Involving Caregivers of Older People in Qualitative Evaluation Research: Examining the “Caregiver Support Project” in Hong Kong

Sally Ka-wing Lo; Alice Ming-lin  Chong; Tit-Wing Lo; Kin-Kit Li; Dannii Yeung; Marcus YL Chiu

doi:10.1177/10497315251398459

Involving Caregivers of Older People in Qualitative Evaluation Research: Examining the “Caregiver Support Project” in Hong Kong

Sally Ka-wing Lo^*
, Alice Ming-lin Chong
, Tit-Wing Lo
, Kin-Kit Li
, Dannii Yeung
, Marcus YL Chiu

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

Abstract

Purpose: This article explores the growing involvement of service users in evaluation research, specifically examining the “Caregiver Support Project” (The Project) designed to assist informal caregivers of frail older adults in Hong Kong. It highlights the essential role and best practices of engaging service users in evaluating the program. Method: A qualitative design was employed, involving two groups of service users: the intervention group and a control group, with a total of 32 service users interviewed (16 from each group). Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: The findings emphasize the importance of integrating service user perspectives to improve the quality and effectiveness of caregiver support services. Discussion: This article enhances understanding of service user involvement in evaluation research and advocates for a cocreation model that promotes continuous improvement in social work practices. © The Author(s) 2026.

Original language	English
Journal	Research on Social Work Practice
Online published	16 Mar 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315251398459
Publication status	Online published - 16 Mar 2026

Funding

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The funding source related to this paper: IT22/051IC: Provision of Consultancy Service for “Caregiver Support Model & Psycho-Education Program on Empowerment: Development and Validation, City University of Hong Kong, HKD485,185, October 2022 to June 2023. This work was also supported by the Simon K.Y. Lee Foundation and the Research Matching Grant Scheme of the University Grants Committee, Hong Kong SAR. The publication of this paper was supported by an Institutional Development Grant of Saint Francis University, Hong Kong SAR (IDG-P250104)

Research Keywords

service user involvement
caregiver support
evaluation research
case study
Hong Kong

RGC Funding Information

RGC-funded

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10.1177/10497315251398459

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title = "Involving Caregivers of Older People in Qualitative Evaluation Research: Examining the “Caregiver Support Project” in Hong Kong",

abstract = "Purpose: This article explores the growing involvement of service users in evaluation research, specifically examining the “Caregiver Support Project” (The Project) designed to assist informal caregivers of frail older adults in Hong Kong. It highlights the essential role and best practices of engaging service users in evaluating the program. Method: A qualitative design was employed, involving two groups of service users: the intervention group and a control group, with a total of 32 service users interviewed (16 from each group). Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: The findings emphasize the importance of integrating service user perspectives to improve the quality and effectiveness of caregiver support services. Discussion: This article enhances understanding of service user involvement in evaluation research and advocates for a cocreation model that promotes continuous improvement in social work practices. {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2026.",

keywords = "service user involvement, caregiver support, evaluation research, case study, Hong Kong",

author = "Lo, \{Sally Ka-wing\} and Chong, \{Alice Ming-lin\} and Tit-Wing Lo and Kin-Kit Li and Dannii Yeung and Chiu, \{Marcus YL\}",

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language = "English",

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T1 - Involving Caregivers of Older People in Qualitative Evaluation Research

T2 - Examining the “Caregiver Support Project” in Hong Kong

AU - Lo, Sally Ka-wing

AU - Chong, Alice Ming-lin

AU - Lo, Tit-Wing

AU - Li, Kin-Kit

AU - Yeung, Dannii

AU - Chiu, Marcus YL

PY - 2026/3/16

Y1 - 2026/3/16

N2 - Purpose: This article explores the growing involvement of service users in evaluation research, specifically examining the “Caregiver Support Project” (The Project) designed to assist informal caregivers of frail older adults in Hong Kong. It highlights the essential role and best practices of engaging service users in evaluating the program. Method: A qualitative design was employed, involving two groups of service users: the intervention group and a control group, with a total of 32 service users interviewed (16 from each group). Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: The findings emphasize the importance of integrating service user perspectives to improve the quality and effectiveness of caregiver support services. Discussion: This article enhances understanding of service user involvement in evaluation research and advocates for a cocreation model that promotes continuous improvement in social work practices. © The Author(s) 2026.

AB - Purpose: This article explores the growing involvement of service users in evaluation research, specifically examining the “Caregiver Support Project” (The Project) designed to assist informal caregivers of frail older adults in Hong Kong. It highlights the essential role and best practices of engaging service users in evaluating the program. Method: A qualitative design was employed, involving two groups of service users: the intervention group and a control group, with a total of 32 service users interviewed (16 from each group). Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: The findings emphasize the importance of integrating service user perspectives to improve the quality and effectiveness of caregiver support services. Discussion: This article enhances understanding of service user involvement in evaluation research and advocates for a cocreation model that promotes continuous improvement in social work practices. © The Author(s) 2026.

KW - service user involvement

KW - caregiver support

KW - evaluation research

KW - case study

KW - Hong Kong

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105033006841

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105033006841&origin=recordpage

U2 - 10.1177/10497315251398459

DO - 10.1177/10497315251398459

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 1049-7315

JO - Research on Social Work Practice

JF - Research on Social Work Practice

ER -

Involving Caregivers of Older People in Qualitative Evaluation Research: Examining the “Caregiver Support Project” in Hong Kong

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Funding

Research Keywords

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