Authors (including presenting author) :
NG SHW(1), Wong CSM(1), Fung EML(1), Leung AKY(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Occupational Therapy Department, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, Hong Kong
Keyword 1: :
Patient Empowerment
Keyword 2: :
Cognitive Tele-Rehabilitation
Introduction :
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a critical transitional phase where early interventions can preserve daily functioning, enhance self-management, and delay progression to dementia. Tele-rehabilitation has gained popularity since COVID-19 pandemic, however, some patients with MCI, especially elderly, they frequently face challenges in adopting new technologies. This program adopts a patient empowerment framework to foster autonomy, self-efficacy, and active participation. By integrating in-person hands-on training with cognitive tele-rehabilitation sessions, it equips patients with self-management skills for independent HA Go navigation, positioning technology and digital literacy as an additional daily living skill for healthcare monitoring.
Objectives :
This project aimed to empower patients with MCI through technology mastery and connect patients to community cognitive resources for their long-term cognitive health.
Methodology :
MCI patients with difficulty in technology use were recruited from the Occupational Therapy Out-patient Department at Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital between March and July 2025. Patients received conventional cognitive training supplemented by four structured tele-rehabilitation sessions delivered via the HA Go platform with optional in-person technology support. The program incorporated patient empowerment components including (1) HA Go usage education for digital literacy and independent access; (2) application of evidence-based memory strategies in daily living; (3) mobile app-based compensatory techniques for daily task management; and (4) sharing on community resources for ongoing cognitive training. Demographic data, baseline Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, pre and post confidence surveys on technology use and qualitative feedback were collected and analyzed descriptively.
Result & Outcome :
22 patients (mean age 71.7 years, range 42–81) were recruited totally with a mean initial MoCA score of 19.6/30. They reported high satisfaction towards the program (mean score 9.68/10) and regarding daily living benefits (mean 9.27/10). Additionally, 82% successful referral to district health centers for community cognitive training and 100% expressing intent to continue HA Go for future technology health monitoring. These findings affirm that hybrid models, enriched with empowerment elements like technology skill-building and resource linkage, enhance technology adoption and long-term outcomes in MCI rehabilitation.
