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Zentangle to Promote Family Well-being in Hong Kong

Conditions
Family Research
Registration Number
NCT04702438
Lead Sponsor
The University of Hong Kong
Brief Summary

In the past few decades, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) have rapidly developed as effective, and probably the most cost-effective tools to connect most aspects of family lives. Alongside the growth in popularity of ICTs and its role in promoting family well-being, there is also an increasing appreciation that ICTs such as internet-enabled devices and web-based applications can offer many advantages compared to traditional face-to-face approaches when delivering behaviour change programmes.

To gain more understanding of the potential new avenues of using ICT in programme implementation, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has initiated the Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project in collaboration with The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This project aimed at helping 26 NGO-operated Integrated Family Service Centres and Integrated Service Centres (Centres), making effective use of information and communications technology (ICT) and data analytics, to enhance the quality and efficiency of their family service. The present study aims to supplement the existing services and interventions delivered by the FRU, FSU and FCU, a series of brief ICT-based family interventions that promote family communication, cohesion, support and well-being and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ICT-based interventions.

Detailed Description

With the increasing use of ICT, family information can be easily accessed. According to the findings from FHinTs 2016, ICT was increasingly used as a method of family information seeking: 66.7% of respondents sought family information from online websites, compared with 53.6% in 2009. About 30.9% sought family information from social media such as Facebook, and 22.8% sought family information from instant messaging platforms such as WhatsApp. Family information such as recreation (46.6%), family health (22.9%) and elderly-related topics (17.9%) was most commonly sought. Also, family information seeking was associated with higher levels of family health, happiness, harmony, and overall family well-being. The associations were observed regardless of the type of sharing methods, such as face-to-face sharing or sharing via ICT means.

Alongside the growth in popularity of ICTs and its role in promoting family well-being, there is also a growing appreciation that ICTs such as internet-enabled devices and web-based applications can offer many advantages compared to traditional face-to-face approaches when delivering behaviour change programmes.

Family services in Hong Kong In light of the review on family services in Hong Kong in 2000, pilot projects on the Integrated Family Service Centre (IFSC) service mode were conducted in 2002. Having received positive feedback from the community on the pilot projects, 61 IFSCs were established in 2004 to provide public-funded family services in Hong Kong. These IFSCs comprise three important components, including the family resource unit (FRU), family support unit (FSU), and family counselling unit (FCU) to provide preventive, supportive, and remedial services respectively. They are operated by the Social Welfare Department and subvented non-governmental organizations to support and strengthen individuals and families, particularly single parents, new arrivals, ethnic minorities, and deprived families receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA), in the community.

Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project Family well-being is the cornerstone of a harmonious society, and early support for families in need will avert a crisis. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has funded to a four-year (2018-2021) "Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project" to advance the use of Information and Communications Technology ("ICT") in family services. Interventions leveraging ICT (i-Action) is one of the project components, which leverage ICT to help social workers offer ICT-based interventions in their work to add to their face-to-face interventions. ICT tools and mobile apps will be designed and interactive games will be provided to engage children and young family service users through e-platforms. Social workers will also be able to connect with service users between face-to-face sessions using these e-platforms.

The present study aims to reduce stress, enhance resilience and promote personal and family well-being through Zentangle. We will conduct quantitative and qualitative evaluation.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
100
Inclusion Criteria
  • Family service users
  • Chinese-speaking
  • Aged 18 years and above
  • Able to complete the questionnaire
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Exclusion Criteria
  • Subjects who fail to meet the inclusion criteria
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Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Satisfaction to the Zentangle programmeImmediately after the activities

Outcome-based questions will be used to assess the level of satisfaction toward the general performance of the community activities. The score for each question ranges from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate higher satisfaction.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Family communicationBaseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up

Outcome based question will be used to assess the communication with family members. The score for each question ranges from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate better family communication.

Change in Family relationshipBaseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up

Outcome based question will be used to assess the relationship with family members. The score for each question ranges from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate better family relationship.

Change in Family support and careBaseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up

Outcome based question will be used to assess the family support and care. The score for question ranges from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate more family support and care.

Change in ResilienceBaseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up

Outcome based question will be used to assess resilience. The score for question ranges from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate higher resilience.

Change in Healthy living habitsBaseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up

Outcome based question will be used to assess healthy living. The score for question ranges from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate healthier living.

Change in Personal happinessBaseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up

Outcome based question will be used to assess personal happiness. The score for question ranges from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate more personal happiness.

Change in Stress levelBaseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up

Change assessed by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). A higher score means a worse outcome.

Change in Negative emotionsBaseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up

Change assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-4. A higher score means a worse outcome.

Change in Family well-beingBaseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up

Change assessed by a 3-item Family well-being scale. A higher score means a better outcome.

Change in Self-efficacy in managing stressBaseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up

Outcome-based questions will be used to assess self-efficacy in managing stress. Higher score indicates higher self-efficacy.

Change in Knowledge and attitudes towards and practice of ZentangleBaseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up

Change assessed by outcome-based questions. A score of each question ranges from 1-5. A higher score a better outcome.

Perceived benefits of Zentangle1-month and 2-month follow up

Assessed by outcome-based questions with categorical choices

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The University of Hong Kong

🇭🇰

Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong

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