Most Proposed Topic :
Enhancing Partnership with Patients and Community (projects initiated to engage patient and improve patient communication)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service I (Projects aiming to improve efficiency and effectiveness of care delivery to meet international standards)
Authors: (including presenting author): :
So SH(1), Chan J(2), Lau CM(3), Jim ML(4), Lo MT(5)
Affiliation: :
(1)Occupational Therapy Department, Kowloon Hospital, (2)Occupational Therapy Department, United Christian Hospital, (3)Occupational Therapy Department, Shatin Hospital, (4)Occupational Therapy Department, Queen Mary Hospital, (5)Occupational Therapy Department, Castle Peak Hospital
Introduction: :
People with schizophrenia or mood disorders often experience cognitive deficits that can significantly impede their occupational functioning, implying increased burden of care for caregivers and healthcare providers. Occupational therapy has a pivotal role in cognitive rehabilitation. In the past few years, the COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed a shift in mental health services towards telehealth. In view of this trend and the launch of cognitive apps in HA Go, there was a cross-clusters collaboration among Occupational Therapy Departments in designing a program on telehealth cognitive rehabilitation for adult psychiatric patients.
Objectives: :
(1) To design a protocol-driven telehealth cognitive rehabilitation program
(2) To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and initial efficacy of the program
Methodology: :
Occupational therapists from five clusters designed the program content. The online CCT consisted of 9 sessions. Program content includes (1) enhancing metacognition, (2) goal setting and (3) training on use of compensatory strategies to cope with daily living tasks. Participants were also prescribed with 18 sessions of HA Go cognitive apps (3 times per week) as home-based cognitive remediation. Target participants were out-patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or mood disorder with cognitive difficulties. A “pre-test and post-test” design was adopted, using the Brief MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (B-MCCB) and Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) as outcome measures. Satisfaction survey was also conducted.
Result & Outcome: :
The program was conducted in Occupational Therapy Departments of Castle Peak Hospital, Kowloon Hospital, United Christian Hospital, Tai Po Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital from September to December 2022. Totally 22 participants joined the program. Average attendance rate of online class was around 85%. Over 70% of the participants completed at least half of the prescribed cognitive apps in HA Go. There were statistically significant improvements in overall cognitive performance (B-MCCB) (paired t-test, p=0.015) and occupational functioning (SOFAS) (paired t-test, p=0.007). Around 70% of the participants satisfied with the program content, attainment of program aims and program arrangement. More than 70% of the participants acknowledged that telehealth program could reduce their traveling time, and more than 50% of them agreed telehealth program allowed a more flexible time arrangement. In conclusion, the pilot results support the feasibility, acceptability and initial efficacy of the program. A further study with control group is planned.
