts on volunteer students of the intervention were also explored. MethodsSubjects aged 65 or above were recruited from a community center in Yuen Long, Hong Kong. The telephone-delivered intervention consisted of 5 phone call sessions conducted by student volunteers. The first four sessions included pre-tests covering three COVID-19 related health topics. Standardized explanations were offered to all subjects during phone call. In the last session, post-tests on all themes were conducted. Paired t-test and McNemar’s test were used to measure the efficacy of intervention based on the differences in pre-tests and post-tests scores. The level of significance was 0.05. Subject satisfaction surveys and student feedback surveys were analyzed. This was a longitudinal study with no control group.Results Twenty-five subjects were recruited. Paired t-test results showed statistically significant improvement in test scores for all themes: from 76.0% to 95.3% (p<0.01) on Medication Safety, from 64.0% to 88.9% (p<0.01) on Healthcare Voucher, and from 78.0% to 93.0% (p<0.01) on COVID-19 Myth busting. McNemar’s test results showed an increase in correct rate for all questions. However, the improvement was not statistically significant in 65% of the questions due to small sample size and ceiling effect. Most subjects were satisfied with the program and improvement in mood after the program were reported. Student feedback survey suggested that the intervention enhanced students’ communication skills and understanding about older adults in Hong Kong.Conclusion Our pilot study offered initial evidence to suggest the efficacy and feasibility of telephone-delivered educational intervention in educating Hong Kong older adults and its benefits on student volunteers. Future studies should include a larger sample size and evaluate the ability of phone calls in improving subjects’ mental well-being.

An In-depth Pilot Study on Patterns, Destinations, and Purposes of Walking in Hong Kong Older Adults

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Barnett ◽  
Ester Cerin ◽  
Man-chin Cheung ◽  
Wai-man Chan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Urban Design ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Mental Health Benefits ◽  
Walking Time

Walking is a suitable activity for older adults and has physical and mental health benefits. To devise interventions that impact levels of walking it is necessary to first understand the purposes for which people walk and the destinations to which they walk. Using a 7-day diary and accelerometry, this study investigated destinations and purposes of walking in older adult residents of an ultra-dense Asian city. Participants reported an average of 17.1 walking trips per week and total weekly accelerometer/diary determined trip walking time averaged 735 min per week; much higher than reported for older adults in non-Asian settings. The most common destinations were within the neighborhood: parks and streets for recreation walking and shops and eating places for transport-related walking. Errands and eating were the most common purposes for transportation trips. The study results can help inform urban design to encourage walking.

scholarly journals STORY CIRCLES AS A METHODOLOGY: A PILOT STUDY EXPLORING COGNITIVE PROBLEMS IN AGING

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S661-S661
Author(s):  
Logan A Sweeder ◽  
Nikki Hill ◽  
Emily Whitaker ◽  
Anushka Tiwari ◽  
William Doan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Phone Call ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Personal Story ◽  
Cognitive Complaint ◽  
Complex Phenomena ◽  
Cognitive Problems

Abstract A Story Circle refers to a group of individuals in a comfortable social environment sharing personal experiences through stories to explore problems shared by a community and facilitate artistic representation of experiences of interest. In this pilot study, we examined the feasibility of Story Circles to facilitate qualitative inquiry of the experience of cognitive problems among older adults. A convenience sample of six cognitively intact, community-dwelling older adults (M=72.5; SD=5.09 years; 83% female) with self-reported cognitive complaints participated in a 90-minute Story Circle as well as a follow-up phone call. Each shared a personal story of experiencing a cognitive complaint and related these experiences to those shared by others in relation to a prompt provided by the group facilitator. Participants reported enjoying the Story Circle experience (M=8.5/10; 10 = extremely positive) and interest in participating in future Story Circles (M=9.3/10; 10 = extremely likely). Common themes included a sense of community established during the group that persisted after its conclusion as well as a normalization of the experience of occasional cognitive problems. Story Circles may be a useful data collection method to enhance understanding of complex phenomena within a social context.

