Wendy Wong
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Network
Latest external collaboration on country level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots.
Publication
Featured researches published by Wendy Wong.
BMC Family Practice | 2012
Colman S.C. Fung; Wy Chin; Daisy Sk Dai; Ruby Kwok; Eva Tsui; Yf Wan; Wendy Wong; Carlos Kh Wong; Daniel Yt Fong; Cindy Lk Lam
BackgroundType 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a common chronic disease associated with multiple clinical complications. Management guidelines have been established which recommend a risk-stratified approach to managing these patients in primary care. This study aims to evaluate the quality of care (QOC) and effectiveness of a multi-disciplinary risk assessment and management programme (RAMP) for type 2 diabetic patients attending government-funded primary care clinics in Hong Kong. The evaluation will be conducted using a structured and comprehensive evidence-based evaluation framework.Method/designFor evaluation of the quality of care, a longitudinal study will be conducted using the Action Learning and Audit Spiral methodologies to measure whether the pre-set target standards for criteria related to the structure and process of care are achieved. Each participating clinic will be invited to complete a Structure of Care Questionnaire evaluating pre-defined indicators which reflect the setting in which care is delivered, while process of care will be evaluated against the pre-defined indicators in the evaluation framework.Effectiveness of the programme will be evaluated in terms of clinical outcomes, service utilization outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes. A cohort study will be conducted on all eligible diabetic patients who have enrolled into RAMP for more than one year to compare their clinical and public service utilization outcomes of RAMP participants and non-participants. Clinical outcome measures will include HbA1c, blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic), lipids (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and future cardiovascular diseases risk prediction; and public health service utilization rate will include general and specialist outpatient, emergency department attendances, and hospital admissions annually within 5 years. For patient-reported outcomes, a total of 550 participants and another 550 non-participants will be followed by telephone to monitor quality of life, patient enablement, global rating of change in health and private health service utilization at baseline, 6, 12, 36 and 60 months.DiscussionThe quality of care and effectiveness of the RAMP in enhancing the health for patients with type 2 diabetes will be determined. Possible areas for quality enhancement will be identified and standards of good practice can be established. The information will be useful in guiding service planning and policy decision making.
PLOS ONE | 2012
Zhang-Jin Zhang; Roger Ng; Sui Cheung Man; Tsui Yin Jade Li; Wendy Wong; Qingrong Tan; Hei Kiu Wong; Ka-Fai Chung; Man-Tak Wong; Wai-Kiu Alfert Tsang; Ka-chee Yip; Eric Ziea; Vivian Taam Wong
Background Previous studies suggest that electroacupuncture possesses therapeutic benefits for depressive disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine whether dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation (DCEAS) could enhance the antidepressant efficacy in the early phase of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods In this single-blind, randomized, controlled study, patients with MDD were randomly assigned to 9-session DCEAS or noninvasive electroacupuncture (n-EA) control procedure in combination with fluoxetine (FLX) for 3 weeks. Clinical outcomes were measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), Clinical Global Impression-severity (CGI-S), and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) as well as the response and remission rates. Results Seventy-three patients were randomly assigned to n-EA (n = 35) and DCEAS (n = 38), of whom 34 in n-EA and 36 in DCEAS group were analyzed. DCEAS-treated patients displayed a significantly greater reduction from baseline in HAMD-17 scores at Day 3 through Day 21 and in SDS scores at Day 3 and Day 21 compared to patients receiving n-EA. DCEAS intervention also produced a higher rate of clinically significant response compared to n-EA procedure (19.4% (7/36) vs. 8.8% (3/34)). The incidence of adverse events was similar in the two groups. Conclusions DCEAS is a safe and effective intervention that augments the antidepressant efficacy. It can be considered as an additional therapy in the early phase of SSRI treatment of depressed patients. Trial Registration Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN88008690
Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry | 2014
Zhang-Jin Zhang; Di Wang; Sui Cheung Man; Roger Ng; Grainne M. McAlonan; Hei Kiu Wong; Wendy Wong; Jade Lee; Qingrong Tan
The platelet serotonergic system has potential biomarker utility for major depressive disorder (MDD). In the present study, platelet expression of 5-HT1A receptors and serotonin transporter (SERT) proteins, and serotonin (5-HT) and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were quantified in 53 patients with MDD and 22 unaffected controls. All were drug-free, non-smokers and had no other psychiatric and cardiovascular comorbidity. The severity of depression symptoms was evaluated using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) and the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). Patients with MDD had significantly higher expression of platelet 5-HT1A receptors but significantly lower contents of platelet 5-HT, platelet-poor plasma (PPP) 5-HT and PPP 5-HIAA compared to healthy controls, and this was correlated with the severity of depression. SERT expression did not differ between the two groups. Correlation analysis confirmed a strong, inverse relationship between the 5-HT1A receptor expression and the 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels. Thus overexpression of platelet 5-HT1A receptors and reduced 5-HT tone may function as a peripheral marker of depression.
