Jenny C. C. Chung

Promoting student learning through a student-centred problem-based learning subject curriculum

This study, adopting an action‐learning approach, aimed to redesign an existing problem‐based learning (PBL) subject curriculum to accommodate the learning potential and interests of students. Based on students’ perceptions of learning and learning experiences with PBL, a Subject Planning Team (SPT) consisting of both students and teachers was established to design a student‐centred PBL subject curriculum, which aimed to address the difficulties former students encountered when learning through a problem‐oriented approach, and to align the contents and assessments of the subject with the students’ learning needs and potential. The study was evaluated by the students’ learning outcomes and by the quality of the subject in promoting learning. Students showed a higher degree of motivation to learn and achieved better learning outcomes compared to the previous PBL implementation. In summary, this study highlighted the importance of matching the learning capability of students with the right types of learning activities.

Self-Appraised, Informant-Reported, and Objective Memory and Cognitive Function in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Background/Aim: The current knowledge of how self-appraised memory and cognitive function relates to informant reports and neuropsychological performances in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is limited. Methods: Sixty-nine older community-dwelling subjects with MCI and 86 adults with normal cognition (NC) were evaluated on self-appraised (Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire) and objective performance of memory and cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination, Fuld Object Memory Evaluation, Digit Span tests, Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test). Informant ratings on the subjects’ cognitive and memory functioning (Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly) were also obtained. The two groups (MCI, NC) did not significantly differ in mean age (79 ± 5.29 vs. 77 ± 5.33) and mean years of education (2.8 ± 3.03 vs. 3.7 ± 4.18). Results: Self-appraised satisfaction and ability of memory and cognitive functions did not correlate with informant reports and neuropsychological performances, but self-reported strategy use correlated with list recall and everyday memory tests in MCI. Conclusion: Persons with MCI may show signs of diminished awareness towards their subtle impairments of memory and cognitive function, as indicated by informant reports and neuropsychological tests.

Evaluation of a virtual reality-based memory training programme for Hong Kong Chinese older adults with questionable dementia: a pilot study

Older adults with questionable dementia are at risk of progressing to dementia, and early intervention is considered important. The present study investigated the effectiveness of a virtual reality (VR)‐based memory training for older adults with questionable dementia.

A survey of older Hong Kong people's perceptions of telecommunication technologies and telecare devices

We investigated how older Hong Kong people perceive the application of telecommunication technologies in products that could enhance their safety at home. The telecare devices in the present study were: (1) the Personal Emergency Link Service (PELS), a 24-hour personal emergency link service; (2) a home-based non-intrusive motion monitoring system; and (3) a wearable vital signs monitoring system. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 368 elderly persons aged 65 years or above from 15 District Elderly Community Centres in Hong Kong, through a structured questionnaire administered during face-to-face interviews by trained interviewers. All three telecare devices were generally perceived as useful by the elderly participants: the PELS by 96% of them, the home-based non-intrusive monitoring system by 91% and the wearable vital signs monitoring system by 84%. However, although many respondents were positive about the function and usefulness of these devices, they stated that they would not personally use them. Technological innovations need to be perceived by the elderly as relevant to their everyday lives.

Care needs assessment of older Chinese individuals with dementia of Hong Kong

Abstract Using the Care Needs Assessment Pack for Dementia (CarenapD), the care needs of older Hong Kong Chinese individuals with dementia were investigated in the present study. A convenience sample of 197 community-dwelling older adults with dementia, with a mean age of 77, was examined. Among the participants, 71 were classified with a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) score of 1 (mild impairment), 100 with a CDR score of 2 (moderate impairment), and 26 with a CDR score of 3 (severe impairment). CarenapD, consisting of 57 activity/behavioural items, was used to evaluate the status of care needs as ‘No’, ‘Met’ or ‘Unmet’ in seven domains of functioning. The results suggested that the care needs of participants with increasing severity of cognitive impairment became diversified and evident in activities related to complex and instrumental daily living tasks, social interaction, thinking and memory, and behaviour and mental state. Unmet care needs were identified in 10 items that are mainly associated with social interaction, memory, and mental state. Formal service providers are suggested to formulate support services that are appropriate to address the care needs for persons with dementia and family carers.

