Publications by authors named "Kris Yuet-Wan Lok"
Aim: To explore the lived experience of donors and recipients involved in peer-to-peer human milk donation.
Design: An exploratory descriptive qualitative study.
Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted between November 2022 and April 2023.
Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of layperson-based interventions in sustaining exclusive breastfeeding and to identify the optimal characteristics of such layperson-led strategies for promoting exclusive breastfeeding.
Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using a comprehensive search in seven electronic databases from their inception to January 2024. Two independent reviewers assessed the risk of bias using version 2 of the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized trials.
Background: Health disparities among ethnic minority and migrant women can lead to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. This study explores the maternity care experiences of South Asian women in Hong Kong, providing insights for woman-centred and culturally responsive care in the East Asia.
Objective: To understand South Asian women's views and experiences regarding maternity care services in Hong Kong.
Objectives: Systemic cancer treatments pose threats to fertility, leading to concerns regarding fertility and parenthood in young adult women with breast cancer (YAWBC). This systematic review aimed to synthesize existing evidence on reproductive concerns (RCs) among YAWBC and identify areas where further research in needed.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted.
Introduction: Breastfeeding is associated with many health benefits for both women and their newborns. Exclusive breastfeeding has been recommended for at least 6 months to optimise infant growth, development and health. In addition to standard care, community-based peer support is recommended to help mothers improve breastfeeding.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This study aims to examine and synthesise the views and experiences of women, donors, recipient mothers and healthcare professionals regarding human milk donation or sharing.
Methods: The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) meta-aggregative approach to systematic reviews of qualitative studies was adopted. Six databases, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Scopus were searched.
Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of the use of baby-friendly community initiative (BFCI) model on various stakeholders in the community.
Design: Quasi-experimental research design.
Method: The study was conducted in public premises and online workshops from April 2019 to September 2022.
Article Synopsis
- A study surveyed over 16,500 adults from 30 countries to assess their fears related to various diseases and events, focusing on the implications for public health strategies.
- The most significant fear reported was the loss of family members, followed by fears of cancer and stroke, while factors such as losing a mobile phone and social isolation ranked as less feared.
- The findings suggest that understanding these fears can enhance public health messaging and support initiatives aimed at addressing bereavement, promoting preventive services for diseases, and managing fears during health emergencies.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates factors influencing people's willingness to continue digital work arrangements that emerged during the pandemic, particularly among residents of Hong Kong aged 18 and older.
- Data was gathered through web-based surveys from over 1,000 participants, revealing that about 39% were willing to maintain digital work, with employment status and longer screen time being positive influences.
- Negative influences included older age, extroversion, and higher eHealth literacy, indicating that certain demographics are less inclined to sustain remote work practices.
In July 2020, Hong Kong extended statutory paid maternity leave from ten weeks to fourteen weeks to align with International Labour Organization standards. We used the policy enactment as an observational natural experiment to assess the mental health implications of this policy change on probable postnatal depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scores of 10 or higher) and postpartum emotional well-being. Using an opportunistic observational study design, we recruited 1,414 survey respondents with births before (August 1-December 10, 2020) and after (December 11, 2020-July 18, 2022) policy implementation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are characterized by neuronal damage and progressive loss of neuron function. Microbiome-based interventions, such as dietary interventions, biotics, and fecal microbiome transplant, have been proposed as a novel approach to managing symptoms and modulating disease progression. Emerging clinical trials have investigated the efficacy of interventions modulating the GM in alleviating or reversing disease progression, yet no comprehensive synthesis have been done.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Central and bridge nodes can drive significant overall improvements within their respective networks. We aimed to identify them in 16 prevalent chronic diseases during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to guide effective intervention strategies and appropriate resource allocation for most significant holistic lifestyle and health improvements.
Methods: We surveyed 16 512 adults from July 2020 to August 2021 in 30 territories.
Background: The United Nations Women and other sources have highlighted the poor maternal and neonatal care experienced by South Asian women, emphasizing the need to understand the cultural factors and specific experiences that influence their health-seeking behavior. This understanding is crucial for achieving health equity and improving health outcomes for women and infants.
Objectives: This study aims to examine and synthesize qualitative evidence on the perspectives and experiences of South Asian women regarding maternity care services in destination countries.
Background: Given the health benefits of breastfeeding for infants and mothers, breastfeeding has become a significant public health issue. The global growth of mobile phone usage has created new options for breastfeeding promotion, including text messaging.
Objective: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of text messaging interventions on breastfeeding outcomes and to identify the efficacy moderators of such interventions.
Background: The interconnected nature of lifestyles and interim health outcomes implies the presence of the central lifestyle, central interim health outcome and bridge lifestyle, which are yet to be determined. Modifying these factors holds immense potential for substantial positive changes across all aspects of health and lifestyles. We aimed to identify these factors from a pool of 18 lifestyle factors and 13 interim health outcomes while investigating potential gender and occupation differences.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The objective of this study was to understand and describe the breastfeeding experiences of Chinese women with a high proportion of expressed human milk feeding.
Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used to describe the usual practices of expressed human milk feeding among breastfeeding women. We conducted semi-structured, in-depth, one-to-one interviews with participants (N = 25) who had a high proportion of expressed human milk feeding.
Background: The health area being greatest impacted by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and residents' perspective to better prepare for future pandemic remain unknown. We aimed to assess and make cross-country and cross-region comparisons of the global impacts of COVID-19 and preparation preferences of pandemic.
Methods: We recruited adults in 30 countries covering all World Health Organization (WHO) regions from July 2020 to August 2021.
Background: Clinical guidelines recommend exercise training for patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). However, the effectiveness of different types of exercise remains uncertain.
Objectives: The aims of the study were to compare and rank the effect of different types of exercise on walking capacity, cardiorespiratory fitness, dialysis adequacy, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients undergoing MHD.
Background: Electronic health (eHealth) literacy may play an important role in individuals' engagement with online mental health-related information.
Aim: To examine associations between eHealth literacy and psychological outcomes among Nigerians during the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among Nigerians conducted using the 'COVID-19's impAct on feaR and hEalth (CARE) questionnaire.
This study aimed to gain insight from mothers who were successful in breastfeeding maintenance to develop interventions for promoting breastfeeding maintenance. Following the phenomenological framework, this qualitative study recruited mothers who had maintained breastfeeding for at least 4 months for in-depth interviews. A total of 30 in-depth interviews were completed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCOVID-19-related fear negatively affects the public's psychological well-being and health behaviours. Although psychological distress including depression and anxiety under COVID-19 is well-established in literature, research scarcely evaluated the fear of COVID-19 with a large sample using validated scale. This study aimed to validate a Korean version of fear scale(K-FS-8) using an existing fear scale(Breast Cancer Fear Scale; 8 items) and to measure the fear of COVID-19 in South Korea.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClinical practice guidelines support resilience training and exercise for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This assessor-blinded, randomized clinical trial aimed to compare the effects of a modified mindfulness meditation program versus stretching and resistance training exercise (SRTE) in patients with mild-to-moderate PD. A total of 126 potential participants were enrolled via convenience sampling, of which 68 eligible participants were randomized 1:1 to receive eight weekly 90-min sessions of mindfulness meditation or SRTE.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: This study aimed to understand the perceptions and experiences of sexual violence among Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM) in Hong Kong.
Design: The study adopted a qualitative descriptive design with thematic analysis.
Methods: Thirty-one Chinese MSM were recruited in Hong Kong from May to June 2019 using purposive sampling.