An In-Depth Pilot Study on Patterns, Destinations, and Purposes of Walking in Hong Kong Older Adults

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-152
Author(s):  
Anthony Barnett ◽  
Ester Cerin ◽  
Man-chin Cheung ◽  
Wai-man Chan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Pilot Study

scholarly journals Quantitative and Qualitative Criteria for Assessing Endurance in Women over 60 Years of Age – Findings from a Pilot Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 161-166
Author(s):  
Jakub Kortas ◽  
Katarzyna Prusik ◽  
Łukasz Bielawa ◽  
Monika Wiech ◽  
Zbigniew Ossowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Training Needs ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Walk Test ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Health Training ◽  
Endurance Tests

Abstract Introduction. If it is to be effective, health training needs to be monitored based on regular and periodic assessment. The norms that have been proposed for standardised endurance tests for the 60-plus age group, particularly for women, still require evaluation. In light of the above, we have undertaken to design quantitative and qualitative criteria for assessing the level of endurance. Such criteria are urgently needed by persons working with this age group. Material and methods. We developed a quantitative and qualitative system for evaluating endurance based on Zatsiorky’s model, and we verified it in a group of 90 women aged over 60 years. We analysed data measured directly during a 2-km walk test. Results. We developed a set of quantitative and qualitative criteria for assessing endurance in women aged over 60 years based on the results of a 2-km walk test, measured on a scale ranging from 24:18 to 15:52 min:s. Conclusion. The pilot study has proven that a scale based on Zatsiorsky’s model can be an effective tool for assessing endurance in women aged over 60 years. We can thus recommend that it be widely used in practice. It is important to compare these results with the norms for the group in question and to establish comprehensive norms that could be useful for persons who organise physical activity for older adults.

scholarly journals Effect of Comfort Care Integrated with the Holy Qur’an Recitation on Comfort of Muslim Patients under Mechanical Ventilation: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junaidy Rustam ◽  
Waraporn Kongsuwan ◽  
Luppana Kitrungrote
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Comfort Care ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Patients Experience ◽  
Holy Qur’An Recitation ◽  
Paired T Test

Most patients experience decreased physical, psychosocial, and spiritual comfort while receiving mechanical ventilation. Regarding the Muslim patients, diminished comfort might be associated with alterations in performing daily rituals, such as saying prayers (salat) and reciting the Holy Qur’an. This pilot study aimed to determine the effects of comfort care integrated with the Holy Qur’an recitation on comfort in Muslim patients being mechanically ventilated.Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on a group of participants using pretest-posttest design. The samples consisted of ten Muslim patients under mechanical ventilation who met the inclusion criteria. Each participant was provided with the comfort care integrated with the Holy Qur’an recitation for three days. A modified version of Shortened General Comfort Questionnaire was utilized to evaluate comfort of the participants. The data were analyzed by SPSS using paired t-test. Results: Mean score of total comfort increased significantly after receiving the comfort care integrated with recitation of the Holy Qur’an (t=11.42, p=0). In addition, mean score of each context of comfort (i.e. physical, psychospiritual, environmental, and sociocultural comforts) also augmented significantly post-intervention.Conclusion: This pilot study showed that the comfort care integrated with the Holy Qur’an recitation can be an effective way of enhancing comfort of Muslim patients under mechanical ventilation.

scholarly journals 21st Century Good Neighbor Program: An Easily Generalizable Program to Reduce Social Isolation in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shashank Sandu ◽  
Siva Sreedhar ◽  
Linda Chang ◽  
Lindsay Cohen ◽  
Andrea Cruz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Community Service ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Phone Call ◽  
Service Agency ◽  
Learning Program ◽  
Student Volunteers ◽  
Good Neighbor

