Andy Cheng
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty Member
ObjectiveThis brief study aimed to examine the potential effects of virtual reality (VR)-assisted cognitive rehabilitation intervention on the health outcomes of patients with cancer.MethodsA single group of pre-test and post-test study... more
ObjectiveThis brief study aimed to examine the potential effects of virtual reality (VR)-assisted cognitive rehabilitation intervention on the health outcomes of patients with cancer.MethodsA single group of pre-test and post-test study designs were used. An innovative VR system was developed to assess cancer-related cognitive impairment and provide cognitive rehabilitation. The potential effects of the system were determined by measuring changes in cognitive function (learning and memory, information processing speed, executive function, and verbal fluency) and the severity of depression, anxiety, and insomnia.ResultsNine subjects completed the entire VR intervention and were included in the analysis. The participants’ mean age was 43.3 years (standard deviation, 8.9 years). The VR-based cognitive intervention significantly improved the subjective cognitive measures of perceived cognitive impairment and perceived cognitive ability (P = 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively). The intervention also improved the objective cognitive measures of verbal learning memory as measured using the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (eg., P < 0.01 for 5-min delay recall), information processing speed as measured using the trail-making test-A (P = 0.02) and executive function as measured using the trail-making test-B (P = 0.03). Only the subtest of delayed recall showed no statistically significant difference after the intervention (P = 0.69). The VR-based psychological intervention significantly reduced the severity of sleep disorders (P < 0.01).ConclusionsThe use of immersive VR was shown to have potential effects on improving cognitive function for patients with cancer. Future studies will require a larger sample size to examine the effects of immersive VR-assisted cognitive rehabilitation on the health outcomes of patients with cancer.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Objective To investigate the employment status, employment readiness, and other factors affecting the ease or difficulty with which breast cancer patients effect their return to work (RTW). Methods This study adopted a mixed-method... more
Objective To investigate the employment status, employment readiness, and other factors affecting the ease or difficulty with which breast cancer patients effect their return to work (RTW). Methods This study adopted a mixed-method design, recruiting participants from among breast cancer patients in a cancer hospital in Hunan from December 2018 to June 2019. We approached 300 individuals, 192 of whom ultimately participated in this study. The quantitative part of the study involved several scales: the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), the Work Ability Index (WAI), and the Lam Assessment of Employment Readiness (LASER). The qualitative part involved a set of open-ended questions and written responses collected from 41 participants who had already returned to work at the time of data collection. Their written responses mainly concerned factors influencing RTW. Results Forty-one breast cancer patients had returned to work. The results reported a median total Cognitive Symptom Checklist score of 9.00 (6.00, 15.25), a median WAI score of 5.00 (3.50, 9.75), a median BFI score of 26.00 (14.75, 42.00), a median total PHQ-9 score of 8.00 (5.25, 17.00), and a LASER score of 50.35 ± 11.90. Multiple regression analysis showed that the participants’ cancer stage, cognitive limitations, depression, fatigue, and work ability were significant predictors of employment readiness (P < 0.05). Exploring the qualitative data, we found that higher skill levels, better social support, and a flexible work schedule facilitated RTW; stress, lack of confidence in one’s work skills, depression, and fatigue are all possible barriers to RTW. Conclusion The findings indicate that breast cancer patients have a low level of employment readiness. Nurses and other healthcare providers can develop relevant interventions to promote employment readiness and ultimately achieve RTW in this study population.
