Zentangle to Promote Family Well-being in Hong Kong

SMART Family-Link Project: Zentangle to Promote Family Well-being in Hong Kong

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Family Research
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: ICT activities

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.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 100

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Agnes Lai, PhD; Phone Number: 39176328; Email: agneslai@hku.hk

Study Locations

• Hong Kong
  • Hong Kong Island
    • Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong
      • Recruiting
      • The University of Hong Kong
      • Contact: Tai-hing Lam, MD; Phone Number: 28315261; Email: hrmrlth@hku.hk
      • Contact: Shirley Sit, MPH; Phone Number: 28315273; Email: shirsit@hku.hk

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 100 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Social service users

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Family service users
• Chinese-speaking
• Aged 18 years and above
• Able to complete the questionnaire

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects who fail to meet the inclusion criteria

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Satisfaction to the Zentangle programme	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.	Immediately after the activities

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Family communication	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.	Baseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up
Change in Family relationship	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.	Baseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up
Change in Family support and care	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.	Baseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up
Change in Resilience	Outcome based question will be used to assess resilience. The score for question ranges from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate higher resilience.	Baseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up
Change in Healthy living habits	Outcome based question will be used to assess healthy living. The score for question ranges from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate healthier living.	Baseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up
Change in Personal happiness	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.	Baseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up
Change in Stress level	Change assessed by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). A higher score means a worse outcome.	Baseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up
Change in Negative emotions	Change assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-4. A higher score means a worse outcome.	Baseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up
Change in Family well-being	Change assessed by a 3-item Family well-being scale. A higher score means a better outcome.	Baseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up
Change in Self-efficacy in managing stress	Outcome-based questions will be used to assess self-efficacy in managing stress. Higher score indicates higher self-efficacy.	Baseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up
Change in Knowledge and attitudes towards and practice of Zentangle	Change assessed by outcome-based questions. A score of each question ranges from 1-5. A higher score a better outcome.	Baseline, 1-month and 2-month follow up
Perceived benefits of Zentangle	Assessed by outcome-based questions with categorical choices	1-month and 2-month follow up

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The University of Hong Kong
• Collaborators: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Agnes Lai, PhD, The University of Hong Kong

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Enebrink P, Hogstrom J, Forster M, Ghaderi A. Internet-based parent management training: a randomized controlled study. Behav Res Ther. 2012 Apr;50(4):240-9. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2012.01.006. Epub 2012 Jan 30.
• Breitenstein SM, Gross D, Christophersen R. Digital delivery methods of parenting training interventions: a systematic review. Worldviews Evid Based Nurs. 2014 Jun;11(3):168-76. doi: 10.1111/wvn.12040. Epub 2014 May 19. Erratum In: Worldviews Evid Based Nurs. 2015 Aug;12(4):249.
• Gross D, Johnson T, Ridge A, Garvey C, Julion W, Treysman AB, Breitenstein S, Fogg L. Cost-effectiveness of childcare discounts on parent participation in preventive parent training in low-income communities. J Prim Prev. 2011 Dec;32(5-6):283-98. doi: 10.1007/s10935-011-0255-7.
• Kingston D, Janes-Kelley S, Tyrrell J, Clark L, Hamza D, Holmes P, Parkes C, Moyo N, McDonald S, Austin MP. An integrated web-based mental health intervention of assessment-referral-care to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression in hospitalized pregnant women with medically high-risk pregnancies: a feasibility study protocol of hospital-based implementation. JMIR Res Protoc. 2015 Jan 16;4(1):e9. doi: 10.2196/resprot.4037.
• Bert SC, Farris JR, Borkowski JG. Parent training: implementation strategies for adventures in parenting. J Prim Prev. 2008 May;29(3):243-61. doi: 10.1007/s10935-008-0135-y.
• Treisman GJ, Jayaram G, Margolis RL, Pearlson GD, Schmidt CW, Mihelish GL, Kennedy A, Howson A, Rasulnia M, Misiuta IE. Perspectives on the Use of eHealth in the Management of Patients With Schizophrenia. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2016 Aug;204(8):620-9. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000471.
• Proudfoot J. The future is in our hands: the role of mobile phones in the prevention and management of mental disorders. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2013 Feb;47(2):111-3. doi: 10.1177/0004867412471441. No abstract available.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Anticipated): September 1, 2022
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): December 31, 2022
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 31, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 7, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 7, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): January 8, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 30, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 28, 2021
• Last Verified: January 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Family Well-being
• Other Study ID Numbers: UW 19-489-1

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No