The Contribution of Ageing to Hospitalisation Days in Hong Kong: A Decomposition Analysis

published_or_final_versio

A randomized controlled trial of social cognition and interaction training for persons with first episode psychosis in Hong Kong

Data availability statement: The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.Supplementary material: The Supplementary material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1098662/full#supplementary-materialCopyright © 2023 Lo, Lui, Law, Roberts and Siu. . Social cognitive impairment is a core limiting factor of functional recovery among persons with first episode psychosis (FEP). Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) is a group-based, manualized training with demonstrated evidence in improving social cognitive performance among people with schizophrenia. However, there are few studies on the effect of SCIT for people with FEP and for people in non-Western societies. This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability and initial effectiveness of the locally-adapted SCIT in improving social cognitive functioning in Chinese people with FEP. The SCIT was delivered two sessions per week over a 10-weeks period, each session lasted for 60–90 min. A total of 72 subjects with FEP were recruited from an outpatient clinic and randomized to conventional rehabilitation (“Rehab”) and experimental (“SCIT and Rehab”) groups. Primary outcome measures included four social cognitive domains including emotion perception, theory-of-mind, attributional bias and jumping-to-conclusion, and secondary measures included neurocognition, social competence and quality of life. Participants were assessed at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-months post-treatment. Repeated measures ANCOVAs, with baseline scores as covariates, were used to compare the group differences in various outcomes across time. The results showed that the SCIT was well-accepted, with a satisfactory completion rate and subjective ratings of relevance in the experimental group. Moreover, treatment completers (n = 28) showed evidence of an advantage, over conventional group (n = 31), in reduced attributional bias and jumping-to-conclusions at treatment completion, lending initial support for the SCIT in Chinese people with FEP. Future research should address the limitations of this study, using more refined outcome measurements and higher treatment intensity of the SCIT

Influence of Maternal Infection and Pregnancy Complications on Cord Blood Telomere Length

BACKGROUND: Exposure to suboptimal intrauterine environment might induce structural and functional changes that can affect neonatal health. Telomere length as an important indicator of cellular health has been associated with increased risk for disease development. OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to examine the independent and combined effects of maternal, obstetric, and foetal factors on cord blood telomere length (TL). METHODS: Pregnant women at the gestational age of 20th to 24th week who attended the antenatal clinic of a major local hospital in Hong Kong were recruited. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire on demographics, health-related quality of life, and history of risk behaviors. Medical history including pregnancy complications and neonatal outcomes was obtained from electronic medical records of both mother and neonate. Umbilical cord blood was collected at delivery for TL determination. RESULTS: A total of 753 pregnant women (average age: 32:18 ± 4:51 years) were recruited. The prevalence of maternal infection, anaemia, and hypertension during pregnancy was 30.8%, 30.0%, and 6.0%, respectively. The adjusted regression model displayed that maternal infection was negatively associated with cord blood TL (β = −0:18, p = 0:026). This association became even stronger in the presence of antenatal anaemia, hypertension, delivery complications, or neonatal jaundice (β = −0:25 to −0.45). Conclusions. This study consolidates evidence on the impact of adverse intrauterine environment at the cellular level. Maternal infection was significantly associated with shorter cord blood TL in a unique manner such that its presence may critically determine the susceptibility of telomere to other factors

The effectiveness of parenting programs in regard to improving parental reflective functioning : a meta-analysis

202305 bcwwAccepted ManuscriptOthersThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityPublishe

Community-based interventions to reduce child maltreatment

202305 bcwwAccepted ManuscriptOthersThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityPublishe

Evaluating the portfolio as a social work capstone project: a case study in Hong Kong

202208 bcrcOthersThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Educational Development CentreEarly release12 month

A qualitative study of practitioners’ views on family involvement in treatment process of adolescent internet addiction

202109 bcvcVersion of RecordPublishe

Association between childhood exposure to family violence and telomere length : a meta-analysis

202307 bcchVersion of RecordRGCOthersHong Kong Polytechnic UniversityPublishe

The occurrence and co-occurrence of harsh parenting and family conflict in Hong Kong

202307 bcchVersion of RecordRGCOthersHome Affairs Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionPublishe

Screening for multiple types of family violence : development and validation of the family polyvictimization screen

202001 bcmaVersion of RecordRGCPolyU37000316Publishe