Staff Profile

Biography

Dr Agnes Lai is an Associate Professor of the School of Nursing and Health Studies at Hong Kong Metropolitan University. Dr Lai received her BN, DN, and PhD from The University of Hong Kong and her MSc (Epidemiology and Biostatistics) from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She is a registered nurse in HK and the USA, a fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Nursing, a registered polysomnographic technologist, a cancer exercise specialist, and a certified Zentangle trainer. 

Her research interest areas are two-fold, including clinical and preventive medicine in hospital and community settings. Her work focuses on brief, cost-effective self-management interventions to promote the self-care ability and well-being of the community's patients, individuals, and families.

She has broad experience conducting (i) randomised control trials on various chronic diseases (e.g. sleep apnea, lung cancer, COPD, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and insomnia), (ii) epidemiology studies to update lung function reference values for adults, and (iii) capacity-building train-the-trainer workshops and large-scale community-based projects and health promotion activities to integrate physical activity into daily life and enhance holistic health.

Dr Lai also received nine international and local awards and scholarships. Her achievement is recognized by conferring the "Excellence Research Award" from the Food and Health Bureau, HKSAR, Hong Kong.

Teaching Areas & Research Interests

• Self-management
• Physical Activity
• Sleep-related problems
• Family well-being
• Respiratory Medicine
• Technology-based intervention

Academic & Professional Experience

She is a registered nurse in HK and the USA, a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Nursing, a registered polysomnographic technologist, a certifified cancer exercise specialist and a certified Zentangle trainer.

