J Woo
Biographic Data
| ID | 50174 |
|---|---|
| NAME | J Woo |
| GIVEN NAMES | J |
| FAMILY NAME | Woo |
| SIGNATURE | WOO J |
| AFFILIATIONS | Chinese University of Hong Kong |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-7593-3081 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 67 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 94 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 67 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1994 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Older Adults’ Social Lives in In-Between Space in High-Rise, High-Density Housing Estates
Neighbourhood impacts on older adults’ social isolation and loneliness are gaining global concern. High-rise, high-density housing environments can both support and constrain social lives, yet their role in shaping different forms of social ties remains unclear. Guided by Person-Environment Fit (P-E Fit) theory, this study examines how neighbourhood in-between spaces shape older adults’ social ties in a Hong Kong housing estate through semi-struc…
Non-Communicable Diseases, Longevity, and Health Span
The health of different countries evolves in parallel with their economic development. Communicable diseases play a more prominent role in low-income countries compared with high-income countries, while non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become dominant in developing and developed economies. This transition has been accompanied by public health efforts to prevent NCDs, resulting in improvements in total life expectancy at birth (TLE). It is re…
Age-friendly spatial design for residential neighbourhoods in a compact city
Despite worldwide concerns about ageing-in-place and age-friendly environments in cities, frameworks for age-friendly residential neighbourhoods—particularly planned housing estates dominant in Asia—remain underdeveloped. This study addressed this gap by developing a responsive, adaptable, and scale-specific framework for age-friendly spatial design of old residential neighbourhoods. We applied participatory research methods to study an old priva…
A good neighbor is better than a distant relative? understanding the influence of neighborhood cohesion on residents' intentions for intergenerational co-living
Implementing Aging in Place in Hong Kong
A policy of aging in place should be accompanied by physical and social environments that support healthy aging. This article describes how a property development company in Hong Kong sought to elicit the views of older people and their caregivers towards elderly services through a market research company, using questionnaire surveys followed by focus groups. Over 80% of all participants rated healthy dietary habits and exercise, maintaining ment…
Perception of extreme hot weather and the corresponding adaptations among older adults and service providers–A qualitative study in Hong Kong
Background: Extreme hot weather events are happening with increasing frequency, intensity and duration in Hong Kong. Heat stress is related to higher risk of mortality and morbidity, with older adults being particularly vulnerable. It is not clear whether and how the older adults perceive the increasingly hot weather as a health threat, and whether community service providers are aware and prepared for such future climate scenario. Methods: We co…
The mediating role of individual-level social capital among worries, mental health and subjective well-being among adults in Hong Kong during the Covid-19 pandemic
Healthy Ageing Should Be a Key Component of Ageing in Place
As part of a knowledge-transfer project consisting of a series of three talks on the topic of healthy ageing and ageing in place, we explored what participants (older adults, students, the general public, as well as professionals in architecture, urban planning and property management) consider to be key requirements for ageing in place and healthy ageing. Feedback is captured using survey questionnaires and a post-talk discussion group. Safety, …
Experience of South and Southeast Asian minority women in Hong Kong during Covid-19 pandemic
Even when COVID-19 incidence rate is relatively low in Hong Kong, the pandemic made life even more challenging for SAs and SEAs, which is a community already struggling with language barriers, financial woes, and discrimination. This in turn could have led to greater health inequalities. Government and civil organizations should take the social determinants of health inequalities into account when implementing COVID-19-related public health polic…
Perceptions of Intergenerational Living among Older Adults Residing in Subsidized Housing Developments in Hong Kong
This study explores whether there are differences in the perception of intergenerational living between three age categories under the umbrella term of “older adults,” specifically among the emerging old (aged 50–64), young-old (aged 65–79), and old-old (aged 80 and above). While survey (n = 437) results showed all three age categories had a similar perception of “intergeneration” and its perceived benefits, emerging old respondents were found to…
Housing Preference for Ageing-in-Place
This study investigates housing preference among older adults in Hong Kong’s private housing estates across three age groups: emerging-old (50–65 years), young-old (65–75 years), and old-old (75 or above years). Findings highlight significantly increasing preferences for safety, thermal comfort, and physical periodicals for property services and health-related information with age. Respondents generally preferred proximity to facilities, on-site …
