There are about 3753 clinical studies being (or have been) conducted in Hong Kong. The country of the clinical trial is determined by the location of where the clinical research is being studied. Most studies are often held in multiple locations & countries.
This study will be a randomized controlled trial on the effects of group-based LM as an intervention for depression. Prior to all study procedures, an online informed consent (with phone support) will be obtained from potential participants. Around 90 eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either the LM intervention with self-tracking tools (LM/S), pure LM intervention (LM), or care-as-usual (CAU) control group in a ratio of 1:1:1. The randomization will be performed by an independent assessor using a computer-generated list of numbers. In order to obtain unbiased data with respect to the participants' attitudes and behaviors, incomplete disclosure will be used to withhold the self-tracking component in this trial. Participants in the two LM groups will receive six weekly group lifestyle modification sessions (~2 hours each) at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (an online approach will be adopted if face-to-face sessions are not possible due to COVID-19). The group treatment will primarily be delivered by clinical psychology trainees under the supervision of a clinical psychologist and other healthcare professionals such as a dietitian and a fitness trainer. The CAU group will continue receiving the routine care as usual and be given a smartphone-based LM intervention after the completion of follow-up assessments. Both the treatment groups and control group will complete a set of online questionnaires before the treatment commences, immediately after treatment, and 12 weeks after the treatment sessions are completed. In addition, participants in the LM/S group will complete a set of self-developed survey questions related to lifestyle and mood on a daily basis.
Current smoking cessation interventions are focused only on smoking behaviors, and drinking habits are generally overlooked. The aims of the project is to examine the feasibility of implementing an integrated smoking cessation and alcohol abstinence intervention in young Hong Kong Chinese smokers.
This is a qualitative study to explore opinions of family caregivers of community-dwelling people with dementia on case manager approach in dementia care. Semi-structured interviews will be used for data collection. Purposive sampling was used to recruit caregivers from Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing. Grounded Theory would be used for data analysis.
Many cancer patients suffer from intractable pain and which is often suboptimally controlled by even strong opioid analgesics. Coeliac plexus neurolysis (CPN) is procedure which intended to permanently destroy the nociceptive pathway that transmits the pain caused by the tumour. It can be with different approaches, such as percutaneously guided by fluoroscopy, echo-endoscopically or surgically with endoscopic approach being the more popular one in many centers equipped with echo-endoscopic services. The effect of CPN has been well established by some retrospective series. The overall response rate to CPN ranges from 70-90%, however, the analgesic effect is limited and up to roughly around 3 months. It is believed that the short-lasting analgesic effect is related to incomplete neurolysis by absolute alcohol injection. Recently, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of coeliac plexus has been introduced as another mode of CPN. So far, only one small single center randomized controlled trial (RCT) suggesting superior performance in favour to CPN using RFA. This result has to be validated and by a RCT with larger sample size. In addition, data concerning the quality of life (QOL) improvement and cost-effectiveness need to be further elucidated. Therefore, the aim of this study is to perform a RCT to look into these issues.
Background: Longterm exposure to air pollution has been associated with cardiovascular events and mortality on top of traditional risk factors. Pulmonary inflammation and oxidative stress have been implicated. Brachial (arm) vascular reactivity (flow-mediated dilation FMD) and carotid (neck) artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) are highly reproducible atherosclerosis surrogates, predictive of cardiovascular and stroke outcome. Montelukast is proven safe and effective in alleviating pulmonary inflammation and oxidative stress when used in prevention of asthma episode. Study objectives: 1. To test the hypothesis of pulmonary inflammation and oxidative stress-related vascular dysfunction in PM air pollution. 2. To evaluate the impact of Montelukast treatment as compared with placebo on predictive atherosclerosis surrogates (FMD and IMT). Design: Parallel placebo control, randomized comparative study. Subjects will be randomized to take Montelukast (10mg/daily) or image-matched placebo for 26 weeks. Measures will include PM2.5/PM10, indices of subclinical atherosclerosis (brachial FMD and CIMT), blood inflammatory biomarkers (platelet counts, hsCRP and fibrinogen) and potential confounders (lipids and glucose). Setting: 120 working adults aged 30-60 years in Hong Kong and 80 working adults in Chongqing (CREC Ref No: 2018.157, 2020.398) Main outcome measures: 1. Subclinical atherosclerosis: (a) Endothelial function (brachial FMD) and (b) carotid intima media thickness (CIMT). 2. PM2.5 & PM10 concentrations: real-time measurement by portable devices twice at home and work sites. 3. Blood inflammatory markers-platelet count, hsCRP and Fibrinogen 4. Potential confounders: we shall collect informations on a range of potential confounders, including other air pollutants and traditional risk factors of atherosclerosis, entrusted to be controlled (stable). Expected results: Adults after Montelukast treatment and exposed to high levels of PM2.5 or PM10 would have improved (increased) brachial FMD, and reduction of CIMT as compared with placebo. These will have great implication for comparative vascular epidemiology and development of preventive strategies.
