Corporate News

CADENZA Community Project promotes self-management of chronic disease, reduces burden on public healthcare system

4 September 2009

With Hong Kong's steadily ageing population, maintaining elderly health becomes increasingly challenging. There are currently more than 700,000 elderly residents who suffer from at least one chronic disease and ten percent of which suffers from more than four chronic diseases. If they do not manage their diseases properly, their health condition could worsen, putting an increasing burden on the public healthcare system.  To promote self-management behaviour and engage the elderly in health promotion, CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors, has instigated a two-year pilot project entitled CADENZA Community Project: Chronic Disease Self-Management Programme (CDSMP).  The project is implemented by The Salvation Army and Shatin Hospital.

At a press conference today (4 September), the CADENZA research team reported that their recently-completed research showed that the physical and psychosocial health of an elderly person with chronic disease could be markedly improved after joining CDSMP.  They recommended that the programme be extended more widely and the elderly be encouraged to become more involved in their own well-being so as to lessen the burden on the public healthcare system.  The research into CDSMP's effectiveness was conducted between December 2007 and June 2009, collecting data successfully from 454 Sha Tin or Tai Po residents aged 55 or over who suffered at least one chronic disease.

The research revealed that CDSMP participants showed improvement in several key areas, compared with a control group:

  • Better self-management behaviour including doing exercises, cognitive symptom management and communications with their physicians;
  • Improved self-efficacy in managing diseases and symptoms in general;
  • Enhanced health status with fewer limitations on their social roles and activities and reduced incidence of depressive symptoms, health distress, pain, discomfort and overall psychological and physical conditions.

There was also a general decline in healthcare utilisation among this group of elderly people.  The research results indicated that participants from different age groups, education levels and frailty levels could benefit equally from CDSMP.  Moreover, there was no significant difference between the effectiveness of the programmes led by professional staff and those by elder lay leaders, implying that the elderly were capable in delivering self-management skills to their peers after comprehensive training.

Some participants commented on the shortage of healthcare services for elderly people with chronic diseases in Hong Kong, especially in terms of disease prevention and education.  They welcomed the effectiveness of CDSMP in improving their lifestyle, strengthening their psychosocial support and reducing their medical expenses.

One of the researchers, Dr Elsie Hui, Senior Medical Officer of the Medical & Geriatric Unit at Shatin Hospital, said CDSMP had proved to be an important tool for the elderly to manage chronic disease themselves and improve their quality of life.  CADENZA Project Director, Professor Jean Woo, recommended the programme be widely implemented and referral systems be set up with the co-ordination of NGOs and the healthcare sector, to help the elderly monitor their diseases and reduce their reliance on healthcare services.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director, Charities, William Y Yiu, said the ageing population was putting an increasing burden on the public healthcare system.  "CADENZA community projects act as a platform for demonstrating innovative and sustainable service models to address the changing needs of seniors and minimise their dependence on the public healthcare system," he said. "The results of CDSMP are encouraging and I hope the model can be introduced to a wider public in future."

A group of elderly people who have participated in the CDSMP course also formed an "alumni association" today with the aim of helping others through experience sharing.

CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors is a five-year project launched by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with a donation of HK$380 million in 2006.  The project aims at nurturing academic leadership in social gerontology and changing the mindset and attitude of the general public through a range of training and public education programmes.  Cross-sectional collaboration between organisations and the implementation of innovative elderly services and programmes are also encouraged in order to bring about a new mode of elderly care services to prepare for a rapidly ageing society.  Details of CADENZA are available at: www.cadenza.hk.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director, Charities, William Y Yiu, says the results of the CADENZA Community Project: Chronic Disease Self-Management Programme (CDSMP) are encouraging, and he hopes the CDSMP model can be introduced to a wider public in future.
Photo 1:
The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director, Charities, William Y Yiu, says the results of the CADENZA Community Project: Chronic Disease Self-Management Programme (CDSMP) are encouraging, and he hopes the CDSMP model can be introduced to a wider public in future.

Sin Sin-hing, one of the programme's elder lay leaders, explains how CDSMP helped relieve the pressure she faced when taking care of her critically-ill husband, saying this had encouraged her to share the experience with others and help them enjoy a happier and healthier life.
Photo 2:
Sin Sin-hing, one of the programme's elder lay leaders, explains how CDSMP helped relieve the pressure she faced when taking care of her critically-ill husband, saying this had encouraged her to share the experience with others and help them enjoy a happier and healthier life.

CDSMP elderly representatives bring out the benefits of self-management programme through the role play.
Photo 3:
CDSMP elderly representatives bring out the benefits of self-management programme through the role play.

Photos 4/5: A group of elderly people who have participated in CDSMP have formed an "alumni association" with the aims of helping others through experience sharing. The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director, Charities, William Y Yiu (centre); The Salvation Army's Officer Commanding, Lt-Colonel Samuel Pho (2nd from left) and CADENZA Project Director Professor Jean Woo (2nd from right) witness its establishment.
Photo 4:
Photos 4/5:
A group of elderly people who have participated in CDSMP have formed an "alumni association" with the aims of helping others through experience sharing. The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director, Charities, William Y Yiu (centre); The Salvation Army's Officer Commanding, Lt-Colonel Samuel Pho (2nd from left) and CADENZA Project Director Professor Jean Woo (2nd from right) witness its establishment.

Photos 4/5: A group of elderly people who have participated in CDSMP have formed an "alumni association" with the aims of helping others through experience sharing. The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director, Charities, William Y Yiu (centre); The Salvation Army's Officer Commanding, Lt-Colonel Samuel Pho (2nd from left) and CADENZA Project Director Professor Jean Woo (2nd from right) witness its establishment.
Photo 5

 

 

Other Corporate News