Research Interests:
This study aimed to determine whether levels of distress (anxiety and depression) and cognitive symptoms at work are related to work productivity and quality of life (QOL) in Chinese breast cancer survivors (BCS), compared to a group of... more
This study aimed to determine whether levels of distress (anxiety and depression) and cognitive symptoms at work are related to work productivity and quality of life (QOL) in Chinese breast cancer survivors (BCS), compared to a group of Chinese women without cancer but with different musculoskeletal pain related to work. This study used a cross-sectional study design. Working BCS were recruited in a tumor hospital&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s outpatient department, and women with no history of cancer (noncancer comparison [NCC] group) were recruited from a rehabilitation center. A total of 412 participants were included. Multiple regression analyses indicated that higher anxiety was associated with work limitations (B = .005, p = .014) and QOL (B = -2.417, p = .004) in the BCS group only. Cognitive limitations at work were associated with work limitations (B = .002, p = .001) and QOL (B = -1.022, p = .003) in the BCS group only. Depressive symptoms (B = .028, p = .017) were significantly associated with work limitations in the NCC group. Breast cancer survivors reported higher levels of cognitive limitations at work and anxiety, lower levels of work productivity, and QOL. When remaining at work is a viable option for the cancer survivor with cognitive limitations at work, the rehabilitation nurse should consider approaches to best accommodate the specific cognitive limitations and work tasks, as well as help the patient manage associated anxiety when present.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
This study examines the effects of aerobic, resistance, and combined exercise on metabolic syndrome parameters and cardiovascular risk factors, to identify the most effective way of improving metabolic syndrome and preventing... more
This study examines the effects of aerobic, resistance, and combined exercise on metabolic syndrome parameters and cardiovascular risk factors, to identify the most effective way of improving metabolic syndrome and preventing cardiovascular disease. We searched EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, Ovid, the Chinese Biological Medicine Database (CBM), the Wanfang Database, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database, and the Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP), for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), identifying 15 comparing the effects of aerobic, resistance, and combined exercise on metabolic syndrome parameters and cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., glucose, triglyceride, blood pressure, body mass index, etc.). We assessed the quality of the articles and performed a network meta-analysis with a Bayesian random effects model to synthesize direct and indirect evidence. Combined exercise was most effective at controlling glucose and total triglyceride (TG) levels. Aerobic, resistance, and combined exercise groups achieved significant effects regarding body fat. Aerobic exercise was superior to resistance exercise regarding body mass index (BMI). There was no statistically significant difference in weight, waist circumference (WC), levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), insulin, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) among the exercise groups. Combined exercise was the best exercise scheme for improving weight, WC, DBP, TG, TC, glucose, and insulin levels. Resistance exercise was most effective at ameliorating body fat, LDL-C levels, and SBP. Aerobic exercise was the optimal way of improving BMI and HDL-C levels. This network meta-analysis suggests combined exercise is the most effective choice in improving the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk parameters, whereas aerobic exercise reveals the minimum effect. Further studies should certify the role resistance exercises play in metabolic syndrome and cardiac rehabilitation.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Additional file 3 Supplement 2. Sensitivity analysis of all studies.
Additional file 2 Supplement 1. Funnel plot of the meta-analysis.
Additional file 4. The search strategy for the PubMed database.
Additional file 1 Supplement 1. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) of all-cause mortality.
This study explores Chinese cervical cancer survivors' perceived cognitive complaints and relevant supportive care needs after primary cancer treatment. This study utilised a qualitative research design. A semi-structured interview... more
This study explores Chinese cervical cancer survivors' perceived cognitive complaints and relevant supportive care needs after primary cancer treatment. This study utilised a qualitative research design. A semi-structured interview was used to probe cervical cancer patients' perceived cognitive complaints and supportive care needs. This study was conducted at a secondary cancer care centre located in South China. 31 women with cervical cancer after primary cancer treatment, aged 18-60 years, were purposively selected using non-random sampling procedures. 31 cervical cancer survivors joined this study. Of these, 20 women (64.5%) reported cognitive complaints after cancer treatment. The most common complaint was loss of concentration (n=17, 85.0%). Perceived contributing factors to these cognitive complaints included chemotherapy (n=15, 75.0%) and ageing (n=8, 40.0%). These cognitive problems most commonly impacted daily living (n=20, 100%). Common supportive care needs includ...
Research Interests:
In this chapter, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model of the World Health Organization (WHO) was used as a framework to construct a survey for the assessment of satisfaction of needs for a... more
In this chapter, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model of the World Health Organization (WHO) was used as a framework to construct a survey for the assessment of satisfaction of needs for a group of pneumoconiosis patients in Hong Kong. The results illustrated that the ICF model can be a useful tool to describe the service needs and reflect the needs satisfaction among these patients. The ICF model expanded the areas of concern for patients and practitioners to include domains such as pulmonary functions and physical fitness, as well as health services, policies, and systems, support and relationships with family members, and recreation and leisure. The findings of the survey could guide future service development of the agency in the areas of participation and activity.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Objective. Digital nerves are the most frequently injured peripheral nerve. To improve the recovery of functional sensibility of digital nerve injuries, a prospective randomized controlled study was conducted to see the effect of using... more
Objective. Digital nerves are the most frequently injured peripheral nerve. To improve the recovery of functional sensibility of digital nerve injuries, a prospective randomized controlled study was conducted to see the effect of using early tactile stimulation in rehabilitation of digital nerve injuries. Method. Two specific tactile stimulators were made and prescribed for patients with digital nerve-injury. Twenty-four participants with 32 digital nerve injuries received the prescribed tactile stimulators (experimental group), and another 25 participants with 33 digital nerve injuries received only routine conventional therapy (control group). Results. A significant difference (p < .05) was seen in the experimental group, although there were some variations between the different classes of associated injuries, with least benefit observed in the combined nerve, tendon, and bone injury class. Conclusion. Use of early tactile stimulation as described in this study can be considere...
