Authors (including presenting author) :
Kwok CW(1), Cheung CP(1), Hung LY(1)(2), Wong CC(1)(2), Cheung HY(1)(2), Wong PY(1), Leung JSM(1), Wong YL(2), Tsang ML(2), Sezto NW(1), Ng CC(2), Hui N(1), Lee KY(2), Wong HH(2)
Affiliation :
(1) Occupational Therapy Department, United Christian Hospital
(2) Department of Psychiatry, United Christian Hospital
Keyword 1: :
mental well-being
Keyword 2: :
telehealth service
Introduction :
Individuals with mental illness, are associated with less motivation and ability to enjoy pleasant life experiences. They tend to engage in more sedentary activities. (Martinuzzi et al., 2022). Numerous of studies have suggested a positive association between prolonged sedentary behaviors and risk of worsening mood symptoms (An et al., 2015) as well as cognitive functions (Falck, Davis & Liu-Ambrose, 2017). A pilot program between Community Psychiatric Service and Psychiatric Day Hospital Service in Occupational Therapy UCH has been launched to enhance the motivation and well-being of this group of clients, through Telehealth mode.
Objectives :
1. To evaluate the effectiveness of the collaborative Telehealth program in enhancing the volition and well-being among the psychiatric service users
2. To address the potential barriers and suggest solutions to further facilitate the implementation of the program
Methodology :
This pilot program utilized a structured pathway based on the elements of Re-motivation Process. Mentally stable CPS clients with personal electronic equipment were screened. The pilot program comprised 3 phases: 1) Exploration phase with PDH orientation and Telehealth function tutorial; 2) Competency phase with home visit and Telecare provided by case manager (CM) and peer support workers (PSW); 3) Achievement phase with self-initiation and self-monitoring for 1-month PDH training via Telehealth. Outcomes were measured by using the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) to assess occupational functioning, Volition Questionnaire (VQ) to measure change in volition, Chinese Version Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (C-WEMWBS) to evaluate mental well-being, and attendance record to monitor training compliance. Qualitative feedback from participants was also gathered to further explore service quality and effectiveness.
Result & Outcome :
From July 2025 to October 2025, 6 participants were recruited. 3 dropped out after orientation. The remaining 3 successfully maintained regular Telehealth attendance for at most 3 months. Given the small sample size, Mann-Whitney U tests and Spearman’s rank correlations were used to analyze the data preliminarily. Completers achieved the higher mean ranks (5.0) in functioning, volition, and wellbeing, whereas dropouts recorded the lower mean rank (2.0). Additionally, within the completer group, attendance showed a strong positive correlation with improvements in functioning, volition and wellbeing (ρ= 0.83-1). Qualitative feedback from the completers showed appreciation with the accessible, time-saving, and home-based mode of Telehealth rehabilitation. However, it also revealed that clients with higher functioning preferred more advanced vocational rehabilitation, while clients with lower functioning struggled with technical and environmental barriers brought by online sessions. It suggested that this program might be particularly beneficial for enhancing well-being of clients with intermediate functioning level (e.g. clients who are awaiting other rehabilitation services). In future, the program development should prioritize optimizing Telehealth service flow and recruiting a larger sample to substantiate preliminary evidence of enhanced functioning, volition, and wellbeing among intermediate functioning clients.
