Authors (including presenting author) :
Hui CY (1), So YH (1), Ho ECM (1)
Affiliation :
(1) Occupational Therapy Department, Tai Po Hospital
Introduction :
The growing demand for psychiatric services highlights the need for effective post-hospitalization support. While advancements in community vocational rehabilitation services (CVRS) have expanded resources, patients may face challenges in keeping up with updates. To adapt to these advancements and enhance career integration, the ICCP was established in April 2024, following a six-month pilot study. This program was instituted through collaboration between the Tai Po Hospital Occupational Therapy (OT) Department and various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to facilitate the transition from hospital-based care to community support. The ICCP provides smoother vocational transitions for inpatients and community-based patients.
Objectives :
Increase patients’ knowledge and readiness for updated CVRS.
Methodology :
The ICCP collaborates with 7 NGOs for a seamless continuation of vocational rehabilitation. Model elements include:
1. CVRS roadshows organized by various NGOs for inpatients with ZOOM broadcasts for community-based patients.
2. Early referral for inpatients, followed by ZOOM or in-person job matching interviews.
3. Effective communication with NGOs, including work assessment reports and progress evaluation meetings.
Evaluation process involved a roadshow questionnaire to assess patients’ knowledge and readiness for the updated CVRS.
Result & Outcome :
From March to December 2024, 213 patients participated in 19 CVRS roadshows. Results showed that 66% had never received information about CVRS. After the roadshow, participants averaged 85% accuracy on a 4-question knowledge test about the latest CVRS updates. Additionally, 44% expressed strong interest in pursuing CVRS, with 33% referred. Overall satisfaction with ICCP was reported at 70%.
In addition, the rollout of ICCP demonstrated greater service efficiency compared to the pilot phase, with participant rates increasing by 9% and referral rates by 43%. This improvement can be attributed to the expansion of service users to include both inpatients and community-based patients, as well as the increase in community partners from five to seven.
In conclusion, the ICCP has significantly enhanced patients' knowledge and readiness for updated CVRS. Additionally, the rollout of the service from inpatient care to include community-based patients, along with broadening community partnerships, has led to higher participation and referral rates compared to the pilot study. In the future, we can continue the rollout by strengthening engagement with service users and further expanding our community partners to enhance the program’s impact.