Research Interests: Rehabilitation, Treatment Outcome, Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Peripheral Nerve Injury, and 12 moreProspective studies, Humans, Female, Male, Clinical Sciences, Middle Aged, Adult, Public health systems and services research, Hypesthesia, Fingers, Equipment Design, and Peripheral nerve injuries
Research Interests: Mechanical Engineering, Psychology, Psychometrics, Job Satisfaction, Adolescent, and 15 moreEmployment, Self Efficacy, Humans, Chinese, Work, Chronic Disease, Female, Male, Middle Aged, Questionnaires, Adult, Public health systems and services research, Time Factors, Severity of Illness Index, and health status indicators
Purpose Determine whether a diverse set of problems experienced by breast cancer survivors (BCS) following curative treatment can be formulated into a reduced number of clusters, potentially simplifying the conceptualization of these... more
Purpose Determine whether a diverse set of problems experienced by breast cancer survivors (BCS) following curative treatment can be formulated into a reduced number of clusters, potentially simplifying the conceptualization of these problems. Method Female BCS were recruited from four cancer hospitals in China. The Chinese translation of the Cancer Survivor Profile (CSPro) was used to measure 18 common problem areas, as supported by epidemiological and phenomenological research. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Breast (FACT-B) was used to measure quality of life, as a validation of any observed groupings. Hierarchical clustering using multiple distance criteria and aggregation methods to detect patterns of problems was used. Results A total of 1008 BCS (mean 46.51 years old) living in both urban and rural areas were investigated. Hierarchical cluster analysis identified two major clusters of problems. One set was classified as “functional limitations,” while the other cl...
Research Interests:
This brief report aimed to describe a narrative review about the application of machine learning (ML) methods and Blockchain technology (BCT) in the healthcare field, and to illustrate the integration of these two technologies in cancer... more
This brief report aimed to describe a narrative review about the application of machine learning (ML) methods and Blockchain technology (BCT) in the healthcare field, and to illustrate the integration of these two technologies in cancer survivorship care. A total of six eligible papers were included in the narrative review. ML and BCT are two data-driven technologies, and there is rapidly growing interest in integrating them for clinical data management and analysis in healthcare. The findings of this report indicate that both technologies can integrate feasibly and effectively. In conclusion, this brief report provided the state-of-art evidence about the integration of the most promising technologies of ML and BCT in health field, and gave an example of how to apply these two most disruptive technologies in cancer survivorship care.
Background Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Recently, studies have been published with inconsistent findings regarding whether sarcopenia is a risk factor for... more
Background Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Recently, studies have been published with inconsistent findings regarding whether sarcopenia is a risk factor for mortality in breast cancer patients. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to systematically assess and quantify sarcopenia as a risk factor for mortality in breast cancer patients. Methods In a systematic literature review of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane CENTRAL Library, we searched for observational studies written in English (from database inception until April 30, 2019) that reported an association between sarcopenia and breast cancer in women who were 18 years or older. Results A total of six studies (5497 participants) were included in this meta-analysis. Breast cancer patients with sarcopenia were associated with a significantly higher risk of mortality, compared to breast cancer patients without sarcopenia (poo...
Research Interests:
Introduction. This study aimed to validate the Hong Kong version of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HK-KOOS) for patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods. Content validity was assessed using the Item and Scale Content... more
Introduction. This study aimed to validate the Hong Kong version of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HK-KOOS) for patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods. Content validity was assessed using the Item and Scale Content Validity Index (I-CVI and S-CVI). Test-retest reliability and internal consistency were assessed by the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach’s alpha. Dimensionality was assessed by performing exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Convergent and Divergent Validity was performed by examining the correlation between the HK-KOOS and the Chinese version of the Short Form 12 (SF-12) Health Survey, the Chinese Modified Barthel Index (C-MBI), and the Visual Analogue Scale for Pain (VAS-Pain). Ceiling and floor effects were also examined. Results. A total of 125 participants were recruited in this study. In general, all instructions, items, and response options were considered as understandable, indicating a satisfactory cross-cultural adaptati...
