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Publications & Research
The HKJCDPRI Publications Section contains collaborative researches and publications with our partners and renowned academic institutions, and other research and development projects related to disaster preparedness and response.
The Guidelines section contains our selected collection of technical information, operational guidelines and useful tools for disaster management.
The Blog sub-section provides a platform where our team and peers share news and updates, as well as opinions and experiences in building disaster preparedness for the communities.
The blog posts are written by the author in his own personal capacity / affiliation stated. The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in the post belong solely to the author and does not necessarily represent those of Hong Kong Jockey Club Disaster Preparedness and Response Institute.
All resources listed here are freely and publicly available, unless specified otherwise. We ask users to use them with respect and credit the authors as appropriate.
2020

[This article is only available in Chinese.]
[This article is only available in Chinese.]
經驗分享:許思思 (認知障礙症患者照顧者)
專家分享:陳燕妮 (呼吸微笑身心正念中心臨床心理學家)
認知障礙症是腦部慢慢退化的過程,患者最初會出現記憶較差,日常自理及生活逐漸會出現困難,例如:會忘記熄火、關水喉、食藥等日常瑣事,甚至乎會忘記回家的路。另外,患者的語言能力、計算思考分析都會出現困難。患者亦可能會出現性情的改變,如他們的脾氣可能會變得暴躁,情緒也可能會比較波動,甚至出現幻覺。
在2019新型冠狀病毒病的期間,不少為認知障礙症患者提供的專業訓練服務都受到疫情影響而被迫暫停,許多患者需要長時間留在家中而減少訓練。部分患者的家人,可能會發現患者的反應會比之前變慢,甚至出現呆滯的情況。相信不少的照顧者都會擔心家中的親人可能會在疫情期間加速退化。
究竟在疫情之中,照顧者怎樣可以安全地留在家中,但又能夠幫助患者維持一定程度的訓練呢?我們向認知障礙症患者照顧者許思思女士了解,並徵詢呼吸微笑身心正念中心臨床心理學家陳燕妮女士的專業意見。
其實,對於認知障礙症的患者來說,訓練並沒有專業不專業之分,只要是能夠為患者的腦部帶來刺激,腦神經細胞的突觸仍然有機會可以增長,有機會減慢退化的速度。以下有一些例子,是思思照顧媽媽時的觀察和經驗,希望可以為大家帶來一些靈感,讓大家可以在家與患者體驗一下。
1. 一起做小家務或訓練
- 雖然患者動作可能不及以前靈活,反應比較慢。但他們可以通過參與部分較容易的家務,例如:摘菜、抺枱等,讓患者訓練專注力,亦能訓練患者的肌肉。家人亦可以藉機與患者多交流,和他們談天說地,回顧從前生活的點滴。
2. 適量接觸新事物
- 很多時候照顧者會為患者預備他們最喜愛的東西,例如:食物、音樂、活動等等。有時候讓患者適量接觸一些新事物刺激他們,可以為患者帶來不一樣的體驗和驚喜。或者我們可以嘗試換掉懷舊音樂,改為播放K-POP吧!
3. 共同經驗生活中的點滴
- 思思知道媽媽向來愛美,注重皮膚保養,就趁機會和媽媽一起美容。在日常生活中與患者一同經歷生活點滴,創造更多共同美好的回憶,除了可以為患者平淡的生活帶來一點點的刺激,亦有助他們建立快樂的情緒。
心臨床心理學家陳燕妮和我們分享專業知識:「簡單如人與人之間的眼神接觸、身體的接觸擁抱,都能夠將患者從他們的思緒中帶回現實的場景。尤其是較晚期的患者,他們會很容易停留在一些過往受傷或者不愉快的經驗之中,令他們不能控制自己的情緒。眼神接觸或是一些親情和情感交流,有助患者能夠回到現實,活在當下,平復心情從而穩定情緒。」
照顧長期病患者是一件不容易的事,希望以上的小貼士能夠為每一位照顧者帶來一點點的啟發,同時帶來一點點的鼓勵。在疫情中,讓我們能夠成為同路人。
延伸閱讀:在疫情中與社區同行 (一) – 認知障礙症照顧者的需要
撰文:方芷嬣 (香港賽馬會災難防護應變教研中心專業發展及知識管理經理)

[This article is only available in Chinese.]
[This article is only available in Chinese.]
