Authors (including presenting author) :
Li ML(1), Ng YH(2), Cheuk HYE(2), Au Yeung TW (2), Lo KCS (1), Chu SK (1), Leung SK(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Tuen Mun Hospital
(2) Patient Resources Centre, TMH
Introduction :
The prevalence of urological illness leads patients in facing illness problems, medical treatment, adjustment to patient journey and embarrassing problems in daily life. They have to overcome lots of barrier, worries and anxiety along the patient journey and life adjustment afterward. With the ageing and growing in population of NTWC, new non-life-threatening urology case appointment has significantly prolonged the waiting time. Hence, we have collaborated with TMH Patient Resources Centre to conduct annual of health talks serials since 2013 for building up community urology health practices. A patient group for patients with Prostate cancer is formed for the peer support and mutual support purpose since 2015.
Objectives :
Both health talk serials and patient group for survivors of Prostate cancer was conducted aiming at (1) facilitating the understanding of urological illness, (2) strengthening the self-care knowledge in urology aspect and seek medical advice in early stage to prevent the disease progression, (3) promoting healthy lifestyles for self-efficacy of illness’s care in the community and (4) facilitating peer support to patients and new cases for positive coping with urological illness.
Methodology :
The first health talk serial program was commenced in 2013, with four talks for every year on Saturday afternoon in quarterly base. The topic included the most common urological problems e.g. lower urinary tract symptoms in male of benign prostatic hypertrophy, female of urinary incontinence, urinary tract stone disease, erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer and bladder cancer. After each talk, satisfaction questionnaires were given to each participants for feedbacks. The prostate cancer patient support group were formed in 2015 for peer support, sharing to new cases and psychosocial intervention for all group members.
Result & Outcome :
Until December 2019, total 7 topics with 29 health talks were conducted for patients comprising of local people and ethnic minority: female urinary incontinence (7), benign prostatic hypertrophy (7), urinary tract stone disease (7), erectile dysfunction (4), bladder cancer (1), prostate cancer (1) and haematuria (2). The small talk format up to 30 participants per talk facilitated participants to raise and share their concerns in open attitude. Carers also showed support by accompany patients to join health talk, especially the topic of erectile dysfunction. The patient group 前康會 was formed in 2015 for the building up positive attitude on coping with onset and patient journey of prostate cancer for both group members and new cases. Patient empowerment services of regular new cases sharing sessions, psychosocial group, group member retention program were conducted. Peer volunteers provided peer support and coordinate volunteer service for group members and new cases. The service started from community engagement and extended to patient empowerment nature in 2019. Both patients and public gained the knowledge to make positive health and wellness choices via patient empowerment programs and patient group.