The Hong Kong Grocery Shopping Dialog Task (HK-GSDT)
The Hong Kong Grocery Shopping Dialog Task (HK-GSDT) is a short and easy-to-administer cognitive test developed for quickly screening neurocognitive disorders (NCDs). In the test, participants are instructed to do a hypothetical instrumental activity of daily living task of purchasing ingredients for a dish from a grocery store and verbally describe the specific shopping procedures. The current study aimed to validate the test with a sample of 54…
Caregivers’ Experience of End-of-Life Stage Elderly Patients
These findings increase our understanding of caregivers' in-depth experience over time that arise within the structural context of end-of-life care. Our data highlights the need for end of life related knowledge and information, provision of a caring atmosphere and communication, and professional-led detachment in creating caregiving-friendly service in healthcare system, thus as to provide support and alleviate stress for caregivers with their c…
Inequalities in Psychiatric Morbidity in Hong Kong and Strategies for Mitigation
This study explores the social gradient of psychiatric morbidity. The Hong Kong Mental Morbidity Survey (HKMMS), consisting of 5719 Chinese adults aged 16 to 75 years, was used. The Chinese version of the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R) was employed for psychiatric assessment of common mental disorders (CMD). People with a less advantaged socioeconomic position (lower education, lower household income, unemployment, small living area …
Subjective Social Status, Area Deprivation, and Gender Differences in Health among Chinese Older People
This study examined the gender differences in the main and interactive effects of subjective social status and area deprivation on health among older adults in Hong Kong. Data for this study came from the baseline of MrOs and MsOs studies, including 4000 Chinese men and women ≥ 65 in Hong Kong. Subjective social status was assessed using the MacArthur Scale of subjective social status scale. Our results reaffirm that subjective social status is a…
Depressive Symptom Trajectories and Cognition Among Older American Couples
Older adults with increasing and persistently high depressive symptoms may experience worse memory. Psychosocial interventions targeting depressive symptoms among older men may be beneficial to their spouses' memory
Changes in older adults' perceptions of age-friendliness in Hong Kong
International Exercise Recommendations in Older Adults (ICFSR)
The human ageing process is universal, ubiquitous and inevitable. Every physiological function is being continuously diminished. There is a range between two distinct phenotypes of ageing, shaped by patterns of living - experiences and behaviours, and in particular by the presence or absence of physical activity (PA) and structured exercise (i.e., a sedentary lifestyle). Ageing and a sedentary lifestyle are associated with declines in muscle func…
Differential Impacts of Multimorbidity on Covid-19 Severity across the Socioeconomic Ladder in Hong Kong
The severity of COVID-19 infections could be exacerbated by the epidemic of chronic diseases and underlying inequalities in social determinants of health. Nonetheless, there is scanty evidence in regions with a relatively well-controlled outbreak. This study examined the socioeconomic patterning of COVID-19 severity and its effect modification with multimorbidity in Hong Kong. 3074 local COVID-19 cases diagnosed from 5 July to 31 October 2020 wer…
Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effects of a Combined Intervention of Computerized Cognitive Training Preceded by Physical Exercise for Improving Frailty Status and Cognitive Function in Older Adul…
(1) Objective: This study examined the effects of a combined intervention of Brainastic computerized cognitive training (CCT) preceded by physical exercise (PE) for improving frailty status and cognitive function in older adults. (2) Methods: Older adults aged 50 years or older attending elderly centers, without frailty/history of cognitive impairment, were randomly allocated into either a 12-week (i) multi-domain CCT + PE ( n = 117), (ii) two-do…
Urinary sodium excretion and dietary sources of sodium intake in community-dwelling Chinese adults aged 50 years and over
Objective: This study examined Na intake and identified the major food sources of Na in healthy Chinese adults aged ≥50 years in Hong Kong. Design: Participants who completed a baseline assessment of a randomised controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of exercise and nutrition supplementation on improving physical and cognitive functions were included. A single 24-h urine sample and a 3-d diet record were used to measure urinary Na excretio…
Covid-19 related health inequality exists even in a city where disease incidence is relatively low
BACKGROUND: We examined whether COVID-19 could exert inequalities in socioeconomic conditions and health in Hong Kong, where there has been a relatively low COVID-19 incidence. METHODS: 752 adult respondents from a previous random sample participated in a telephone survey from 20 April to 11 May 2020. We examined demographic and socioeconomic factors, worry of COVID-19, general health, economic activity, and personal protective equipment (PPE) an…
