Research Postgraduate Studies
Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care


Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care


Research Questions

  • How to improve the health and primary care services for low-income families or disadvantaged population?
  • Can routine measurement of patients’ health-related quality of life improve quality of care?
  • How to implement best practice in chronic disease management in real world primary care?
  • How to eliminate Hepatitis B viral infection in China and Hong Kong?
  • How to promote better health through social media or mobile applications?
  • How to reduce treatment burden and/ or improve patient capacity?
  • How to enhance mental health in primary health care?
  • What is the profile and outcome of non-communicable diseases?
  • How can the quality and outcome of primary care be measured?
  • How to advance continuing medical education for primary care doctors?
  • How to improve the mental health and wellbeing of medical students and doctors?
Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care
Department Homepage
Research Areas

1. Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO) and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL)

Validation and standardisation of PRO Measures; clinical application of HRQOL outcome measures; HRQOL of patients with chronic diseases, measurement of health preference (utility); and application of HRQOL outcomes in cost-effectiveness analysis.

  

2. Medical Education

Undergraduate and postgraduate medical education research taking a combined qualitative and quantitative approach with specific interests in the following areas:

  • Student and doctor wellbeing
  • Pedagogical innovation
  • Continuing medical education for primary care doctors
  • Core competencies in family medicine and primary care

  

3. Primary Care Services and Health Equity

Evaluation of outcomes and quality of care of primary care through big data analysis and measurement of PRO; effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of new models of chronic disease care, diagnosis and management of common health problems; use of antibiotics; health equity and health for marginalised groups; infectious diseases in primary care; sexual health and HIV; and, impact of COVID-19 on primary care services.

  

4. Mental Health

Epidemiology, diagnosis and management of common mental health problems; and evaluation of mental health services.

  

5. Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD)

Observational and genetic epidemiology; trajectory patterns on clinical, treatment and complication profiles among patients; NCD burden on local health service utilisation and health policy; service delivery models for NCD prevention and treatment, risk prediction models for NCD service utilisation and health outcomes (e.g. cardiovascular disease) using big data analysis.

  

Supervisor(s)

Professor CLK Lam

Dr EYF Wan

Dr WCW Wong

Dr CKH Wong
Current Projects Inviting Candidates
Next Step?

For more information or to express interest to join the research areas, please email the supervisor or the specified contact point in the description. Interested candidates are advised to enclose with your email:

  1. your CV,
  2. a brief description of your research interest and experience, and
  3. two reference letters (not required for HKUMed UG students seeking MRes[Med]/URIS projects).

Research postgraduate studies enquiries specific to the department/school’s research should be directed to the Chairman of the Departmental Research Postgraduate Committee:

Professor TP Lam
tplam@hku.hk

Information on the research programme, funding support and admission documentations could be referenced online at the Research Postgraduate Admissions website.

General admission enquiries should be directed to rpgmed@hku.hk.