Research Projects
Long-term impact of a community-based, integrated early intervention program for young people with syndromal ADHD: a 5-year follow-up study

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopment disorder affecting approximately 6.4% of children and adolescents and 2.5% of adults in Hong Kong. Long waiting times for diagnosis and treatment in public healthcare systems place substantial burdens on affected individuals and their families. Pharmacological treatment is the primary intervention, but it does not fully address broader psychosocial challenges such as family functioning, emotional regulation, and social skills development. Non-pharmacological early intervention (EI) programs have shown promise in improving long-term outcomes, yet their effectiveness in Hong Kong remains under-explored. This study aims to evaluate the long-term impact (5-year follow-up) of ADHD+, the first community-based, integrated early intervention program for young people with syndromal ADHD in Hong Kong. The study will assess whether participation in ADHD+ leads to improvements in family functioning, daily functioning, quality of life, emotional health, behavioral problems, medication compliance, and reduced reliance on specialist care and emergency services compared to standard public hospital ADHD treatment. This study will follow a longitudinal, controlled cohort design, comparing participants of the ADHD+ intervention with a control cohort receiving standard public hospital ADHD care. Data will be collected through validated measures assessing family relationships, parental stress, absenteeism, presenteeism, emotional and behavioural health, quality of life, healthcare utilisation, and medication adherence. Statistical analyses, including Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and regression modelling, will be conducted to examine group differences while controlling for confounding variables. We hypothesise that children and families participating in the ADHD+ program will show greater improvements in family functioning, reduced parental stress, enhanced quality of life, and better emotional health compared to the control group. Additionally, we anticipate that ADHD+ participants will demonstrate lower reliance on pharmacological treatment and emergency healthcare services while achieving higher medication adherence when transitioning to pharmacological care. Findings from this study will provide critical evidence on the long-term effectiveness of non-pharmacological ADHD interventions in Hong Kong. The results will inform health policy, resource allocation, and service delivery strategies, potentially positioning ADHD+ as a complementary or alternative approach to pharmacological treatment. This research will contribute to the development of culturally appropriate interventions, addressing the unmet needs of ADHD-affected families and enhancing mental health services in Hong Kong and beyond.

Professor YN Suen, School of Nursing

Dr. Yi-nam Suen is currently an Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong (HKU). She completed her nursing training at HKU and became a registered practicing nurse in 2009. In 2015, she obtained her Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health. Dr. Suen's research focuses on promoting physical and mental well-being in community settings, with an emphasis on developing models for social processes in high-risk populations to improve early detection and preventative interventions of mental illnesses.

As a key researcher for the Hong Kong Youth Epidemiology Study (HK-YES), Jockey Club Mental Wellness Project for Women (JCWOW), LevelMind@JC, Ethnic Minority Wellness Center, and HHB Pilot Scheme on ADHD+. Dr. Suen has made significant contributions to the understanding and promotion of mental health in various communities. She has an impressive publication record, with a high field-weighted citation impact. To date, she has published over 100 articles in top-tier international peer-reviewed journals in public health, psychiatry, and digital health, such as JAMA Internal Medicine, Psychiatry Research, and the British Journal of Psychiatry.

In addition to her research accomplishments, Dr. Suen serves as an Associate Editor for the prestigious international journals Frontiers in Psychology and BMC Psychiatry, further showcasing her expertise and dedication to advancing knowledge in the fields of mental health and well-being.

Biography
Scholars Hub
suenyn@hku.hk

For more information or to express interest for this project, please email the supervisor or the specified contact point in the project 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).

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.

HKUMed MBBS students interested in the Master of Research in Medicine (MRes[Med]) programme may visit the programme website for more information.  

HKUMed UG students interested in the Undergraduate Research Internship Scheme (URIS) may visit the scheme’s website for more information.