Dr Anna ZHANG Yan

Biography

Dr. Anna ZHANG is an Assistant Professor at the Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences, Saint Francis University (SFU). She obtained her PhD from the University of Hong Kong. Her research primarily explores the effects and mechanisms of change associated with non-pharmacological interventions for individuals with dementia or terminal illnesses. She also conducts research on formal, informal, and interdisciplinary caregiving practice. She is a registered social worker in Hong Kong with frontline experience in the field of elderly services, focusing on counselling and carer support, long-term care assessments, and dementia care.  

Education

• Ph.D. in Social Work, The University of Hong Kong (HK) 

• Master of Social Work, The University of Hong Kong (HK)
• Bachelor of Laws in Social Work, East China University of Science and Technology (SH) 
• Visiting Researcher, University of Cambridge (UK, Summer 2019)
• Visiting Researcher, Smith College (USA, Summer 2018)

Professional Qualifications/Memberships

• Registered Social Worker of Hong Kong (HKRSW) 

• Accredited Assessor of Standardized Care Need Assessment for Elderly Services, HK (2013-2015) 

• Certificated Dementia Care Planner, HKADA  

• Certificated International Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Trainer, UCL  

• Certified in Thanatology (CT, 2023-2026) 

• Certificated Trainer for Quality of End-of-Life Care for All (QELCA ©), St Christopher's Hospice, UK

  Memberships

• Hong Kong Social Workers Association (HKSWA)  

• HKU Social Work Alumni Association (HKUSWAA) 

• Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR)  

• International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)  

• Gerontological Society of America (GSA)  

• Association for Death Education and Counselling (ADEC)  

Teaching

• Social Impact Assessment
• Self-development Workshop
• Social Work Research Methods
• Multiple-disciplinary Perspectives in Social Work

Research

•  Mental Health, Gerontology and Geriatrics, Dementia Care, Palliative Care, End-of-life Care, Spiritual Care, Family Caregiving, Intervention Research 

Research Projects

• PI of "Promotion truck campaign: A brief survey on the public awareness and personal preference of end-of-life-related issues"  

• PI of "Program evaluation of quality end-of-life care for all (QELCA©)"  

• PI of "Engagement and capacity building of community elderly service organisations in the development and provision of community-based end-of-life care in HK: A two-stage study"  

• Co-I of "Community-based participatory research for elderly mental wellness in HK"  

• Co-I of "A pilot study of self-stigma in depressed older adults and the impact of a community-based cultural art program"  

• Co-I of "A culturally appropriate multimodal non-pharmacological intervention for Chinese people with mild-to-moderate dementia"  

• Co-I of "Building a good life for persons living with dementia and carers in HK"  

• Co-I of "The feasibility and efficacy of family-oriented support program for carers of persons with dementia: A mixed-methods study"  

• Co-I of "The implementation of cognitive stimulation therapy HK version for promoting cognitive functioning and psychosocial well-being of people with dementia"  

Selected Publications

Peer-reviewed Journals (*Corresponding author) 

