Authors (including presenting author) :
Pong KWC (1), Lam SHC (1), Fung YSE (1), Cheung TYJ (1), Chan ML (2), Chan YHE (2), Cheng SYR (2), Liang J (2)
Affiliation :
(1) Occupational Therapy Department, Tuen Mun Hospital, (2) Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, NTWC
Introduction :
New Territories West Cluster pioneered to involve Occupational Therapy in Risk Assessment and Management Programme – Hypertension / Diabetes Mellitus (RAMP-HT/DM) to further promote active living and balanced lifestyle. Patients with imbalanced lifestyle affecting hypertension (HT)/ diabetes mellitus (DM) control and/or with stress or negative emotion in relation to HT/DM are commonly referred to Occupational Therapy for individual or group based lifestyle redesign intervention. At the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, Allied Health service in NTWC Community Health Centre was suspended. Alternative mode of service delivery through telephone consultation with assessment and brief lifestyle redesign intervention was adopted. The intensity and quality was much reduced compared to group therapy. On the other hand, demand from patients coping with various life stress as well as living with the pandemic soared.
Objectives :
An innovative hybrid service mode with face-to-face and zoom classroom for stress management and mind-body relaxation therapeutic group was developed to address both patient needs and infection control.
Methodology :
In phase I development, three sessions of 60-minute-group therapy were delivered to each participant in zoom. In phase II, as the pandemic evolved with resumption of small group intervention, hybrid classroom was adopted. Patients could opt for clinic or zoom based learning. Patients’ feedback on group content, perceived benefit and technical support were collected upon completion of the programme.
Result & Outcome :
30 patients successfully completed the zoom group in four batches. Two hybrid classrooms were conducted for 24 patients, with real time interaction between 9 patients in clinic and 15 patients in zoom. Preliminary analysis showed overall satisfaction of 9.0 for group content, 8.6 for perceived benefit, 9.0 for technical support out of a 10-point-scale. Qualitative feedback was positive as the hybrid mode accommodated different patients’ needs, including flexibility for the working patients and patients who were reluctant to attend clinic in person during pandemic. Patients who preferred traditional learning or with lower technology literacy could still attend therapeutic groups with enhanced infection control measure. This service mode enabled Occupational Therapists to maintain or expand service capacity despite strict social distancing and space limitation in clinic. The innovative hybrid service mode serves as a new normal model on group therapy in future. To support better evaluation on effectiveness, web-based outcome measure will be further developed.