Research Interests:
PurposeTo produce a culturally sensitive Chinese translation of the original version of the Cancer Survivor Profile for breast cancer (CSPro-BC) survivors, which identifies problems in breast cancer patients post-primary treatment for... more
PurposeTo produce a culturally sensitive Chinese translation of the original version of the Cancer Survivor Profile for breast cancer (CSPro-BC) survivors, which identifies problems in breast cancer patients post-primary treatment for breast cancer.MethodsFour hundred forty-four female Chinese patients following primary treatment for breast cancer completed a Chinese translation of the CSPro-BC. Participants were randomly divided into two equal groups (n = 222). The two samples were subjected to exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and divergent and convergent validities were also determined.ResultsThe majority of participants were diagnosed with stage II or III breast cancer (76.1%), with a median of 16 months post-primary treatment, between the ages of 40–59, educated at the junior high school level or below (86.2%), married with children (93.7%), and unemployed (70.7%). Factor analysis generated five factors: symptom burden, function, health behavior, financial strain, and health care–seeking skills. Scales within each domain were similar to the original CSPro-BC. The measurement models for symptom burden (CFI = 0.949, RMSEA = 0.055), function (CFI = 0.925, RMSEA = 0.080), health behavior (CFI = 0.999, RMSEA = 0.015), financial strain (CFI = 0.999, RMSEA = 0.014), and health care–seeking skills (CFI = 0.964, RMSEA = 0.059) were all consistent with the original measure. Test-retest reliability was between 0.80 and 0.92. Internal consistency ranged from 0.65 to 0.95. Discriminant and concurrent validities were consistent to the original.ConclusionsThe translation resulted in a valid and reliable self-assessment tool for identifying common non-medical problems in breast cancer patients’ post-cancer treatment.Implications for Cancer SurvivorsA culturally sensitive measure of symptoms, functional limitations, lifestyle, and health care–seeking skills in Chinese-speaking breast cancer survivors is available for further testing.
Research Interests:
To determine whether work output was related to cognitive limitations while at work in occupationally active breast cancer survivors (BCS) employed in a rapidly developing economy. Measures of demographics, job type, job stress, general... more
To determine whether work output was related to cognitive limitations while at work in occupationally active breast cancer survivors (BCS) employed in a rapidly developing economy. Measures of demographics, job type, job stress, general distress (anxiety, depression), fatigue, work-related cognitive limitations, and work output were obtained using self-report measures in a cross-sectional study in both BCS and controls (n = 267/group). Groups had similar educational backgrounds, job types, and levels of job stress. The BCS group was a median of 3.2 years post-primary treatment, slightly older, more likely to be divorced, have children, and was more likely working part-time. The BCS group reported higher levels of fatigue, general distress, and lower levels of work output (p &lt; .05). A multivariate regression adjusting for group differences indicated that cognitive symptoms at work were related to lower levels of quantity, quality, and timeliness of completed work in the BCS group (adj. R = .57, unstandardized coefficient = 1.062, 95% CI = .436 to 1.689). When reported in the context of work, cognitive limitations were associated with lower levels of reported work output exclusively in the BCS group. This study provides further evidence that cognitive limitations reported in the context of work in a developing country is similar to that of BCS working in more developed economies and is specific to BCS and not healthy workers with similar job types and job stress. Solutions to this problem may be applicable across countries.
Research Interests:
This study aimed to examine the relationship between cumulative use of electronic devices and musculoskeletal symptoms. Smartphones and tablet computers are very popular and people may own or operate several devices at the same time. High... more
This study aimed to examine the relationship between cumulative use of electronic devices and musculoskeletal symptoms. Smartphones and tablet computers are very popular and people may own or operate several devices at the same time. High prevalence rates of musculoskeletal symptoms associated with intensive computer use have been reported. However, research focusing on mobile devices is only just emerging in recent years. In this study, 285 persons participated including 140 males and 145 females (age range 18-50). The survey consisted of self-reported estimation of daily information technology (IT) exposure hours, tasks performed, psychosocial stress factors and relationship to musculoskeletal discomfort in the past 12 months. Total IT exposure time was an average of 7.38 h (±5.2) per day. The psychosocial factor of "working through pain" showed the most significant association with odds ratio (OR) ranging from 1.078 (95% CI = 1.021-1.138) for elbow discomfort, to 1.111 ...
Research Interests:
Among women in China, gynecological cancers are the second most common cancers after breast cancer. Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) has emerged as a significant problem affecting gynecological cancer survivors. While... more
Among women in China, gynecological cancers are the second most common cancers after breast cancer. Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) has emerged as a significant problem affecting gynecological cancer survivors. While acupuncture has been used in different aspects of cancer care, the possible positive effects of acupuncture on cognitive impairment have received little attention. This study hypothesized that patients would demonstrate lower neurocognitive performance and lower structural connectivity compared to healthy controls. This pilot study also hypothesized that acupuncture may potentially be effective in treating CRCI of cancer patients by increasing brain structural connectivity and integrity. This prospective cohort study consisted of 3 stages: the first stage included a group of gynecological cancer patients and a group of age-matched healthy controls. This baseline stage used a core set of neurocognitive tests to screen patients with cognitive impairment and use...
