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Credit transfer information systems in higher education are not well studied. This article demonstrates the prototype development of a cross-institutional credit transfer information system (CICIS) for community college transfer (i.e., vertical transfer) students in an Asian educational context. It exhibits credit transfer guidelines and past credit transfer records to enhance the transparency and sustainability of credit transfer information and to facilitate the transfer process of prospective community college transfer students. It also ensures the sustainability of credit transfer information and its application. The four-phase life cycle of the prototyping model was adopted to guide the study. In this paper, we report the first three phases of this development: (1) Users’ needs assessment and pre-prototyping groundwork, (2) prototype development, and (3) unforeseen circumstances and expert review. Challenges and difficulties throughout the whole process are documented and discussed. Based on this prototype development experience, a solid foundation of strategies for future engineering and enhancement of credit transfer information systems can be developed.
Kin Cheung; Bin Li; Peter Benz; Ka Ming Chow; Jeremy Tzi Dong Ng; Wilson Yeung Yuk Kwok; Hilda Tsang; Dicky Nok Hang Leung; Janus Ka Yee Lui; Yee Na Li; Eunice So; Alice Leung. Prototype Development of a Cross-Institutional Credit Transfer Information System for Community College Transfer Students. Sustainability 2021, 13, 9398 .
AMA StyleKin Cheung, Bin Li, Peter Benz, Ka Ming Chow, Jeremy Tzi Dong Ng, Wilson Yeung Yuk Kwok, Hilda Tsang, Dicky Nok Hang Leung, Janus Ka Yee Lui, Yee Na Li, Eunice So, Alice Leung. Prototype Development of a Cross-Institutional Credit Transfer Information System for Community College Transfer Students. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (16):9398.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKin Cheung; Bin Li; Peter Benz; Ka Ming Chow; Jeremy Tzi Dong Ng; Wilson Yeung Yuk Kwok; Hilda Tsang; Dicky Nok Hang Leung; Janus Ka Yee Lui; Yee Na Li; Eunice So; Alice Leung. 2021. "Prototype Development of a Cross-Institutional Credit Transfer Information System for Community College Transfer Students." Sustainability 13, no. 16: 9398.
This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among South Asians in Hong Kong and examined the factors that affect KAP towards COVID-19 in this population. This cross-sectional descriptive study recruited participants with assistance from South Asian community centres and organisations. A total of 352 participants completed questionnaires to assess their level of KAP towards COVID-19. The mean knowledge score was 5.38/10, indicating a relatively low knowledge level. The participants expressed certain misconceptions regarding the prevention of COVID-19 infection. They perceived a mild risk related to the disease, had positive attitudes regarding its prevention and often implemented recommended disease-preventive measures, such as maintaining social distance (88.1%) and wearing masks in public (94.3%). Participants who were male, had a secondary school education or lower and who perceived a lower risk of being infected and lower self-efficacy were less likely to implement preventive measures. Culturally and linguistically appropriate health education could be developed to increase the knowledge of South Asians, especially those with lower education levels, about COVID-19 and to encourage them to implement the necessary preventive measures.
Cho Wong; Jieling Chen; Ka Chow; Bernard Law; Dorothy Chan; Winnie So; Alice Leung; Carmen Chan. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards COVID-19 Amongst Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17, 7878 .
AMA StyleCho Wong, Jieling Chen, Ka Chow, Bernard Law, Dorothy Chan, Winnie So, Alice Leung, Carmen Chan. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards COVID-19 Amongst Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17 (21):7878.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCho Wong; Jieling Chen; Ka Chow; Bernard Law; Dorothy Chan; Winnie So; Alice Leung; Carmen Chan. 2020. "Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards COVID-19 Amongst Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 21: 7878.
There is a paucity of research on factors influencing long-term adherence to lifestyle modification. We conducted a mixed-method study to explore the psychological factors of dietary and physical activity (PA) adherence among Chinese adults with overweight and obesity at 10 months after enrollment of a community-based lifestyle modification program in Hong Kong. We recruited Chinese adults newly enrolled in a culturally adapted lifestyle modification program and followed them for 10 months. For the quantitative study, primary outcomes were dietary and PA adherence scores while secondary outcomes included knowledge, self-efficacy, motivation and stage of change. For the qualitative study, data were collected using semi-structured interviews and observation. A total of 140 participants completed the 10-month follow-up. They reported moderate level of dietary adherence but low level of PA adherence at 10 months. Multivariable regression analyses revealed that greater improvement in nutrition knowledge and diet stage of change predicted higher dietary adherence while greater improvement in PA self-efficacy and PA stage of change predicted higher PA adherence. Qualitative data on 26 participants suggest that participants’ knowledge and self-efficacy but not motivation were enhanced during the program. The findings of this study enhanced our understanding on factors influencing long-term adherence to lifestyle changes.
Alice W. Y. Leung; Ruth S. M. Chan; Mandy M. M. Sea; Jean Woo. Psychological Factors of Long-Term Dietary and Physical Activity Adherence among Chinese Adults with Overweight and Obesity in a Community-Based Lifestyle Modification Program: A Mixed-Method Study. Nutrients 2020, 12, 1379 .
AMA StyleAlice W. Y. Leung, Ruth S. M. Chan, Mandy M. M. Sea, Jean Woo. Psychological Factors of Long-Term Dietary and Physical Activity Adherence among Chinese Adults with Overweight and Obesity in a Community-Based Lifestyle Modification Program: A Mixed-Method Study. Nutrients. 2020; 12 (5):1379.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlice W. Y. Leung; Ruth S. M. Chan; Mandy M. M. Sea; Jean Woo. 2020. "Psychological Factors of Long-Term Dietary and Physical Activity Adherence among Chinese Adults with Overweight and Obesity in a Community-Based Lifestyle Modification Program: A Mixed-Method Study." Nutrients 12, no. 5: 1379.
Existing evidence on lifestyle modification programs for weight loss is limited by the high attrition rate of such programs. Identifying predictors of adherence to a lifestyle modification program could result in program improvement. However, little is known about behavior-specific adherence and its psychological predictors. This study aimed to examine the psychological predictors of adherence after one-month participation in a community-based lifestyle modification program among Chinese overweight and obese adults in Hong Kong. A total of 205 Chinese overweight and obese adults aged 38.9 ± 10.5 years completed the study. Data were collected at baseline and after one month using self-reported questionnaires, which assessed knowledge (self-developed scale), motivation (Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire), stage of change (Stage of Exercise Scale) and self-efficacy (Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices Scale). At one month, a 4-day dietary recall and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form were used to assess dietary and physical activity (PA) adherence. Food and PA diaries were examined to indicate self-monitoring. Program attendance was tracked between baseline and one-month follow-up. After one month, participants reported high dietary adherence, attendance, and adherence to self-monitoring but low PA adherence. Multiple regression analyses suggested that diet self-efficacy (baseline) and nutrition knowledge (one-month change) were independent predictors of dietary adherence score at one month, whereas autonomous PA motivation (baseline) and PA self-efficacy (both baseline and one-month change) were independent predictors of PA adherence score at one month. No significant psychological predictor was identified for attendance or self-monitoring. The results suggest that the effect of psychological factors on adherence differs between diet and PA adherence outcomes. To promote adherence, practitioners should assess self-efficacy, knowledge, and motivation at the beginning of a weight-loss program and explore behavior-specific strategies to improve knowledge and self-efficacy. The results of this study have direct implications for program improvements.
Alice Wai Yi Leung; Ruth Suk Mei Chan; Mandy Man Mei Sea; Jean Woo. Identifying psychological predictors of adherence to a community-based lifestyle modification program for weight loss among Chinese overweight and obese adults. Nutrition Research and Practice 2019, 13, 415 -424.
AMA StyleAlice Wai Yi Leung, Ruth Suk Mei Chan, Mandy Man Mei Sea, Jean Woo. Identifying psychological predictors of adherence to a community-based lifestyle modification program for weight loss among Chinese overweight and obese adults. Nutrition Research and Practice. 2019; 13 (5):415-424.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlice Wai Yi Leung; Ruth Suk Mei Chan; Mandy Man Mei Sea; Jean Woo. 2019. "Identifying psychological predictors of adherence to a community-based lifestyle modification program for weight loss among Chinese overweight and obese adults." Nutrition Research and Practice 13, no. 5: 415-424.
This review aims to provide an overview of the factors associated with adherence reported in existing literature on lifestyle modification programs for weight management among the adult population. An electronic search was performed using PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO and PsycARTICLE to identify studies that examined the factors of adherence to lifestyle modification programs with explicit definition of adherence indicators. We identified 19 studies published between 2004 and 2016. The most commonly used indicator of adherence was attrition, followed by attendance, self-monitoring and dietary adherence. A broad array of factors has been studied but only few studies exploring each factor. Limited evidence suggested older age, higher education, healthier eating and physical activity behaviours, higher stage of change at baseline and higher initial weight loss may predict better adherence. On the other hand, having depression, stress, strong body shape concern, more previous weight loss attempts and being unemployed may predict poor adherence. Inconsistent findings were obtained for self-efficacy, motivation and male gender. This review highlights the need for more rigorous studies to enhance our knowledge on factors related to adherence. Identification of the factors of adherence could provide important implication for program improvement, ultimately improving the effectiveness and the cost-effectiveness of lifestyle modification program.
Alice W. Y. Leung; Ruth S. M. Chan; Mandy M. M. Sea; Jean Woo. An Overview of Factors Associated with Adherence to Lifestyle Modification Programs for Weight Management in Adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2017, 14, 922 .
AMA StyleAlice W. Y. Leung, Ruth S. M. Chan, Mandy M. M. Sea, Jean Woo. An Overview of Factors Associated with Adherence to Lifestyle Modification Programs for Weight Management in Adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2017; 14 (8):922.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlice W. Y. Leung; Ruth S. M. Chan; Mandy M. M. Sea; Jean Woo. 2017. "An Overview of Factors Associated with Adherence to Lifestyle Modification Programs for Weight Management in Adults." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 14, no. 8: 922.