經驗分享:許思思 (認知障礙症患者照顧者)
專家分享:陳燕妮 (呼吸微笑身心正念中心臨床心理學家)
2019新型冠狀病毒病疫情影響著我們每一個人,即使我們並沒有染上疫症,也影響著我們每天的生活。照顧患有認知障礙症的親屬,想必會在疫情期間遇到不少壓力,而照顧者在注意患者的需要時,亦需要照顧好自己的需要,讓自己有休息的空間和時間,保持正面的態度以應付每天的生活。我們特別邀請認知障礙症患者照顧者許思思女士及呼吸微笑身心正念中心臨床心理學家陳燕妮女士分享疫情中的挑戰,希望照顧者學懂照顧自己,並同樣獲得關注。
臨床心理學家陳燕妮給我們寳貴的建議:「照顧者能夠學懂照顧自己是第一步,了解自己的需要,學習欣賞自己,亦需要接受自己的能力也有限制。當我們能夠好好照顧自己,我們便能夠冷靜分析那些是患者的需要,而那些其實是自己的需要。在照顧的過程之中,我們亦慢慢能夠放鬆下來,觀察患者時可能更加客觀。」
從思思的分享中,我們知道她最初因為不太清楚媽媽的狀況,面對很多的壓力。後來通過與家人的溝通,訂立不同的照顧方案和共同目標,在過程中互相肯定大家的付出和努力,建立默契。另外,她自己亦透過修習正念,慢慢學習如何讓自己休息放鬆。
透過修習正念讓自己放鬆後,思思發現自己時常因為把自己定位在照顧者的角色,往往會把患者的需要放在自己的需要之上,而忘記了好好地照顧自己。後來她逐步學習接納自己也有限制和必須照顧自己的需要。
提升了自我照顧的能力後,思思便更有力量與媽媽同行。在照顧媽媽的同時,思思更加不忘同媽媽表示感恩,用言語表達自己的感受,感謝媽媽給她們的愛。同時,可以一起建立快樂的回憶,享受相處的時間。她也會與媽媽回顧以往生活的點滴,更在媽媽的身上,找到了不少與自己相似的地方。在媽媽漸漸忘記自己是她女兒時,她能夠發揮無限的創意,靈活地嘗試代入不同的角色與媽媽相處。
“正念是覺察和於當下覺醒的力量。正念是一種生活方式,能為修習者帶來平安和快樂。
正念修習應該是愉快及享受的,不需花費氣力,亦無須掙扎,就能為你帶來喜悅、放鬆及平安。”
- 陳燕妮 (呼吸微笑身心正念中心臨床心理學家) -
以下的影片分享思思的經驗,臨床心理學家陳燕妮更會在片末教大家練習正念呼吸,學習如何透過呼吸練習,舒緩緊張的情緒。
照顧認知障礙症患者其實和應對疫情一樣,我們的計劃往往趕不上變化。但只要我們能夠重拾心靈的平安喜樂,給予自己時間和空間,靈活運用創意,我們就能好好照顧自己和家人。希望大家都能夠好好休息,在疫情中重拾力量,在未知的處境中看見希望。
在另一篇,我們將會為大家帶來認知障礙症患者在疫情中的需要。
延伸閱讀:在疫情中與社區同行 (二) – 認知障礙症患者的需要
撰文:方芷嬣 (香港賽馬會災難防護應變教研中心專業發展及知識管理經理)

Dr. Jimmy Chan
With thousands of micro-organisms -such as bacteria and viruses in the environment, we are all vulnerable to infection. The skin and mucous membrane are the first barriers to protect us from the invasion of these micro-organisms. If the microbes successfully colonize through these broken barriers, our body will initiate an inflammatory response (red, swelling, pain and heat in that area) to counteract the invasion. Blood flow will increase in that region and will bring white blood cells and macrophages to clear up the invaders. However, if this mechanism fails, our body immune system will be stimulated to generate high power defense against these micro-organisms.
With a spike on its surface (Fig. 1) the COVID-19 virus can tap into the ACE2 receptors of human cells, simulating using a key to open the lock of a door. This protein is an antigen that can trigger the immune response in our body to produce humoral and cellular response specific to COVID-19 virus. The humoral response will produce antibody around one week’s time to kill the virus (like a missile) whereas the cellular response will take about 1-2 weeks to produce cytotoxic T-cells to destroy the virus (like a sniper chasing to kill the target). The antibody and cytotoxic T-cell level of a patient in recovery phase will drop as time goes by. If second infection occurs because of immune memory, the antibody and cytotoxic T-cell can be built up quickly to combat against the virus.