Research Interests:
Aim To determine whether breast cancer survivors (BCS) at work following the diagnosis and/or treatment of breast cancer, in a rapidly developing country such as China experience similar to return to work challenges as reported in nations... more
Aim To determine whether breast cancer survivors (BCS) at work following the diagnosis and/or treatment of breast cancer, in a rapidly developing country such as China experience similar to return to work challenges as reported in nations with established return to work (RTW) policy and procedures for employees with cancer. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 BCS who returned to work following diagnosis and/or primary cancer treatment. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to investigate responses. Results Three recurring themes emerged: (1) challenges at work related to residual effects of diagnosis and/or primary treatment; (2) positive and negative responses from employers and/or supervisors; and (3) positive and negative responses from co-workers/colleagues. Although several participants experienced a high level of workplace support, there was a subgroup that did report challenges related to symptom burden, cognitive limitations, and both pos...
Research Interests:
Subjective cognitive impairment can be a significant and prevalent problem for gynaecological cancer survivors. The aims of this study were to assess subjective cognitive functioning in gynaecological cancer survivors after primary cancer... more
Subjective cognitive impairment can be a significant and prevalent problem for gynaecological cancer survivors. The aims of this study were to assess subjective cognitive functioning in gynaecological cancer survivors after primary cancer treatment, and to investigate the impact of cancer treatment on brain structural networks and its association with subjective cognitive impairment. This was a cross-sectional survey using a self-reported questionnaire by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function (FACT-Cog) to assess subjective cognitive functioning, and applying DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) and graph theoretical analyses to investigate brain structural networks after primary cancer treatment. A total of 158 patients with gynaecological cancer (mean age, 45.86 years) and 130 age-matched non-cancer controls (mean age, 44.55 years) were assessed. Patients reported significantly greater subjective cognitive functioning on the FACT-Cog total score and two subscale...
Research Interests:
Objective/Background Employed breast cancer survivors (BCS) may experience residual symptoms that can impact their work productivity and quality of life (QoL), but it is unclear whether such associations exist among BCS in Hong Kong.... more
Objective/Background Employed breast cancer survivors (BCS) may experience residual symptoms that can impact their work productivity and quality of life (QoL), but it is unclear whether such associations exist among BCS in Hong Kong. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the symptom burden (cognitive limitation and psychological distress) of employed BCS in HK, and to investigate whether such factors are related to work productivity and QoL. Methods A cross-sectional study including employed BCS (n = 30), women with musculoskeletal conditions (n = 30), and healthy women (n = 30) was conducted. Participants completed a questionnaire covering their sociodemographics, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Cognitive Symptom Checklist, Work Limitation Questionnaire, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30. Results The self-perceived cognitive limitations at work of BCS were significantly higher than that of the healthy...
Research Interests: Psychology and Medicine
Background Cognitive impairment is a common complaint among cancer survivors, significantly impacting working memory, attention, executive function, and information processing speed. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effect of... more
Background Cognitive impairment is a common complaint among cancer survivors, significantly impacting working memory, attention, executive function, and information processing speed. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effect of neuropsychological interventions on the cognitive function of non-central nervous system (non-CNS) cancer survivors. Methods Three databases (PubMed, PsycInfo, and CAJ Full-text Database) were searched from January 2010 to September 2015. Controlled clinical trials of neuropsychological interventions for the treatment of cognitive impairment in cancer survivors were considered for inclusion. Results A total of 10 eligible trials were included in this meta-analysis. Three trials assessed the effects of cognitive rehabilitation (CR) interventions, and the weighted mean difference (WMD) for the overall intervention effect was -0.19 (95% confidence interval [CI] = -2.98 to 2.61). Two trials examined the effects of cognitive training (CT) interventions on the...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
This study sought to develop and validate a Go/No-Go Simulator Driving Task (G/NG-SDT) to evaluate driver risky decision-making and associated behavioral assessments at a situation-specific level. Eighty-four participants were instructed... more
This study sought to develop and validate a Go/No-Go Simulator Driving Task (G/NG-SDT) to evaluate driver risky decision-making and associated behavioral assessments at a situation-specific level. Eighty-four participants were instructed to complete a route in as short time as possible, but avoiding any violations or crashes. To achieve this aim, they had to decide to go or wait in the dilemma scenes, paired with the baseline scenes in several scenarios. High-risk drivers with more Go decisions demonstrated more violations, in both simulator tasks and real road driving, as well as higher scores of Driving Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ) violations and more Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) pumps. These high-risk drivers also showed distinguishable behavioral patterns in simulator driving, moderated by the specific driving situations (e.g. scenario and scene). Several behavior assessments were consistently distinguishable in all tested situations, qualified as robust indictors to predic...
