Prof. Claire Chenwen Zhong, Research Assistant Professor from the JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, has been awarded the Best Poster Presentation at the 10th Asia Pacific Primary Care Research Conference 2025 (APPCRC 2025) for the groundbreaking project titled “Impact of eHealth Chronic Disease Management Module on Glycemic Control and Health Outcomes in Diabetes Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial“.
Funded by the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong, the research was jointly carried out by Prof. Zhong, Prof. Jason Junjie Huang, Assistant Professor at JCSPHPC, and Prof. Martin Chi-sang Wong, Professor at JCSPHPC. It utilized an innovative management module for eHealth, the Electronic Health Record Sharing System developed by the Hong Kong Government in order to build up free and lifelong electronic health records for all members of the public. The module demonstrated significant improvements in glycemic control, or management of blood sugar levels, for patients with diabetes in a 12-month randomized controlled trial that engaged 165 patients.
The research also effectively addressed the limitations of traditional diabetes care methods, enhancing patient engagement and facilitating real-time monitoring of health metrics. This approach not only empowered patients to take an active role in their care but also provided healthcare providers with essential data to tailor interventions, ultimately leading to better management of chronic conditions.
Prof. Zhong expressed her gratitude for the Conference, stating, “This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of my entire research team. Our study on the impact of the eHealth Chronic Disease Management Module embedded in the eHealth App highlights the potential of technology to transform diabetes care. We believe that empowering patients through innovative solutions is key to improving health outcomes. I would like to thank all participants and the entire research team who made this research possible.”
Prof. Martin Wong, the Principal Investigator of the project, thanked the Hospital Authority for its support and emphasized the importance of consistent use of the eHealth Chronic Disease Management Module, stating, “Consistent use of the eHealth App Chronic Disease Management Module is crucial for achieving optimal outcomes. Future research may explore the barriers and facilitators that affect patient adherence to this innovative approach, enabling us to refine our strategies and enhance the effectiveness of chronic disease management.”
Jointly hosted by SingHealth Polyclinics, the Singapore Health Technologies Consortium (HealthTEC.SG), and SingHealth Duke-NUS Family Medicine Academic Clinical Programme (FM ACP), the 10th APPCRC was held at the Academia, SGH Campus from 19 to 21 June 2025. Focusing on the theme of “Advancing Health through Innovations and AI”, the Conference was a signature event in 2025 to strengthen the primary care academic fraternity across the three local clusters of polyclinics, general physicians, the College of Family Physicians Singapore, and family medicine specialists across the Asia Pacific region.