KE Spotlight - Community Engagement - HKU Knowledge Exchange

HKU Emergency Medicine Unit develops mobile app on AED application

A survey by the HKU Medical Faculty's Emergency Medicine Unit (EMU) revealed a general lack of first-aid skills and knowledge among the public, which resulted in the survival rate of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases in Hong Kong among the lowest in Asia. Of the 401 people interviewed, only 22% had received Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training and only 12% had training in Automated External Defibrillator (AED) application. The survival rate of cardiac arrest cases happening outside hospital was about 2.3% in 2012-13, which was lower than the rates in South Korea (8.5%), Japan (5.2%) and Taiwan (4.6%). EMU has initiated a series of community projects to improve first-aid knowledge of general public, including elderly CPR course and domestic workers CPR workshops and seminars. The team has also started a resuscitation project at 30 secondary schools and developed a free mobile app to provide instructions on AED application and help users locate the nearest devices.

HKU supports "Young and Alcohol Free" campaign

The Department of Health launched a new publicity campaign entitled "Young and Alcohol Free" supported by the HKU School of Public Health. The campaign aims to step up efforts to combat underage drinking. According to Associate Professor of the School of Public Health Dr Daniel Ho, parents are children's main source of alcohol, common pro-drinking practices encourage their children to drink and parents often underestimate the severity of underage drinking. An HKU study revealed that primary and secondary school students residing with parents, siblings and grandparents who were drinkers were more likely to develop drinking habits than those whose families did not. Moreover, children, especially primary school pupils, exposed to pro-drinking practices such as buying alcohol, pouring alcohol and opening bottles for parents were more likely to start underage drinking.

HKU 'Youth Quitline' helps a quarter of participants quit smoking

Since its establishment in 2005, “Youth Quitline” has helped nearly a quarter of the participants quit smoking at the six-month follow-up and helped 11.5% of those who did not quit smoking reduce cigarette consumption.

A Pioneer for Healthcare Reform in China

The HKU-Shenzhen Hospital was conceived as a model for modernising the management of the Mainland public hospital system. Five years since its establishment, the Hospital is well on its way to fulfilling its mission.

Balancing Act

Balance impairment among the elderly often leads to serious issues such as falls, broken bones, and long convalescences in hospital. A new initiative of the School of Public Health hopes to improve the situation through dancing.

Centre for Genomic Sciences and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy organise public lecture series "Genomic Medicine II: Precision Medicine"

The Centre for Genomic Sciences and the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy of the HKU Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine are organizing a series of six public lectures, "Genomic Medicine II: Precision Medicine", to enhance people's awareness, knowledge and interest on genomic medicine in Hong Kong. It will introduce the background of genomic medicine, the latest information and application of genomic medicines in various clinical conditions. The first lecture, "The 'Good' and 'Bad' Cholesterol" will be held on November 12.

Knowledge Exchange Awards 2016

The annual Faculty Knowledge Exchange (KE) Awards recognize each Faculty's outstanding KE accomplishment that has made demonstrable economic, social or cultural impacts to benefit the community, business/industry, or partner organizations. The KE Award (Non-Faculty Unit) was introduced with the same objective for the independent centres, institutes and units of the University. Results of the 2016 KE Awards are now available.