Research Interests:
Purpose The purpose of this study was to translate the Cognitive Symptom Checklist-Work-21 (CSC-W21), into Chinese, and culturally adapt and validate the Chinese version, a measure of work-related cognitive limitations in occupationally... more
Purpose The purpose of this study was to translate the Cognitive Symptom Checklist-Work-21 (CSC-W21), into Chinese, and culturally adapt and validate the Chinese version, a measure of work-related cognitive limitations in occupationally active breast cancer survivors (BCS). Methods The translation of the English version of the CSC-W21 followed a systematic procedure. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify factor structures. The internal consistency of the factors was assessed by calculating the Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficients. Item- and scale-level content validity was determined. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to analyze test-retest reliability. A total of two hundred and twenty BCS participated in the psychometric testing of the CSC-W21-C. The construct validity of the total score of the CSC-W21-C was determined through convergent validity and an analysis of its relationship with the four subscales of the Work Limitations Questionnai...
Research Interests: Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Psychometrics, Cognition, Measurement and Evaluation, and 15 moreChina, Cancer Survivorship, Employment, Medicine, Humans, Chronic illness and work, Female, Checklist, Interpersonal Relations, Clinical Sciences, Middle Aged, Adult, Occupational Rehabilitation, Cross Sectional Studies, and Breast Neoplasms
The aim of the present study was to review the effectiveness of psychological and/or educational interventions for reducing psoriasis severity and improving psychological and quality of life (QOL) outcomes in psoriasis. Sixteen papers met... more
The aim of the present study was to review the effectiveness of psychological and/or educational interventions for reducing psoriasis severity and improving psychological and quality of life (QOL) outcomes in psoriasis. Sixteen papers met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the effectiveness of the existing interventions from this narrative synthesis is positive, especially in psychological and QOL outcomes. Of the 16 included studies, only five were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The strength of the evidence to support the effectiveness of the existing interventions was limited due to methodological weakness in the included studies. The review concludes that further research is needed to examine the effectiveness of psychological and/or educational interventions for individuals with psoriasis, including a greater number of RCTs in order to increase the methodological validity of intervention studies. Also, future research needs to be conducted to establish which interventions ar...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a major public health concern. There has been a strong demand from occupational safety and health agencies and operators to develop simple tools for risk assessment and management of... more
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a major public health concern. There has been a strong demand from occupational safety and health agencies and operators to develop simple tools for risk assessment and management of WMSDs. The Quick Exposure Check (QEC) was designed to assess exposure to WMSDs risk factors affecting the back, shoulder/upper arm, wrist/hand, and the neck. It is a valuable observational ergonomic assessment tool, suitable for field-based assessment. This study set out to translate, culturally adapt, and validate a Chinese version of the Quick Exposure Check (CQEC), an observational tool used to assess exposure to physical and psychosocial workplace risk factors for the development of WMSDs in different body sites. The CQEC was translated from its original English version using a forward- and back-translation approach. Content validity was examined by an expert panel and expert committee using item- and scale-level content validity indices. The intra-...
Research Interests: Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Psychology, Occupational Health, China, and 15 moreRisk assessment, Medicine, Humans, Female, Male, Translating, Risk factors, Observer Variation, Adult, Human Engineering, Reproducibility of Results, Risk Factors, Risk Assessment, Surveys and Questionnaires, and Musculoskeletal diseases
This article is a case presentation of an onsite ergonomic assessment of the risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among three cooks working at a medium-sized Chinese restaurant in Hong Kong. The weight of... more
This article is a case presentation of an onsite ergonomic assessment of the risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among three cooks working at a medium-sized Chinese restaurant in Hong Kong. The weight of workload was measured during the onsite assessment and the Ovako Working Posture Analysis System (OWAS), Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) lifting equation used to assess the risk of WMSDs. The results showed that these cooks usually had to hold utensils for extended periods of time, toss woks, and barbecue meat, all of which demanded a lot of repetitive movements of the upper limbs. Future research is needed on the implementation of effective prevention measures, including administrative and ergonomic controls, to reduce the problems within this industry associated with such high-risk tasks.