A research agenda for ageing in China in the 21st century (2nd edition)
Longitudinal Association of Built Environment Pattern with Physical Activity in a Community-Based Cohort of Elderly Hong Kong Chinese
A large number of studies have focused on the associations between single built environment (BE) characteristics and physical activity (PA). Combinations of BE characteristics offer a more comprehensive approach to identify the BE-PA associations. We aimed to examine the BE-PA associations in a cohort of elderly Hong Kong Chinese. Between 2001 and 2003, 3944 participants (65-98 years of age) were recruited and followed for a mean of 7.8 years. BE…
Hot Weather and Suicide Deaths among Older Adults in Hong Kong, 1976–2014
Findings of the association between hot weather and suicide in a subtropical city such as Hong Kong are inconsistent. This study aimed to revisit the association by identifying meteorological risk factors for older-adult suicides in Hong Kong using a time-series approach. A retrospective study was conducted on older-adult (aged ≥65) suicide deaths in Hong Kong from 1976 to 2014. Suicides were classified into those involving violent methods and th…
Comparative stigma of HIV/Aids, Sars, and Tuberculosis in Hong Kong
Examining attribution model of self-stigma on social support and psychological well-being among people with HIV+/Aids
Perceptions of Neighborhood Environment, Sense of Community, and Self-Rated Health
Positive ageing
Life expectancy has been increasing rapidly in many parts of the world, including Hong Kong. A longer life can be welcome as an opportunity to fulfil as yet unmet aspirations, or to take up new challenges and projects, but it may also be a burden, especially for individuals who are unprepared. A pressing question for longer-life societies is: how may older people live their longer lives to the full positively? This article reports a qualitative s…
Changes in older adults' perceptions of age-friendliness in Hong Kong
An institutional perspective of “Glocalization” in two Asian tigers
Age-friendly spatial design for residential neighbourhoods in a compact city
Despite worldwide concerns about ageing-in-place and age-friendly environments in cities, frameworks for age-friendly residential neighbourhoods—particularly planned housing estates dominant in Asia—remain underdeveloped. This study addressed this gap by developing a responsive, adaptable, and scale-specific framework for age-friendly spatial design of old residential neighbourhoods. We applied participatory research methods to study an old priva…
Housing Preference for Ageing-in-Place
This study investigates housing preference among older adults in Hong Kong’s private housing estates across three age groups: emerging-old (50–65 years), young-old (65–75 years), and old-old (75 or above years). Findings highlight significantly increasing preferences for safety, thermal comfort, and physical periodicals for property services and health-related information with age. Respondents generally preferred proximity to facilities, on-site …
Social Vulnerability Index for the Older People—Hong Kong and New York City as Examples
Many world cities have suffered large-scale disasters, causing a significant loss of lives, property damage, and adverse social and economic impact. Those who are most vulnerable during and in the immediate aftermath of disaster crises are the elderly. Therefore, it is imperative to identify them and determine their specific needs in order to support them. Although several Social Vulnerability Indexes (SVIs) have been developed to assess differen…
Age and marital status are major factors associated with institutionalisation in elderly Hong Kong Chinese
STUDY OBJECTIVE--To determine the need for long term institutional care for elderly Chinese living in Hong Kong and factors associated with institutional living. DESIGN--Survey by interviewer administered questionnaire of a stratified random sample of all recipients of old age or disability allowance covering 90% of the population. SETTING--Survey performed in Hong Kong, a city on the south coast of China with an area of 1070 km2 and approximatel…
A good neighbor is better than a distant relative? understanding the influence of neighborhood cohesion on residents' intentions for intergenerational co-living
Utility and Cost-effectiveness of Motivational Messaging to Increase Survey Response in Physicians
The present study examined whether, when, and how motivational messaging can boost the response rate of postal surveys for physicians based on Higgin’s regulatory focus theory, accounting for its cost-effectiveness. A three-arm, blinded, randomized controlled design was used. A total of 3,270 doctors were randomly selected from the registration list. Results showed that motivational messaging was effective in boosting response rate among younger …
Dietary intake and practices in the Hong Kong Chinese population
OBJECTIVES: To examine dietary intake and practices of the adult Hong Kong Chinese population to provide a basis for future public health recommendations with regard to prevention of certain chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and osteoporosis. PARTICIPANTS: Age and sex stratified random sample of the Hong Kong Chinese population aged 25 to 74 years (500 men, 510 women). METHOD: A food frequency method over a one week p…
