Master of Science in Clinical Gerontology

Faculty of Medicine
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Course Director
Deputy Course Director
Objectives
Programme of Study
Module one
Module two
Module three
Module four
Module five
Research Project
Practical Experience
Schedule and Venue
Teaching Faculty
Assessment
Admission Requirements
Graduation Requirements
Fees and Application
Course Director
 Prof. Jean Woo, Professor
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Deputy Course Director
Prof. Timothy Kwok, Associate Professor

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Objectives

To provide training for health professionals involved in the care of the elderly in diverse settings. The course will provide an understanding of the biological changes with age from the cellular level to the physical and psychological changes occurring to the whole person, demography, socioeconomic aspects, the concept of successful ageing, clinical aspects and service organization. The course will also cover the principles of epidemiology and statistics, and research methodology, in the study of the elderly.

Graduates of the course will have a good understanding of the biological, socioeconomic, epidemiological, and clinical aspects of ageing as well as different modes of care. They will be able to play a role in policy decisions regarding the well being of elderly populations, contribute to improvements and maintenance of good standards of care in diverse care settings, and carry out research in these areas.

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Programme of Study

The course covers two years, two terms per year, and consists of a taught component, practical experience, as well as a research project.

Year 1 Term 1 CGE 7001, 7002, 7003 (3 units)
Year 1 Term 2 CGE 7004, 7005, 7100 (5.5 units)

Year 2 Term 1 CGE 7101, 7200 (16 units)
Year 2 Term 2 CGE 7102, 7201 (17 units)


Taught component: contents 6 units (14 hours per unit), 5 modules

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Module one: CGE 7001 Demography, sociology, social work and health economics (DSSH) (1.0 units)
Demography (3 hr)
Basic concepts
Population dynamics
Population Ageing
Sociology and Social work (6 hr)
Income maintenance
Living arrangement and social support
Family and intergenerational issues
Social inequalities in health
Health economics (3 hr)
Health care financing
Estimating costs of diseases and disabilities

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Module two: CGE 7002 Epidemiology, biostatistics and research methodology (EBR) (1.5 units)
The use of epidemiology in the study of the elderly (basic principles)
Basic statistical methods in epidemiology (9 hr)
mean, standard deviation, variance, confidence limits
random sampling
Relative risk, odds ratio, attributable risk
univariate, multivariate, and factor analysis
prospective data analysis
useful statistical computer software prgrammes

Commonly used parameters examined in epidemiological studies in the elderly (2 hr)

mortality, morbidity, utilization of health services, diagnostic information, measures of disability, factors promoting health and sustaining autonomy-lifestyle, marital status, family support and social network, income, work and retirement, environmental factors, social welfare, health care organization and utilization
Applications to the study of health, autonomy and disability in elderly populations (3 hr)

defining the question

ways of answering the question

developing a way to measure the phenomenon

summarizing the information

relating the information to individual and group characteristics and other variables; examination of predisposing/risk factors

assessing effects of intervention on outcome measures and estimating the cost, efficiency and effectiveness of different forms of care and support

using the above information to develop new approaches to understanding the natural history of disability, to devise preventive measures, and to design integrated system of care
Population surveys (1 hr)
Research Methodology (4 hr)
Literature search
Study design
Ethical considerations and guidelines of good practice
Writing up research protocols, research paper, and presentation skills

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Module three: CGE 7003 Biology of Aging & concept of successful ageing (BSA) (0.5 units)
Biology of Ageing (3 hr)
Cellular ageing and theories of ageing
Age-related physiological changes
Cognitive changes related to ageing
Successful ageing (4 hr)
Concepts and definitions
Existing knowledge
Strategies to achieve successful ageing
Health promotion

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Module four: CGE 7004 Services for the older population (SERVICES) (1.0 units)
Service for the older population (9 hr)
Service providers and their interaction
Primary, secondary and tertiary care sectors (community care, residential homes, and hospitals)
Design of living environments
Measuring the quality and outcomes of medical care
Population screening and the strategy of prevention
Elderly abuse
Palliative Medicine (4 hr)
Palliation
Bereavement
Living will, assisted death, and euthanasia
Other ethical issues in the care of the elderly

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Module five: CGE 7005 Clinical topics (2.5 units)
Clinical topics (32 hr)
Common diseases in the elderly (9 hr)
Common presentation of diseases (4 hr)
Prescribing in the elderly (1 hr)
Nutrition ( 3 hr)
Rehabilitation (5 hr)
Quality of life measurements (2 hr)

Assessment (in the community; in institutions; psychological and psychogeriatric assessment tools) (3 hr)

Cognitive deficits associated with age-related diseases (1 hr)
Psychogeriatric problems
dementia (2 hr)
depression and suicide in the elderly (2 hr)
other mental health problems (1 hr)

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Research project: CGE 7100,7101,7102 (7 units)

This will be carried out in any of the above areas under the supervision of course directors, during the two year period. The student will spend a minimum of the equivalent of one contact hour per week with the supervisor. (104 hr)

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Practical experience: CGE 7200,7201 (28 units)

A minimum of 6 months’ work or attachment in the care of elderly people in the medical (in the broadest sense including nursing and allied health disciplines), and/or social setting. The student will spend a minimum of 2 hrs per day (assume a 5 day working week) in care of the elderly. (240 hr)

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Schedule and Venue

On average, the sessions of 2 hours will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. every Saturday, which lasts for 21 weeks each term. Classes will be held either in the Prince of Wales Hospital or in the conference room at Shatin Hospital.

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Teaching Faculty

Staff from the Faculties of Medicine and Social Science of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, as well as the Hospital Authority. A small number of teachers from other tertiary institutions.

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Assessment

The taught component will be assessed by a written examination at the end of year 1.

The research project will be written up as a thesis and graded at the end of year 2.

6 case studies from the 6 months’ practical experience should be written up and graded on completion of the module.

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Admission Requirements

Students should hold a Bachelors degree in health or social sciences from a recognized university, normally with honours not lower than second class; or completed a course of study in a tertiary educational institution and obtained professional or similar qualifications equivalent to our honours degree.

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Graduation Requirements

Students have to complete all the modules and pass all assessments with a GPA of 2.0 or above for graduation.

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Fees and Application

The fees for the whole programme are HK$60,000.00. Students are required to pay HK$30,000.00 at the beginning of each year.

For further enquiries, please call Ms Matina Yu from 2 to 5 p.m. (Monday to Friday) at (852) 22528885, or fax her at (852) 26048091, and visit our web site : http://mscg.med.cuhk.edu.hk

Forms and relevant materials are obtainable either in person or by post from the Graduate School, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N. T. or Rm. 405 School of Public Health, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, N. T.

The deadline of application will be at the end of February each year.

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