Research Interests:
Background. Fatigue is a distressing and pervasive problem for people with cancer. In recent years, acupuncture has gained increasing attention among researchers as an alternative management strategy for cancer-related fatigue (CRF). This... more
Background. Fatigue is a distressing and pervasive problem for people with cancer. In recent years, acupuncture has gained increasing attention among researchers as an alternative management strategy for cancer-related fatigue (CRF). This review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture for CRF. Methods. Five databases (Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and CAJ Full-text Database) were searched up to May 2013. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for the treatment of CRF were considered for inclusion. Results. Seven RCTs were included for meta-analysis, involving a total of 689 subjects. Three studies compared acupuncture with sham acupuncture for CRF with follow-up at 10 weeks; the standardized mean difference (SMD) for general CRF change values was -0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI] = -1.90 to 0.26). When acupuncture plus education intervention was compared with usual care, there was a statistically significant difference for the change score o...
This paper aims to systematically explore the prevalence and risk factors of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) in the catering industry by reviewing relevant published literature with the goal of developing future prevention... more
This paper aims to systematically explore the prevalence and risk factors of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) in the catering industry by reviewing relevant published literature with the goal of developing future prevention strategies. The systematic review was carried out in nine English medical databases, two Chinese-dominated full-text databases and seven web sites with the designated search strategies. Studies were included if they met the defined inclusion criteria hierarchically to investigate prevalence and or risk factors associated with WMSDs in the catering industry with appropriate epidemiological methodology. Nine English databases yielded 634 citations, and two Chinese databases yielded 401 citations, although only five English and three Chinese studies passed the inclusion criteria. Three-fourths of the studies were cross-sectional. The prevalence of WMSDs varied from 3% to 86% depending on the type of establishment and positions. The most important risk ...
Research Interests:
The objective of this review is to explore the work injury management models in literatures and the essential components in different models. The resulting information could be used to develop an integrated holistic model that could be... more
The objective of this review is to explore the work injury management models in literatures and the essential components in different models. The resulting information could be used to develop an integrated holistic model that could be applied in the work injury management system in Hong Kong. A keyword search of MEDLINE and CINAHL databases was conducted. A total of 68 studies related to the management of an injury were found within the above mentioned electronic database. Together with the citation tracking, there were 13 studies left for selection after the exclusion screening. Only 7 out of those 13 studies met the inclusion criteria for review. It is noticeable that the most important component in the injury management model in the reviewed literatures is early intervention. Because of limitations in Employees' Compensation Ordinance in Hong Kong, there is an impetus to have a model and practice guideline for work injury management in Hong Kong to ensure the quality of inju...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
ABSTRACT The purposes of this study were to identify the relationships between the risk-taking behavior, response inhibition, and risky motorcycle riding behavior of commuter motorcyclists with different levels of impulsivity, and to... more
ABSTRACT The purposes of this study were to identify the relationships between the risk-taking behavior, response inhibition, and risky motorcycle riding behavior of commuter motorcyclists with different levels of impulsivity, and to examine how these behaviors contribute to motorcycle accidents. A total of 255 Chinese commuter motorcyclists were recruited for this study. Their levels of impulsivity were classified according to the Chinese Barratt Impulsiveness Scale version 11th. Their risk-taking behavior was assessed by the Balloon Analogue Risk Task and their response inhibition was assessed by the Chinese version of the Stroop test Victoria version. The Chinese Motorcycle Rider Driving Violation Scale was used to assess risky motorcycle riding behaviors. Results showed that impulsivity was associated with risk-taking behavior and risky motorcycle riding. Highly impulsive motorcyclists carry out more risk-taking behaviors and are less able to inhibit responses than those with low impulsivity. Motorcyclists with medium impulsivity (OR, 4.74; 95% CI, 1.91–11.39) and those with high impulsivity (OR, 4.91; 95% CI, 2.34–10.24) were about 5 times more likely to be actively involved in motorcycle accidents than those with low impulsivity. Postlicense motorcycle riding experience and risky motorcycle riding behavior were two significant predictors of motorcycle traffic accidents after controlling for other sociodemographic variables. These results can facilitate the development of interventions, including the training and testing of motorcyclists, public education, and mass media messages about traffic risk.