Figure 1: S-Protein of COVID-19 Virus (From Internet: CDC/US)
After recovering from the infection of COVID-19 virus, the patient will be protected by the body immune system. Vaccination is another way of receiving immune protection. By injecting harmless COVID-19 antigen into our body, it can help the immune system develop protection from the disease. Vaccines are biological products that prevent and control the occurrence of epidemic infectious disease. The development of vaccine follows a standard procedure with pre-clinical and clinical stages. In pre-clinical stage, the vaccine type will be decided. The antigen is isolated from the virus. After purification, the vaccine will be tested in animal model to ensure safety and adequate effectiveness of the immune response. If the pre-clinical phase is successful, then they will proceed to test the vaccine in clinical stage.
In the clinical stage, there are 4 phases:
- Phase 1 clinical trial: This is a small scale trial and focus on vaccine safety and effectiveness of the immune response.
- Phase 2 clinical trial: This is a larger scale clinical trial. In addition to immune effectiveness and safety, it also checks the vaccine optimal dosage, single or multiple shots and the side effect of the vaccine in a controlled environment.
- Phase 3 clinical trial: This is a very large-scale clinical trial which usually involves more than 10,000 volunteers. It will check the parameters as stated in phase 2 clinical trial, but it is under a natural environment.
- Phase 4 clinical trial: If the vaccine can pass the phase 3 clinical trial, then a formal preparation will be submitted and get approval from appropriate authority for the clinical use of the vaccine. Post-marketing surveillance will be monitored for a prolonged period of time.
Different types of COVID-19 vaccines will be available:
- Live attenuated vaccine: the virus is made less virulent but the antigen stimulation power is preserved.
- Inactivated vaccine: the virus is killed and the antigen stimulation power is preserved.
- Adenovirus vaccine: The adenovirus is a common respiratory tract virus. It is made less virulent and is implanted with the COVID-19 genetic material. The adenovirus serves as a vehicle to transport the COVID-19 antigen into our body to stimulate the immune response.
- Recombinant vaccine: Recombinant vaccines are made by using bacterial or yeast cells to manufacture the vaccine.
- Messenger RNA (m-RNA) vaccine: mRNA can serve as a messenger to direct the body cell to produce antigen. The genetic material of COVID-19 antigen is incorporated into the mRNA and act as a vaccine to stimulate the immune response. The advantages of mRNA are shorter clinical trial period and cheaper to produce.
Up till now, more than 300 COVID-19 vaccines are being developed in many countries. Many of them are in phase 3 clinical trials. Nevertheless, there are several outstanding vaccine developments in China, United Kingdom and United States (Fig. 2). According to World Health Organization (as at 2 October, 2020), there are 4 vaccines in phase 3 clinical trials in China (Sinovac Biotech, CanSino Biologics and China National Biote Group). Inactivated and Adenovirus vaccine types are probably adopted. Since the control of COVID-19 infection in China is good, with minimal new cases, the phase 3 clinical trial is conducted in other epidemic areas like Middle East and South America countries. According to the National Health Commission and news reports, the immune protection and side effects results are very encouraging.
Figure 2: COVID-19 vaccine development
(Internet photos from Xin Hua News, Belt and Road News and South China Morning Post)
In United Kingdom, researchers produced the Oxford Vaccine (AstraZeneca) with the SARS vaccine technology. The adenovirus is used as vehicle to transport the antigen into our body to stimulate the immune response, claiming that they can provide double protection on both the humoral and the cellular immune response. However, a very serious side effect (Transverse Myelitis leading to paralysis) has been detected in the phase 3 clinical trial recently. According to the information in AstraZeneca website on 2 October 2020, a standard review process triggered a voluntary pause to vaccination across all global trials on 6 September to allow review of safety data by an independent committee. Their recommendations have been supported by international regulators in the UK, Brazil, South Africa, India and now in Japan, who have deemed that the trials are safe to resume. However, The FDA of US has not made a decision yet.
In United States, researchers produced the mRNA vaccine (Moderna and Pfizer). This is a brand new technology with no historical records. Published in New England Journal of Medicine, the study is now also in phase 3 clinical trial and two vaccine doses are required to be injected. The side effect in first dose is mild but more prominent in second shot. The immune response is good and the antibody level is similar to that of a recovery COVID-19 patient.