Family Practice | 2012
Wendy Wong; Cindy Lo Kuen Lam; Daniel Tik-Pui Fong
AIM AND OBJECTIVES To study the effect of two Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) formulae in treating acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), diagnosed by Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), compared to placebo. DESIGN Two randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trials nested in a study of 327 patients who were diagnosed with URTIs in Hong Kong. Subjects were classified into one of two TCM syndrome groups by a Chinese medicine practitioner and randomized to receive the corresponding CHM formulae or placebo up to maximum of 10 days. The proportions of patients who had resolution of illness on Days 4 and 7 were the primary outcomes. The duration of symptom resolution, health-related quality of life scores measured by the SF-36 and ChQOL, and adverse effects were secondary outcomes. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference between the treatment and placebo in resolution rates at Day 4 or 7. The mean time of resolution of symptoms was Day 10, for either wind-cold or wind-heat syndrome. Both patients in treatment and placebo had significantly improved in health-related quality of life with time, but patients in wind-cold group had significantly more improvement in the SF-36 general health score (P = 0.01) than placebo. CONCLUSIONS Two CHM formulae commonly used for URTIs were not found to be more effective than placebo in either cure or reduction of symptoms of URTIs. However, Jing Fan Bai Du san might be able to improve general health more than placebo for patients with wind-cold syndrome. Both formulae were not associated with any more side effects.
Complementary Therapies in Medicine | 2011
Wendy Wong; L.K. Cindy Lam; Rita Li; Sze Hon Ho; Leung Kwok Fai; Zhao Li
BACKGROUND Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays an important role in the primary care system in many places, but research evidence on its effectiveness is largely lacking. The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness between TCM and Western medicine (WM) consultations in primary care. OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether medical consultations could improve the quality of life and health condition of patients in primary care and to find out whether there was any difference in the effectiveness bewteen TCM and WM. DESIGN, SETTING AND SUBJECTS This was a prospective, longitudinal study on 290 patients of one TCM public and 841 patients of two WM general outpatient clinics (GOPC) in Hong Kong when they consulted for an episodic illness. METHODS All patients attending a TCM GOPC in TWH, and the two WM GOPC (TWH and ALC), who fullfilled the inclusion criteria were invited to participate. Each patient answered a structured questionnaire on the presenting complaint, socio-demography, chronic morbidity and service utilization, the Chinese Quality of Life instrument (ChQOL) and the SF-36V2 Health Survey immediately before and two weeks after the doctor consultation. The Global Rating on change Scale (GRS) was also administered in the week 2 assessment. OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcomes were changes in the ChQOL and SF-36V2 HRQOL scores. Secondary outcomes included the GRS score. The significance of the change within individual were tested by paired t-tests. The differences in change in scores between WM and TCM were tested by independent sample-t-tests or chi-square, as appropriate. Multivariate regresions were used to determine the independent effect of type of medicine on the change in HRQOL scores. RESULTS Mean ChQOL and SF-36V2 scores of subjects improved significantly two weeks after TCM or WM consultations in all domains except for the Physical form domain of ChQOL. The greatest improvements were found in the SF-36V2 physical-health related domains. 78% TCM clinics and 71% of subjects WM clinics reported an improvement in GRS. The proportion of subjects who had improvement in HRQOL scores were lower among subjects consulting the WM clinic (72.3%) than those consulting TCM clinics (100%) but the difference was not significant after correction for baseline scores. CONCLUSIONS Both TCM and WM consultations were associated with significant improvement in HRQOL in over 90% of patients. There was no singificant difference between the effectiveness of TCM and WM consultations. The results support the role of TCM as an alternative primary care service in Hong Kong.
Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare | 2016
Edmond P. H. Choi; Janet Y. H. Wong; Herman H. M. Lo; Wendy Wong; Jasmine Hin Man Chio; Daniel Tik-Pui Fong
OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the association between using smartphone dating applications (apps) and having unprotected sex with a casual sex partner. STUDY DESIGN This is a cross-sectional study. Students were recruited from four university campuses in Hong Kong by convenience sampling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Subjects completed a structured questionnaire asking about the use of dating apps, sexual history and socio-demographic information. Multiple logistic regressions were used to explore the association between using dating apps and having unprotected sex with a casual sex partner. RESULTS Six hundred and sixty-six subjects were included in the analysis. Users of dating apps were more likely to have had unprotected sex with a casual sex partner the last time they engaged in sexual intercourse (aOR: 10.06). Using dating apps for more than 12 months was associated with having a casual sex partner in the last sexual intercourse (aOR: 3.21), as well as having unprotected sex with that casual partner (aOR: 13.56). CONCLUSION We found a robust association between using dating apps and having unprotected sex with a casual sex partner, implying that using dating apps is an emerging sexual risk factor. We recommend that interventions promoting the safe use of dating apps should be implemented.