Research Interests:
The primary purposes of this study were to explore the relationship between risk-taking acts while driving motorcycles and perceived causes of motorcycle accidents, as well as their contribution to active involvement in traffic accidents... more
The primary purposes of this study were to explore the relationship between risk-taking acts while driving motorcycles and perceived causes of motorcycle accidents, as well as their contribution to active involvement in traffic accidents among Chinese motorcyclists in Hong Kong. Active involvement means the riders was likely at fault for the crash. A total of 774 motorcyclists were recruited, of whom 292 had been involved in active motorcycle accident in the previous 3 years. All were asked to fill in a questionnaire, which was developed to assess their risk-taking acts while driving a motorcycle and perception of motorcycle accident causes. The results of the study revealed 3 dimensions of accident causes, namely, driving-related, environment-related, and belief-related causes. These motorcycle accident causes were correlated with risk-taking acts while driving a motorcycle. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that risk-taking acts while driving motorcycles (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.036, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.020-1.052), perception of driving-related cause (adjusted OR: 0.941, 95% CI: 0.916-0.967), and belief-related cause (adjusted OR: 1.134, 95% CI: 1.088-1.182) were significant factors contributing to involvement in active traffic accidents by motorcycle riders after controlling for concurrent demographic variables. The study highlights that perceived causes of motorcycle accidents are multidimensional, including those areas related to driving, the environment, and beliefs. It substantiates previous studies that a higher degree of driving-related risk perception is related to a lower degree of risk-taking acts while driving. Further research is needed to understand why belief-related causes, sometimes called superstitions, lead riders to believe that it is beyond their ability to affect accident causation and prevention.
Research Interests: Psychology, Perception, Motorcycles, Risk Taking, Hong Kong, and 13 moreAutomotive Engineering, Humans, Risk Perception, Female, Male, Logistic Regression Analysis, Questionnaires, Adult, Asian Continental Ancestry Group, Traffic Accident, Cross Sectional Studies, Automobile driving, and Accidents Traffic
Research Interests:
This is a discussion paper to examine the issues surrounding management of work-related injuries by physiotherapists and occupational therapists in Hong Kong. Therapists working in public hospitals are faced with managing injured workers... more
This is a discussion paper to examine the issues surrounding management of work-related injuries by physiotherapists and occupational therapists in Hong Kong. Therapists working in public hospitals are faced with managing injured workers with limited resources and this frequently results in suboptimal outcomes. In this paper, five experienced therapists critically reviewed the current practices in the physiotherapy and occupational therapy professions in Hong Kong, with regard to managing patients with work injuries. In many hospitals, therapists still practice with a disease-based model focusing on symptom relief and restoration of general physical function. We collated information about current programs initiated by physiotherapists and occupational therapists to provide more strategic intervention strategies for early screening of high-risk patients and adaptive biopsychosocial interventions targeting return-to-work outcomes. Clinical and system-level barriers and facilitators of a major paradigm shift towards work disability prevention are discussed. Physiotherapists and occupational therapists need to develop more strategic collaborations and actively voice out the need for major systematic changes within the local healthcare system, in order to provide a more effective management approach in line with the concept of Work Disability Prevention.
Research Interests: Occupational Therapy, Occupational Health, Vocational Rehabilitation, Hong Kong, Humans, and 11 moreParadigm Shift, Clinical Sciences, Return to Work, Public Art Hospitals, Healthcare system, Occupational Rehabilitation, Physical Function, Occupational Accidents, Disabled Persons, Physical therapy specialty, and High risk
Theoretical frameworks for preventing work disability have evolved over the last decade and various experimental models have been tested in occupational rehabilitation settings. The successful application and uptake of the most recent... more
Theoretical frameworks for preventing work disability have evolved over the last decade and various experimental models have been tested in occupational rehabilitation settings. The successful application and uptake of the most recent research evidence in rehabilitation practices depend on a complex interplay of the decisions of multi-stakeholders, including their perceptions of the evidence, a proper regulatory framework for injury prevention, compensation and disability management; as well as the cultural and socioeconomic factors unique to each country (social context). This paper summarizes the scope of the work disability prevention field and describes the contextual barriers and support mechanisms for implementing evidence-based practices for disability prevention in China&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s national rehabilitation system. Expert opinions and relevant publications in the field were reasoned around key constructs of a translational model used to identify potential barriers and support platforms for research uptake in China. A crucial component of experimental models for disability prevention is to promote well-coordinated return to work actions centred in the workplace. Potential barriers and support mechanisms for implementing this and other evidence-based recommendations in China are described. The complexity of implementing a system-wide disability prevention model in a country as large and diverse as China is well-recognized. Improved efforts are thus required for international knowledge-sharing that can empower greater research utilization of effective disability prevention methods in China. The development of well-connected communities of practice might be a helpful strategy for enhancing stakeholders&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; perceptions, attitudes and collaborative efforts towards locally relevant and cultural sensitive solutions to work disability.