The elderly population worldwide is expected to increase exponentially. There will be a higher percentage of older adults suffering cognitive decline in the coming decades. Cognitive impairment, being the most common health problem associated with ageing, contributes to possible loss of functional independence and disability. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of four mixed modalities of three training programs (combined cognitive and physical training [CCPT], cognitive or physical training only) on cognition and fitness of community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong. The study hypotheses will be set as the integrated format of all three training will have higher cognition and fitness scores than other combinations of two training modes and all these mixed modalities will have greater positive outcomes than the active control subjects.
The study will examine the effect of Restorative Yoga self-practice on sleep disturbance in the Chinese adult population. Restorative Yoga is a relaxation-focused yoga style which includes a series of static stretching poses and mindful breathing. Existing literature has demonstrated that face-to-face yoga sessions of different types are effective in improving sleep disturbance and reducing the severity of insomnia. There were pilot studies conducted on the effect of yoga on cancer patients' sleep quality, but research that focuses on insomnia population is rare (Wang et al., 2020). In addition, there is very limited research on the effectiveness of self-practice without the presence of a yoga instructor. Given the social distancing policy under COVID-19 and the need to stay home, this study can shed light on whether self-practice at home can be an effective alternative to face-to-face yoga sessions.
This study will examine the effects of a self-help smartphone-based multi-component lifestyle medicine intervention (LM) for alleviating insomnia symptoms in a Chinese population. Since a range of lifestyle factors are related to the pathogenesis and progression of insomnia, modifying different lifestyle factors simultaneously, such as diet, exercise, stress, and sleep which are empirically supported by previous reviews, may be effective to reduce insomnia symptoms (Reid et al., 2010; Vedaa et al., 2016). Traditional Chinese nutritional values will be integrated into the smartphone application to increase the acceptability towards the intervention. A prevalence study suggested that self-help interventions are preferred due to the potential stigmatization related to mental health interventions and the high cost of mental health services in Hong Kong (Lee, Tsang, & Kwok, 2007). Nonetheless, to date, only limited self-help interventions that target lifestyle medicine for sleep-related problems are available. Through this study, we aimed to promote evidence-based patient care and improve help-seeking behaviors and access to evidence-based lifestyle interventions for insomnia.
Chinese medicine has been used for thousands of years in the treatment of epidemic diseases. Through the long-term struggle with the epidemic, Investigators have accumulated and explored a lot of prevention and control experience. According to recent reports, Chinese medicine plays an important role in the treatment of COVID-19. For example. Therefore, it is of great clinical significance to further develop the prevention of COVID-19 by Chinese medicine. According to the 《Diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19》published by National Health Committee and the experience of professional TCM physician, although the disease is generally susceptible, individuals with the body constitution of "deficiency of Qi and Yang" and "deficiency of Qi and Yin" are more prefer to suffer from COVID-19. Therefore, "Invigorating Qi and Yang, invigorating qi and Yin" can be regarded as the primary strategy of preventing COVID-19. Therefore, "Invigorating Qi and Yang, invigorating qi and Yin" can be regarded as the primary strategy of preventing COVID-19 in Chinese medicine. After a series of questionnaire surveys and blood sample collection, investigators can estimate subjects with body constitution is more likely to infect COVID-19.
The main objective of this randomised controlled trial (RCT) is to investigate the immediate and long-term effectiveness of 8-week online exercise intervention for people with psychosis receiving residential care.