Complementary Therapies in Medicine | 2014
Wendy Wong; Cindy Lo Kuen Lam; Yi-Chang Su; Sunny Jui-Shan Lin; Eric Ziea; Vivian Wong; Lee Kin Wai; Andrew Ka Lun Kwan
BACKGROUND The Body Constitution Questionnaire (BCQ) was developed in Taiwan to classify people into body constitution (BC) types based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theories. Since the culture of Hong Kong is different from Taiwan, the BCQ must be validated before a wider application can be preceded. AIM AND OBJECTIVES To adapt and validate the Hong Kong version of BCQ in Hong Kong Chinese population. METHODS The content validity of BCQ was investigated by the cognitive debriefing with 10 patients and 10 Chinese Medicine Practitioners (CMP). A cross-sectional study of 1084 Chinese patients recruited from TCM and Western Medicine (WM) outpatient clinics to confirm the construct validity, reliability, sensitivity and responsiveness of BCQ. 225 of the patients were assessed after 2 weeks for the test-retest reliability. 404 subjects were followed up to evaluate the responsiveness after 3-6 months. RESULTS Cognitive debriefing confirmed the content validity of the BCQ (HK version) with content validity index of all items ranged from 70 to 100%. 1084 out of 2128 patients (51%) completed the cross-sectional study. The construct validity was confirmed with scaling success rates that ranged from 87.5 to 89.5%, moderate correlations between with SF-12v2 scores, and 3-factors structure with confirmatory factor analysis. The reliability was confirmed by the Cronbachs alphas >0.8 and test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficients >0.8). CONCLUSION BCQ was adapted and validated on Hong Kong Chinese population. Patients with imbalanced BC types had lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL) than those with balanced BC types, which supported the validity and importance of the body constitution under the concept of TCM.
Archive | 2012
Wendy Wong; Cindy Lam Lo Kuen; Jonathan Sham Shun Tong; Daniel Fong Yee Tak
This chapter first describes the role of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in health care. It then reviews the literature on the effectiveness of TCM with a special focus on primary care. An appraisal of the outcome measures in the context of TCM is made. The relationship between TCM and the concept of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is discussed. The current applications and limitations of the HRQOL measures derived from Western culture to TCM are identified. The chapter ends with an overview of Chinese culture specific measures for evaluating the effectiveness of TCM in primary care.
International Journal of Clinical Practice | 2010
S. S. M. Ng; Wendy Wong; J. C. M. Li; J. F. Y. Lee
the object does not progress in 3 days (4). Some other investigators, however, argue that clear indications for surgical removal are signs of peritonitis, bowel obstruction, haemorrhage and gastric bezoars (4). In our case, the patient was operated on as the object did not progress for more days and the attempt for endoscopic removal failed. The sharpness of the object was also considered. In summary, foreign body ingestion in adults is not rare. Every adult patient with a history of foreign body ingestion must be evaluated for psychiatric disorders although it is an accidental case. Treatment modalities include conservative management with observation or endoscopy and surgical removal.
Substance Use & Misuse | 2017
Edmond P. H. Choi; Janet Y. H. Wong; Herman H. M. Lo; Wendy Wong; Jasmine Hin Man Chio; Daniel Tik-Pui Fong
ABSTRACT Background: The association between using smartphone dating applications (apps) and substance use in conjunction with sexual activities was only examined in homosexual men. This association was poorly understood in heterosexual samples. Objective: To explore the association between using dating apps and alcohol, and use of recreational drug in conjunction with sexual activities in college students. Design: 666 students from four universities in Hong Kong were recruited in this cross-sectional study in the year 2015. Outcome measures included the use of dating apps, sexual history, and drug and alcohol use. Multivariable logistic regressions were employed. Results: The use of dating apps for more than 1 year was found to be associated with recreational drug use in conjunction with sexual activities (adjusted odds ratio: 7.23). Other risk factors of recreational drug use in conjunction with sexual activities included being bisexual/homosexual male, a smoker, and having ones first sexual intercourse at the age of less than 16 years. The use of dating apps was not a risk factor for alcohol consumption in conjunction with sexual activities. Risk factors for alcohol consumption in conjunction with sexual activities included being older, having monthly income more than HKD5,000, and a smoker. Furthermore, risk factors for alcohol consumption in conjunction with the last sexual activity included currently being in a dating relationship, a smoker, and having sex with a casual partner. Conclusions: Using dating apps is an emerging risk factor of drug misuse. Interventions for practising safe sex and preventing drug use should be targeted at dating app users.