Age and marital status are major factors associated with institutionalisation in elderly Hong Kong Chinese
STUDY OBJECTIVE--To determine the need for long term institutional care for elderly Chinese living in Hong Kong and factors associated with institutional living. DESIGN--Survey by interviewer administered questionnaire of a stratified random sample of all recipients of old age or disability allowance covering 90% of the population. SETTING--Survey performed in Hong Kong, a city on the south coast of China with an area of 1070 km2 and approximatel…
An estimate of chronic disease burden and some economic consequences among the elderly Hong Kong population
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the burden of chronic disease for an elderly Chinese population aged 70 years and over, and to illustrate the use of this information in estimating the economic consequences of disease burden using stroke as an example. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1902 subjects recruited by random sampling of the old age and disability allowance schemes, which cover over 90% of the Hong Kong elderly population, stratified by sex and five year…
Dietary intake and practices in the Hong Kong Chinese population
OBJECTIVES: To examine dietary intake and practices of the adult Hong Kong Chinese population to provide a basis for future public health recommendations with regard to prevention of certain chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and osteoporosis. PARTICIPANTS: Age and sex stratified random sample of the Hong Kong Chinese population aged 25 to 74 years (500 men, 510 women). METHOD: A food frequency method over a one week p…
Is there a typical Chinese diet and what are the health implications
The results of a dietary survey performed on adults in the Hong Kong Chinese population in 1995 is examined in the light of published surveys for the Chinese populations in another region of Southern China, in Australia, and in an earlier Hong Kong Chinese population in 1987. The comparisons were made to document the extent of variability in the diets of the Chinese population and the implications for health. Among the Hong Kong Chinese populatio…
The prediction of height by armspan in older Chinese people
In deriving predictive equation to estimate height by armspan in older Chinese women, selecting out older women without vertebral deformity increased accuracy of the equation. This was, however, not the case in older men
Prosecution of Child Abuse
This study meta-analyzed rates of criminal justice decisions in 21 studies of prosecution of child abuse. Rates of referral to prosecution, filing charges, and incarceration varied considerably. Rates of carrying cases forward without dismissal were consistently 72% or greater. For cases carried forward, plea rates averaged 82% and conviction rates 94%. Compared to national data, child abuse was less likely to lead to filing charges and incarcera…
Validation of the Chronic Heart Failure Questionnaire (Chinese version)
Positive ageing
Life expectancy has been increasing rapidly in many parts of the world, including Hong Kong. A longer life can be welcome as an opportunity to fulfil as yet unmet aspirations, or to take up new challenges and projects, but it may also be a burden, especially for individuals who are unprepared. A pressing question for longer-life societies is: how may older people live their longer lives to the full positively? This article reports a qualitative s…
Comparative stigma of HIV/Aids, Sars, and Tuberculosis in Hong Kong
Examining attribution model of self-stigma on social support and psychological well-being among people with HIV+/Aids
The influence of multi-morbidity and self-reported socio-economic standing on the prevalence of depression in an elderly Hong Kong population
In this elderly Hong Kong population, depression prevalence rose markedly with number of chronic medical conditions and SES-HK and SES-COM
Clients’ Experiences of a Community Based Lifestyle Modification Program
There is little information about how clients attending lifestyle modification programs view the outcomes. This qualitative study examined the clients' experience of a community based lifestyle modification program in Hong Kong. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 clients attending the program. Clients perceived the program had positive impacts on their health and nutrition knowledge. They experienced frustration, negative emotion, …
Final Declaration of the Asian Metaforum on the Role of Vitamin D and the Management of Osteoporosis
Background Vitamin D is essential for Ca absorption, prevention of falls and fracture, and maintenance of muscle strength and balance. Lack of awareness of the importance of vitamin D in bone health is common in Asia. Objective To define key statements, objectives and actions for improving osteoporosis management and vitamin D inadequacy in Asia. Results and conclusion This declaration was jointly produced by specialists at the Asia Metaforum on …
Increasing dietary fish intake has contributed to decreasing mortality from CHD among the older population in Hong Kong
