Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Enhancing Partnership with Patients and Community (Projects initiated to engage patients / carers / community to improve efficiency / quality of care)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
HA Young Investigators Session (Projects to be presented by HA staff who had joined HA for 10 years or less)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Chan Y, Tse LC, Ho CM, Au KM.
Affiliation :
Occupational Therapy Department, Tai Po Hospital
Introduction :
Caregivers' crucial role in patient care often expose them to a heightened risk of burnout. Prevalence of caregivers-related tragedies further highlight the need to address their limited mental health awareness and knowledge of community resources. Occupational Therapists strive to empower caregivers in leading a healthy and engaged lifestyle while managing their caregiving responsibilities. To achieve this, Active Community Engagement (ACE) Program, a hospital-community collaboration, utilizes mobile van exhibition to deliver public education on mental health, facilitate access to community resources, and provide timely interventions.
Objectives :
This study aims to evaluate ACE Program's impact on enhancing caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices in mental health.
Methodology :
Relevant psychiatric NGO was liaised on collaborative project planning to leverage resources and expertise. Proposed frequency for the mobile van exhibition was quarterly. Three half-day sessions were conducted in August and October 2023, and January 2024 respectively. Each session encompassed a mindfulness workshop and introduction to community resources in the mobile van, followed by psychoeducation and workshop on Five Ways to Wellbeing led by Occupational Therapists. The program was tailored to promote mental wellbeing and healthy lifestyle in everyday life. A post-event survey based on the Knowledge-Attitude-Practices (KAP) Model was conducted to assess participants' experience and satisfaction.
Result & Outcome :
A total of 149 participants attended the event. 50 carers completed the post-event survey. Overall satisfaction was 96%. Result is summarized into 3 aspects:
Knowledge: 86% carers expressed improvement in mental health awareness, while 88% respondents reported improved understanding of stress coping strategies.
Attitude: 88% carers expressed increased confidence in managing stress, while 92% respondents reported improved motivation to seek help in the future.
Practices: 72% carers would consider engaging in community support services. Among the 4 methods in promoting mental wellbeing, 74% carers expressed willingness in practicing mindfulness, followed by ventilating with family and friends (52%) and adopting a healthy lifestyle (50%). Lastly, 36% carers would consider seeking professional support if needed.
Conclusion:
This program indicated a positive impact on carers, empowering them with knowledge, attitude, and practices in mental health. Further expansion of community collaboration networks would be recommended to enhance program effectiveness. Through the joint efforts of Occupational Therapists and community care-providers, synergy can be generated to deliver more holistic and person-centered service addressing caregivers' roles and needs.