Selected Publications

Journal Articles

• Yang, C.W.L., Wan, A.N.T., Kwok, M.C.W., Lam, T.H., Lai A.Y.K*. (2023). Implementation and evaluation of a model-based risk management process and service enhancement for home-based community care services amidst COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong: A mixed-method approach", Frontier in Public Health, 11. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1070182. [Impact factor: 6.461] *Corresponding author
• Chiu, R.M.Y., Zhang, L., Teng, J., Ip, P., Lai, A.Y.K., & Chan, D.K.C. (2023). Motivation, injury prevention, and the incidence of sports injuries: A three-wave longitudinal test of self-determination theory. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. doi: 10.1111/sms.14348 [Impact factor: 6.461]
• Chen, B., Gong, W.J., Lai, A.Y.K., Sit, S.M.M., Sai Yin Ho, D.S.Y., Yu N.X.*, Wang, M.P.* and Lam, T.H. (2023). Family context as a double-edged sword for psychological distress amid the COVID-19 pandemic with the mediating effect of individual fear and the moderating effect of household income. Frontier in Public Health, 11:1109446. (In press). [Impact factor: 6.461].
• Sit, S. M. M., Gong, W. J., Ho, S. Y., Lai, A. Y. K., Wong, B. Y. M., Wang, M. P., and Lam, T. H. (2022). A Population Study on COVID-19 Information Sharing: Sociodemographic Differences and Associations with Family Communication Quality and Well-Being in Hong Kong. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6), 3577. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19063577. PMID: 35329264. [Impact factor: 4.614
• Chen, B. W., Gong, W. J., Lai, A. Y. K., Sit, S. M. M., Ho, S. Y., Wang, M. P., Yu, N. X. and Lam, T. H. (2022). Patterns of Perceived Harms and Benefits of the COVID-19 Outbreak in Hong Kong Adults: A Latent Profile Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), 4352. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19074352. PMID: 35410033. [Impact factor: 4.614 ]
• Chan, N., Lai, A. Y. K.*, Choy, H. K., Cheung, D. Y., Wan, A. N. T., Cheng, V. Y., Chan, K. Y., Lau, Y. K., Yung, C. Y., Cheung, G. O. and Lam, T. H. (2022). Feasibility and Potential Effectiveness of a Smartphone Zero-Time Exercise Intervention for Promoting Physical Activity and Fitness in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Frontiers in public health, 2149. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.865712. PMID: 35910893. *Corresponding author [Impact factor: 6.461]
• Gong, W. J., Sit, S. M. M., Lai, A. Y. K., Yu, N. X., Wang, M. P., Ho, S. Y., and Lam, T. H. (2022). Adversity coping capability and its associations with mental health and family wellbeing amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. BMC psychiatry, 22(1), 1-11. doi: 10.1186/s12888-022-04198-2. PMID: 35962361. [Impact factor: 4.144 ]
• Guo, N., Luk, T. T., Wu, Y., Lai, A. Y. K., Li, Y., Cheung, D. Y. T., Wong, J. Y. H., Fong, D. Y. T. and Wang, M. P. (2022). Between-and within-person associations of mobile gaming time and total screen time with sleep problems in young adults: Daily assessment study. Addictive Behaviors, 134, 107408. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107408. PMID: 35717890. [Impact factor: 4.591]
• Lai, A. Y. K. ϯ, Suen, M. M. T. ϯ, Wang, M. P., Ho, D. S. Y., and Lam, T. H. (2022). Development and Evaluation of an Innovative Web-Based Training, Learning, and Sharing Platform for Social Workers (Hong Kong Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project): Mixed Methods Evaluation Study. JMIR Formative Research, 6(4), e32894. doi: 10.2196/32894. PMID: 35482365. ϯco-first author
• Wong, B. Y. M., Ho, S. Y., Sit, S. M. M., Gong, W. J., Lai, A. Y. K., Wang, M. P., and Lam, T. H. (2022). Association of family wellbeing with forwarding and verifying COVID-19-related information and mediation of family communication quality. Frontiers in Public Health, 2566. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.948955. PMID: 36062096. [Impact factor: 6.461]
• Sit, S. M. M. Lai, A. Y. K., Kwok, T. T. O., Wong, H. W., Wong, V. Y. L., Chow, E., Kwok, R., Wang, M. P., Ho, S. Y., Lam, T. H. (2022). Development and evaluation of two brief digital health promotion game booths utilising augmented reality and motion detection to promote well-being at a gerontechnology summit in Hong Kong. Frontier in Public Health 10:923271. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.923271. [Impact factor: 6.461]
• Sit, S. M. M. Lai, A. Y. K., Kwok, T. T. O., Wong, H. W., Wong, V. Y. L., Chow, E., Kwok, R., Wang, M. P., Ho, S. Y., Lam, T. H. (2022). Development and evaluation of two brief digital health promotion game booths utilising augmented reality and motion detection to promote well-being at a gerontechnology summit in Hong Kong. Frontier in Public Health 10:923271. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.923271. [Impact factor: 6.461]
• Leung, H. T., Gong, W. J., Sit, S. M. M., Lai, A. Y. K., Ho, S. Y., Wang, M. P., Lam, T.H. (2022) COVID-19 pandemic fatigue and its sociodemographic pycho-behavioural correlates: A population-based cross-sectional study in Hong Kong. Scientific Reports.12:16114. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-19692-6). [Impact factor: 4.996]
• Lai, A. Y. K.*, Cheung, G. O. C., Choi, A. C. M., Wang, M. P., Chan, P. S. L., Lam, A. H. Y., Lo, E., Lin, C. C., Lam, T. H. (2022). Mental health impact, support system, and perceived usefulness of support in university students in Hong Kong: A mixed-method survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 12931; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912931). [Impact factor: 4.614] *Corresponding author
• Leung, H.T., Gong, W.J., Sit, S.M.M., Lai, A.Y.K., Ho, S.Y., Wang, M.P., Lam, T.H. (2022) Substantial increase in perceived benefits over harms of COVID-19 outbreak but persistent socioeconomic disparities: Comparison of two cross-sectional surveys in Hong Kong from 2020 to 2021. Frontier in Public Health.10:1012146.doi:103389/fpubh.2022.1012146. [Impact factor: 6.461]