• Zhang, A.Y., Wong, G.H.Y., Lum, T.Y.S., Wood, B., & Spector, A. (2025). Constructive engagement in cognitive stimulation therapy groups among people with dementia: A mixed-methods study. Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions. Doi:10.1002/trc2.70075 
• Zhang, A.Y., Liu, T. Y., Leung, D. K. Y., Yau, J.H.Y., Lu, S.Y., Wong, G.H.Y. & Lum, T. Y. S. (2025). The impact of different types of depression literacy in older adults on their stigma towards depression: A longitudinal study. The British Journal of Social Work. Doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcaf038 
• Chow, A.Y.M., Zhang, A.Y.*, Wong, K.T.C., Chan, I.K.N., Fordjour, G.A., Xiong, X.C., Lou, V.W.Q., & Chan, C.L.W. (2024). Differential effects of an integrated community-based end-of-life support team (ICEST) model for terminally ill older adults on spousal and adult-children caregivers. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine Doi:10.1177/10499091241268992  
• Chow, A.Y.M., Zhang, A.Y., Chan, I.K.N., Fordjour, G.A., Lui, N.M.J., Lou, V.W.Q., & Chan, C.L.W. (2023). Caregiving strain mediates the relationship between terminally ill patients' physical symptoms and their family caregivers' wellbeing: A multicentred longitudinal study. Journal of Palliative Care. Doi:10.1177/08258597231215137  
• Chow, A.Y.M., Fordjour, G.A., Lui, J. N., Chan, I. K., Zhang, A.Y., & Chan, C. L. (2023). The physical and psychosocial outcomes of a psychosocial home-based end-of-life care intervention in Hong Kong. Journal of Palliative Care. Doi:10.1177/08258597231157346  
• Leung, D.K.Y., Wong, F. H. C., Yau, J.Y. Y, Zhang, A.Y., Au, W.S. H., Liu, T.Y., Wong, G.H.Y., & Lum, T.Y.S. (2023). Dimensionality and risk factors of the personal stigma of depression in adults aged 50 years and older at risk of depression. Aging and Mental Health, 1-8. Doi:10.1080/13607863.2023.2179973  
• Xu, L., Chen, Z., & Zhang, A.Y. (2022). Impact of older adults' oral health on caregiving stress of their family caregivers in the United States: The mediating effect of functional ability. Health & Social Care in the Community, 30(6), e5470-e5481. Doi:10.1111/hsc.13971  
• Lu, S.Y., Zhang, A.Y., Wong, G.H.Y., Liu, T.Y., Choy, J.C.P., Ma, MSL & Lum, T.Y.S. (2021). Degree of personalization in tailored activities and its effect on behavioral and psychological symptoms and quality of life among people with dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Bmj Open,11(11), e048917. Doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-048917  
• Lu, S.Y., Zhang, A.Y., Liu, T.Y., Leung, D.K.Y., Kwok, W. W., Luo, H., Tang. J., Wong, G.H.Y., & Lum, T.Y.S. (2021). Associations between depressive symptom clusters and care utilization and costs among community‐dwelling older adults. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 37(1). Doi:10.1002/gps.5636  
• Leung, G. S., Zhang, A.Y., Eddie, H. K., & Cheung, J. C. (2020). From spectator to spect-actor: The proactive involvement of Chinese parents in their conflicts with adolescents through a forum theatre format. Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools, 30(1), 73-81. Doi:10.1017/jgc.2019.21  
• Wong, G.H.Y., Yek, O. P., Zhang, A.Y., Lum, T. Y.S., & Spector, A. (2018). Cultural adaptation of cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) for Chinese people with dementia: Multicentre pilot study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 33(6), 841-848. Doi:10.1002/gps.4663  

Books

• Wong, L.C., Zhang, A.Y. (2025). The Art of Psychotherapy and the Inner World. Hong Kong University Press. (In Traditional Chinese)  

Invited Presentations

• Zhang, A.Y. (Oct 2024) Development and Outcomes of Integrated Community End-of-life Care Support Team (ICEST) Model in Hong Kong. National Joint Conference of World Hospice Day, China. (online) 
• Zhang, A.Y. (May 2024) Caregiving Experiences and Mental Health of Family Caregivers of Terminally ill Older Adults: Effects of Integrated Community End-of-life Care Support Team (ICEST) Model. China Anti-Cancer Association Psycho-Oncology Academic Annual Conference, Qingdao, China.  
• Zhang, A.Y. (Jun 2019) Beyond Participation: Practice Wisdom in the Engagement of People with Dementia in Cognitive Stimulation Therapy. The 3rd International Conference on Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) Conference. Saint Louis University, Missouri, United States

Community Participation and Achievement/Public Service

• Honorary Director of International Intervention Training, College of Social Policy and Social Work, East China University of Science and Technology (2024-2027)
• Core Member of UCL Dementia Training Academy(2024-present) 

• Aging and Mental Health 
• Journal of Long-term Care 
• Frontiers in Public Health 
• The Gerontologist (Trained reviewer) 
• BMC Geriatrics Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 
• Journal of Palliative Care 

Awards

• HKU COA JMK Dementia Care Scholarship, The University of Hong Kong (2019)

• Faraday Scholarship, University of Cambridge (2019) 

• Shanghai Excellent Graduate Award, Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (2011) 

• National Distinguished Academic Scholarship, Ministry of Education, China (2010) 

• Student Leadership Awards, East China University of Science and Technology (2009,2010) 

• Social Work Service Awards, East China University of Science and Technology (2008-2010) 

• Distinguished Academic Scholarships, East China University of Science and Technology (2007-2009)