Aim: In this once-in-a-lifetime humanitarian crisis, what does it mean to be a good neighbor? It means that as a community, we must address loneliness and barriers to care faced by vulnerable populations such as older adults. We share an inexpensive longitudinal experiential service-learning program implemented by health professions and undergraduate student volunteers that aims to help alleviate loneliness in older adults while imparting meaningful experiences to volunteers.Intervention Design and Setting: The 21st Century Good Neighbor Program is an observational cohort study of an experiential service-learning program started in May 2020, and this article shares the results collected after 1 year. This longitudinal, weekly phone call program was conducted in a single community setting in the Midwestern part of the United States. Older adults over the age of 60 served by a local community service agency (CSA) were invited to participate. Volunteers consisted of students 18 or older. Student volunteers made regular phone calls to a pair of older adults throughout the course of 1 year following standardized call scripts. The loneliness of the older adults was measured by volunteers using the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Assessment.Results: 261 older adults were engaged in conversations with a volunteer. A total of 1,391 calls were accepted by older adults and the median length of a welcomed call was 11 min. The average baseline loneliness score was 4.156 ± 1.41 and the prevalence of social isolation was 19.5%. There was no significant change in the UCLA loneliness score in the first year of follow up. However, a majority of volunteers (88%) agreed or strongly agreed that the program had a positive impact on them. In addition, the program identified 257 issues older adults faced that required follow-up. The most prevalent concerns referred to the community service agency by volunteers were issues related to utilities, food and transportation access.Conclusion: The 21st Century Good Neighbor Program is a unique intervention in which student volunteers and older adults paired by a community service agency forge relationships though a longitudinal phone call-based program. This easy-to-implement program provides another layer of support to identify and refer issues that impact social determinants of health. The added benefit of volunteer satisfaction in the setting of COVID 19 pandemic is heartening. We hope to continue to study the impact of this intervention on social isolation in this vulnerable population.

scholarly journals RGC-TBRS Personal Air Pollutant Exposure versus Health Condition and Perception Pilot Study for Young Asthmatics in Hong Kong (2019/2020)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenyon Chow ◽  
Yang Han ◽  
Victor OK Li ◽  
Jacqueline CK Lam ◽  
So-lun Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Personal Exposures ◽  
Pm2.5 Exposure ◽  
Pm2.5 And Pm10 ◽  
Pm10 Exposure

This is a report of the RGC-TBRS funded observational pilot study which examines the effects of personal exposures to three types of air pollutants, namely, PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10, on personal health condition and perception of young asthmatics (aged 12 to 15) in Hong Kong. This is the first study to investigate the relationship between PM1.0 and FEV1 and FVC of young asthmatics in Hong Kong, based on personal exposures obtained from portable sensors. Our preliminary results show that a higher level of PM1.0, PM2.5 and PM10 would deteriorate the health conditions of young asthmatics in HK. All correlations between particulates and lung functions are significant and negative, including PM1.0 exposure vs. FEV1 (R2=12%; p=0.023), PM1.0 exposure vs. FVC (R2=15%; p=0.010), PM2.5 exposure vs. FEV1 (R2=13%; p=0.019), PM2.5 exposure vs. FVC (R2=16%; p=0.008), PM10 exposure vs. FEV1 (R2=14%; p=0.012), and PM10 exposure vs. FVC (R2=18%; p=0.005). Moreover, after accounting for covariates, including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), temperature, and relative humidity, we found a significant relationship between PM1.0 exposure vs. FVC (Coefficient=-0.1224; p=0.032), PM2.5 exposure vs. FVC (Coefficient=-0.1177; p=0.021), PM10 exposure vs. FEV1 (Coefficient=-0.0703; p=0.019), and PM10 exposure vs. FVC (Coefficient=-0.1204; p=0.006). Further, using the pilot study data, we have performed a power analysis to estimate the sample size for our follow-up main study. Based on the primary null hypothesis that personal PM exposure would not change the FEV1 and FVC of young asthmatics in HK, the lowest sample size that gives 80% power at a 5% significance level is 107. Hence, the sample size (or the total number of participated asthma subjects) expected for the follow-up longitudinal clinical study should be 125 (after adjusting for the non-compliance and withdrawal of subjects). Our pilot study has demonstrated the feasibility of research into the effects of personal air pollutant exposure on health condition and health perception. Our follow-up study will address the challenges identified in the pilot study, based on the proposed follow-up actions for subject engagement, data collection, and data analysis.

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