The following factors should be considered before deciding the type of vaccine taken:
- Affordable cost
- The level of protection the vaccine provided such as complete immunity to reduce mortality and morbidity.
- The duration of protection.
- Safety, side effect and complications of the vaccine.
- Degree of protection with respect to the mutation of the COVID-19 virus.
It is expected that the demand for COVID-19 vaccine will be great. Those who face the greatest risk such as the emergency personnel, including medical/nursing staff, disciplinary forces and government decision makers should have the first priority to receive vaccination. The second tier should be the high-risk groups such as old age home residents, food handlers and people that need to work in crowded environment. The last tier should be common people.
Dr. Jimmy Chan,
President of HK Association for Conflict and Catastrophe Medicine.
FHKAM(Surgery), FHKAM (Emergency Medicine)
Regional Director (HK), Advanced HazMat Life Support International, USA.
Reference:
1. Vaccines and immunization, World Health Organization (WHO)
2. Safety and immunogenicity of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2: a preliminary report of a phase 1/2, single-blind, randomised controlled trial, The Lancet, 15 August 2020
3. New study reveals Oxford coronavirus vaccine produces strong immune response, The University of Oxford, 20 July 2020
4. An mRNA Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 — Preliminary Report, The New England Journal of Medicine, 14 July 2020
5. Pfizer and BioNTech Propose Expansion of Pivotal COVID-19 Vaccine Trial, Pfizer, 12 September 2020
6. Types of vaccine, Vaccine Knowledge Project, The University of Oxford, 3 January 2019
7. COVID-19 vaccine AZD1222 clinical trial resumed in Japan, follows restart of trials in the UK, Brazil, South Africa and India, AstraZeneca, 2 October 2020

[This article is only available in Chinese.]
[This article is only available in Chinese.]
每年10月13日為聯合國的「國際減災日」,目的為提高世界各國對防災減災的意識,並藉此鼓勵各國在《2015-2030仙台減災綱領》(Sendai Framework of Disaster Risk Reduction)下,邁向減低因災害而造成全球損失的目標。
今年國際減災日的主題為Disaster Risk Governance,意即呼籲各國繼續提高減災的「治理能力」。聯合國秘書長減災事務特別代表(Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR)水鳥真美(Mami Mizutori)在介紹今年國際減災日主題時,指出良好的治理包括清晰的(減災)遠景、執行計劃、以科學為行動依據、有能力及被賦予相稱權力及職能的機構。 [1]
「治理」這個議題可能對大多數人來說太遙遠。然而用心想想,當今年人類面對COVID-19--- 一種比颱風地震造成更深遠影響的人畜共通傳染病(Zoonotic Diseases)時,我們其實也對災害治理有了更深的體會。
防疫工作的有效性,關鍵在於政府對新病毒的態度、決策部門與科學及醫療界別的合作、保障公共衛生而立法及實施的適時性及相關性、政府與民間(包括非政府組織)的互信及協調的有效性等。疫情的控制反映減災治理是否有效,而且效果是顯而易見的,經歷過COVID-19,相信社會及個人都對所在地區的減災治理能夠有深入的分析及看法。
事實上,監督政府在防災減災上是否發揮有效管治,無論社區或個人都有共同責任。在「後COVID時代」,氣候變化和全球經濟衰退的大環境下,各類災害的風險只會越來越高。因此,就讓我們繼續承擔一個21世紀公民應有的責任,監督政府及其他參與單位在減災治理上的作為,使我們的社區及國家承擔減少因災害帶來破壞的全球目標,並作出應有的貢獻。
希望今年10月13日聯合國的「國際減災日」,對我們都有新的啟發及感受。
參考資料:
[1] COVID-19 and the climate emergency tell us all we need to know about disaster risk governance, Press Release, UNDRR, 4 September 2020 (只提供英文版)
筆者簡介
林鈞浩 Kwan-Ho Timothy LAM
世界主義、人道主義者、曾在逾五十個國家生活及工作。
香港賽馬會災難防護應變教研中心 Technical Expert for Professional Development 。
英國約克大學 Post-War Recovery Studies (戰後重建) 碩士畢業,十多年從事人道事務工作。2018-19年為國際紅十字會 (IFRC) 美洲加勒比海辦事處主管。