title: Group debriefing for people with chronic diseases during the SARS pandemic: Strength-Focused and Meaning-Oriented Approach for Resilience and Transformation (SMART).
abstract: This study presented preliminary results on the efficacy of a novel group debriefing model called Strength-Focused and Meaning-Oriented Approach for Resilience and Transformation (SMART). The SMART debriefing (1) aimed at boosting resilience and catalyzing transformation among persons undergoing stressful events, (2) adopted a growth-oriented and holistic approach of health promotion, and (3) employed methods drawn from various indigenous sources (e.g. Asian philosophies and Traditional Chinese Medicine). Participants (N=51) were people with chronic diseases recruited about 1 month (August 2003) after the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak was eventually under control, after causing widespread panic in Hong Kong. After the one-day group debriefing, participants showed significant decrease in depression level, as measured by Brief Symptom Inventory (Derogatis & Melisaratos, 1983, Psychological Medicine, 13(3), 595-605) and changes in cognitive appraisal towards SARS. Such changes were sustained in a 1-month follow-up. Clinical implications and directions for further study were discussed.
authors.affiliation: Center on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Timothy H Y
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Cecilia L W
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Antoinette M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Josephine K Y
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Yau
authors.forename: Celia H Y
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003710:Demography; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires