Process Evaluation and Experience Sharing on Utilizing Information Communication Technologies and Digital Games in a Large Community Family Health Event: Hong Kong Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project.

Background: Information communication technologies (ICT) are increasingly used in health promotion, but integration is challenging and involves complex processes. Large community health promotion events are often held but the experiences and processes have rarely been evaluated and published. No reports have described and systematically evaluated an ICT-supported health promotion event using digital games. Objective: We evaluated the development and implementation of a large community family health promotion event with ICT integration to promote family happiness with collaboration between academia (The University of Hong Kong) and the social (family) service sector, and collected feedback from participants and social service workers. Methods: We (i) conducted a systematic process evaluation, (ii) administered an on-site questionnaire survey on participant satisfaction and feedback, and (iii) collected post-event qualitative feedback from social workers on using new technologies, digital game design and overall experiences. Results: Fourteen digital games were designed and run in booths at the event by 12 non-governmental social service organizations and academia. Four gaming technologies were utilized: chroma key (green screen), somatosensory (kinect and leap motion techniques), augmented reality and virtual reality. 1,365 participants joined the event, in which 1,257 from 454 families were recruited and pre-registered through 12 NGOs. About 39.3% were male and more than half (53.3%) were aged 18 years and above. About 3,487 game booth headcounts were recorded. Games using virtual reality, kinect motion and green screen technologies were most liked. The average game satisfaction score was high (4.5 out of 5). Social service workers reported positive experiences with using new technologies in health promotion, and interests in future collaborations involving more ICT. Conclusions: Our systematic evaluation showed successful integration of ICT components in the health promotion event. This event, most likely the first of its kind, served as a capacity building and knowledge transfer platform for interdisciplinary co-sharing and co-learning of new technologies. It provided a solid foundation for further academic and social service partnerships and should be a useful model for similar community events and their evaluation. Further development and integration of ICT for health promotion among social service organizations with comprehensive evaluation are warranted.

Training to implement a community program has positive effects on health promoters: JC FAMILY Project.

To ease the shortage of professionals, lay volunteers were trained to become health promoters and role models for a large community program to enhance physical activity, well-being, and neighborhood cohesion in socioeconomically disadvantaged groups in Hong Kong. This study aimed to examine the effects on health promoters (trainees) and the feasibility and acceptability of capability-building train-the-trainer workshops (TTTs) using Zero-time Exercise (ZTEx) to implement a community program for about 1,000 participants. A four-session (totally 8 hours) TTT introduced an evidence-based ZTEx intervention to enhance physical activity and well-being, and build capacity for community program implementation. Twenty-eight trainees actively participated in the TTT. Twenty-five and 21 trainees completed the 1- and 3-month questionnaires, respectively. Eleven trainees attended the 1-year focus group interview. Repeated measures analysis of variance and Friedman test were used to compare the parametric and nonparametric data, respectively. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. The trainees reduced their sedentary behavior and improved their interpersonal communication skills, knowledge, and attitude toward ZTEx, grip strength, balance, and perceived well-being. The community participants reported improvements in neighborhood cohesion and grip strength. The 1-year qualitative results supported the 3-month quantitative findings. This brief and innovative TTT affirmed the feasibility of using ZTEx and the role modeling approach for lay health promoters to reduce sedentary behavior and enhance physical activity, fitness, and well-being. They then contributed to the successful implementation of community programs that benefited many. This study provides a new model for building capacity for health promotion in the community.