• Lai A.Y.K. ϯ , Ho, H.P.Y. ϯ, Kwok, RY.K., Kwok, T.O., Chow, E., Yip T., Tang, W.Y., Leung K.W., Lam, E., Lam, K.Y., Tsui, T.S.Y., Lok W.F., Yam, P.W., Wong S.F., Wong C.M., Chan, K.K.W., Wong B.Y.M., Ho, S.Y., Wang M.P., Lam T.H. (2022). Use of information and communications technology in family services and its perceived benefits amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong – Jockey club SMART Family-Link Project. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 19,15634; https://doi. 10.3390/ijerph192315634 [Impact factor: 4.614; Top 25% rank 45/182 in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health] ϯco-first author
• Li, S., Cheng, C. S., Zhang, C., Tang, G. Y., Tan, H. Y., Chen, H. Y., Wang, N., Lai, A. Y. K. and Feng, Y. (2021). Edible and Herbal Plants for the Prevention and Management of COVID-19. Frontiers in pharmacology, 12, 656103. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.656103. PMID: 33995078. [Impact factor: 5.988]
• Gong, W. J., Wong, B. Y. M., Ho, S. Y., Lai, A. Y. K., Zhao, S. Z., Wang, M. P., and Lam, T. H. (2021). Family e-Chat group use was associated with family wellbeing and personal happiness in Hong Kong adults amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(17), 9139. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18179139. PMID: 34501729. [Impact factor: 4.614]
• Guo, N., Guo, Z., Zhao, S., Ho, S. Y., Fong, D. Y. T., Lai, A. Y. K., Chan, S. S. C., Wang, M. P. and Lam, T. H. (2021). Digital inequalities in health information seeking behaviors and experiences in the age of web 2.0: A population-based study in Hong Kong. PloS one, 16(3), e0249400. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249400. PMID: 33784362. [Impact factor: 3.752]
• Guo, N., Ho, H. C., Wang, M. P., Lai, A. Y. K., Luk, T. T., Viswanath, K., Chan, S. S. and Lam, T. H. (2021). Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Family Communication Scale in the Chinese Population. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. doi 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.736514. PMID: 34867617. [Impact factor: 4.232]
• Lai, A. Y. K.*, Sit, S. M. M., Lam, S. K. K., Choi, A. C. M., Yiu, D. Y. S., Lai, T. T. K., Ip, M. S. M. and Lam, T. H. (2021). A phenomenological study on the positive and negative experiences of Chinese international university students from Hong Kong studying in the UK and US in the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.738474. MID: 34966299. [Impact factor: 5.435] *Corresponding author
• Lai, A. Y. K.*, Sit, S. M. M., Thomas, C., Cheung, G. O. C., Wan, A., Chan, S. S. C., and Lam, T. H. (2021). A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Positive Family Holistic Health Intervention for Probationers in Hong Kong: A Mixed-Method Study. Frontiers in psychology, 12. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.739418. PMID:34950083. [Impact factor: 4.232] *Corresponding author.
• Lai, A. Y. K., Sit, S. M. M., Wu, S. Y. D., Wang, M. P., Wong, B. Y. M., Ho, S. Y., and Lam, T. H. (2021). Associations of delay in doctor consultation with COVID-19 related fear, attention to information, and fact-checking. Frontiers in Public Health, 2026. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.797814. PMID:34966717. [Impact factor: 6.461]
• Lai, A. Y. K.*, Sit, S. M. M., Lai, T. T. K., Wang, M. P., Kong, C. H. M., Cheuk, J. Y. Y., Feng, Y., Ip, M. S. M. and Lam, T. H. (2021). Facemask wearing among Chinese International students from Hong Kong studying in United Kingdom universities during COVID-19: a mixed method study. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 788. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.673531. PMID: 34220582. [Impact factor: 5.435]
• Zhao, S. Z., Luk, T. T., Guo, N., Wang, M. P., Lai, A. Y. K., Wong, B. Y. M., Fong, D. Y. T., Chan, S. S. C. and Lam, T. H. (2021). Association of mobile instant messaging chat group participation with family functioning and well-being: Population-based cross-sectional study. Journal of medical Internet research, 23(3), e18876. [Impact factor: 7.093]
• Xu, X., Cheung, D. S. T., Smith, R., Lai, A. Y. K., and Lin, C. C. (2022). The effectiveness of pre-and post-operative rehabilitation for lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis on postoperative pulmonary complications and length of hospital stay. Clinical Rehabilitation, 36(2), 172-189. doi: 10.1177/02692155211043267. PMID: 34496658. [Impact factor: 2.884]
• Gong, W. J., Sit, S. M. M., Wong, B. Y. M., Da Wu, S. Y., Lai, A. Y. K., Ho, S. Y., Wang, M. P. and Lam, T. H. (2022). Associations of Face-to-Face and Instant Messaging Family Communication and Their Contents With Family Wellbeing and Personal Happiness Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic. Frontiers in psychiatry, 13. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.780714. PMID: 35422721. [Impact factor: 5.435]
• Sit, S. M. M., Lam, T. H., Lai, A. Y. K.*, Wong, B. Y. M., Wang, M. P., and Ho, S. Y. (2021). Fear of COVID-19 and its associations with perceived personal and family benefits and harms in Hong Kong. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 11(3), 793-801. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibab018. PMID: 33755146. [Impact factor: 3.626] *Corresponding author.
• Wong, B. Y. M., Lam, T. H., Lai, A. Y. K., Wang, M. P., and Ho, S. Y. (2021). Perceived benefits and harms of the COVID-19 pandemic on family well-being and their sociodemographic disparities in Hong Kong: A cross-sectional study. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(3), 1217. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18031217. PMID: 33572977. [Impact factor: 4.614 ]

Selected Professional & Community Services

• Committee member, Hong Kong Respiratory Nursing College
• Committee member, CNE/ CPD Education Committee, Hong Kong Thoracic Society
• Committee member, The Hong Kong College of Medical Nursing
• Professional Advisor, Aberdeen Kai-Fong Welfare Association Social Service Center

Further Information

Link to personal homepage

Modified Date: 13 Apr, 2023
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