Clinical validity of Fuld Object Memory Evaluation to screen for dementia in a Chinese society

Fuld Object Memory Evaluation (FOME) evaluates the episodic memory functions of encoding, storage, and recall across five recall trials and a delayed recall trial. This study examined the clinical validity of FOME as a screening tool for dementia in older Chinese adults.

Validation of Fuld object memory evaluation for the detection of dementia in nursing home residents

Objectives: To examine the psychometric properties of the Fuld Object Memory Evaluation (FOME) as an instrument to detect dementia in nursing home residents. Method: Ninety-six elderly participants were recruited into a dementia group (n = 30) and a normal control group (n = 66). Forty participants (12 dementia, 28 normal controls) had visual impairment. Results: The test–retest reliability and parallel-form reliability of FOME were excellent, with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.92 and 0.96, respectively. Satisfactory convergent validity of FOME was established with the Cantonese version of Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Memory subscale and the Initiation/Perseveration subscale of the Chinese version of Dementia Rating Scale (r = 0.43 − 0.68; p < 0.01). The FOME total retrieval (TR) score and delayed recall (DR) score showed good discriminative power to screen for dementia. Optimal cutoff scores for TR and DR were suggested as 33 (93% sensitivity, 82% specificity) and 7 (87% sensitivity, 76% specificity) respectively. The performance of FOME was not influenced by age, educational level and visual impairment. Conclusion: The findings suggest that FOME is a valid assessment to screen for dementia in older nursing home residents and can be used with older individuals with limited education and those with visual impairments.

Empowering individuals with early dementia and their carers: An exploratory study in the Chinese context

This article discusses an early dementia program developed for sufferers and family carers in a Chinese context. Instead of replicating formats of similar programs developed in Western countries, this program considered cultural issues and caring values that are unique to Chinese people. Its main objective was to empower sufferers and carers through educational activities and support programs. Observations and interviews were used for program evaluation. The program creates a “win-win” situation in which both parties experienced pleasurable feelings and developed a close relationship. It also highlights the values of “meaningful occupation” in dementia care. Furthermore, the program broadens our understanding of needs and concerns of sufferers and carers at early stages, which are deemed important to develop continuous dementia programs along the disease course.

Care-givers’ perspectives of occupational engagement of persons with dementia

ABSTRACT Meaningful engagement in activity is associated with the maintenance of health and wellbeing, but reduced activity participation is common among persons with dementia. Family care-givers play an important role in engaging their relatives with dementia in activities but little is known about their perception of occupational engagement. This study aimed to examine care-givers’ perception of occupational performance of their relatives from three aspects: person, occupation and environment. Adopting a qualitative methodology, semi-structured and in-depth interviews were conducted with 14 family care-givers. Care-givers were also asked to document the activity patterns of their relative, using the Activity Card Sort Hong Kong version (ACS-HK). The ACS-HK findings suggested that high-demand leisure activities were mostly retained (61%) while instrumental activities of daily living were the least retained (37%). Qualitative analysis revealed that care-givers’ perception of activity participation was intertwined with their motives and behaviours to get their relatives engaged in activities. Care-givers acknowledged occupational engagement as a means of maintaining wellness and used various strategies to encourage their relatives activity participation. Apathy and passivity, however, are difficult to deal with. Also, activity decisions appear to depend on the availability of support resources and a balance between safety concern and risk-taking. Clinical practitioners could assist care-givers by suggesting activity strategies and providing support resources for continued engagement of their relative in activities.

Sensory Processing Measure-HK Chinese version: Psychometric properties and pattern of response across environments

This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Sensory Processing Measure-Hong Kong Chinese version (SPM-HKC), and to study the pattern of behavioral response of children towards sensory events across home and school settings. The two major forms of the SPM, Home Form and Main Classroom Form, were translated into Chinese in this study. The content validity of the SPM-HKC was reviewed by 20 expert panel members. A total of 547 typically developing children and 140 children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) were recruited for the field test on its reliability and validity. The findings of this study showed that the SPM-HKC was a valid and reliable tool in the screening for sensory processing difficulty of children aged 5-12 among the Chinese populations. But the correlation between the Home Form and the Main Classroom Form was low. It is recommended to use separate forms and norms to measure the performance of children across the home and school environments for more thorough understanding of difficulty in encountering daily sensory events.