Objective To test whether change in the frequency of fish intake at population level would affect the trends of death from CHD and how many CHD events could be prevented in Hong Kong, a population among those with the highest fish consumption and the lowest CHD mortality in the world. Design Time trends analysis with data from repeated dietary surveys and death registration. Setting Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China. Subjects A total of 3…
Nutritionist’s Variation in Counseling Style and the Effect on Weight Change of Patients Attending a Community Based Lifestyle Modification Program
Information concerning the nature of nutritionist-patient relationships is very limited. This qualitative and quantitative study examined nutritionist's skills, attributes, and beliefs towards nutrition counseling during a lifestyle modification intervention program, and whether this affected the patient's weight outcome. 24 nutrition consultations were observed during the program and the nutritionists were interviewed for their perception on pra…
Relationship between dietary intake and the development of type 2 diabetes in a Chinese population
Objective To study the relationship between dietary intake and the development of type 2 diabetes among Chinese adults. Design A prospective cohort study. Dietary assessment was carried out using a validated FFQ. Principal component analysis was used to identify dietary patterns. Dietary glycaemic load and variety of snacks were also calculated. Setting A hospital-based centre at the Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong SAR, China. Subjects A total o…
Short stature in primary school students belonging to a minority ethnic group of Yao in China
The relative short stature of Yao children compared with Han Chinese children in Hong Kong may be accounted for by genetics and differences in nutrient intakes
Worldwide socioeconomic status and stroke mortality
SES is a strong predictor of stroke mortality at country level. Stroke mortality increased with improvement of SES in less developed countries/region, while it decreased with advancing SES in more developed areas
Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, and obesity with metabolic syndrome in Hong Kong Chinese midlife women
CRF has greater association with the prevalence of MS compared with PA in Chinese midlife women. The interrelationships between CRF, obesity, and MS needs further study
Ischemic Heart Disease Hospitalization among Older People in a Subtropical City — Hong Kong
Globally, excess winter morbidity from ischemic heart disease (IHD) is reported. In subtropical regions, there is a need to quantify the difference in the adverse effect of cold winters compared with hot summers, particularly among the older people. Our objectives were to: (i) compare the effect of winter on IHD hospitalizations with that of summer; (ii) examine temporal trends in the excess winter hospitalizations; and (iii) investigate the effe…
A randomized controlled trial to investigate the impact of a low glycemic index (GI) diet on body mass index in obese adolescents
ClinicalTrials.gov Ref. No: NCT01278563
Social Vulnerability Index for the Older People—Hong Kong and New York City as Examples
Many world cities have suffered large-scale disasters, causing a significant loss of lives, property damage, and adverse social and economic impact. Those who are most vulnerable during and in the immediate aftermath of disaster crises are the elderly. Therefore, it is imperative to identify them and determine their specific needs in order to support them. Although several Social Vulnerability Indexes (SVIs) have been developed to assess differen…
Worldwide trends in diabetes since 1980
BACKGROUND: One of the global targets for non-communicable diseases is to halt, by 2025, the rise in the age-standardised adult prevalence of diabetes at its 2010 levels. We aimed to estimate worldwide trends in diabetes, how likely it is for countries to achieve the global target, and how changes in prevalence, together with population growth and ageing, are affecting the number of adults with diabetes. METHODS: We pooled data from population-ba…
Bottle milk feeding and its association with food group consumption, growth and socio‐demographic characteristics in Chinese young children
It is recommended that infants from the age of 12 months should be weaned from bottles. However, an overwhelming proportion of young children were still using bottle after the recommended age of bottle‐weaning. This cross‐sectional study examined the association between utensils for milk drinking and food group consumption, growth and socio‐demographic characteristics among young children. Data from the Survey of Infant and Young Child Feeding in…
Illuminating the Psychological Experience of Elderly Loneliness from a Societal Perspective
Loneliness is a common experience among older people that is associated with health risks and negative well-being. As a psychological phenomenon, it has typically been defined in Western research literature as the discrepancy between desired and actual interpersonal relations. In our qualitative study in Hong Kong, we offer insight into ageing and loneliness in an urban environment of the non-Western world and propose to reconceptualise lonelines…
Medicine (61 works) · Environmental health (36 works) · Gerontology (36 works) · Psychology (36 works) · Population (29 works) · Demography (26 works) · Health disparities and outcomes (24 works) · Demography (22 works) · Geography (20 works) · Psychiatry (20 works)