Prof. YIU Hei Hang Edmund

Research Assistant Professor
PhD Health Sciences (Health Economics), MSc Economics (Distinction), BBA Business Economics (First Class Honours)  
Office Address
Room 1B-403, 4/F, Block 1B, To Yuen Building, 31 To Yuen Street, City University of Hong Kong
Office Tel
+852 3442-4171
Email
hhed.yiu@cityu.edu.hk
Biography URL
CityUHK Scholars

Prof. YIU Hei Hang Edmund is a Research Assistant Professor and Deputy Programme Leader of the Master of Public Health Programme in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health at City University of Hong Kong. He obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Business Economics with First Class Honours from the Department of Economics and Finance, College of Business, City University of Hong Kong, in 2016. He subsequently pursued his master’s and doctoral studies at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, obtaining a Master of Science (MSc) in Economics with Distinction from the Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Science, in 2017. In 2018, he was awarded the prestigious Chancellor’s International Scholarship to pursue a PhD in Health Sciences (Health Economics) at Warwick Medical School, which he completed in 2022. He has also undertaken specialist training in preference elicitation and analysis, discrete choice experiments, cost-effectiveness analysis and psychometric approaches to measuring health outcomes and quality of life through courses offered by the Universities of Oxford, Aberdeen and Sheffield in the UK.

In collaboration with clinicians in Hong Kong, Prof. Yiu has applied mixed-methods approaches to medication preference studies involving patients recruited from specialist outpatient clinics (SOPCs). These studies use stated preference methods to quantify the relative importance of factors influencing patients’ medication choices, alongside qualitative methods to explore barriers to medication adherence. He has also contributed to preference elicitation projects examining how members of the general public, secondary school students, people with chronic conditions, and older adults value different characteristics of social and community services and health interventions.

To support the development of outcome measures for health economic evaluations and health technology assessment (HTA), Prof. Yiu collaborated with researchers at the University of Oxford and the University of Warwick to derive the first UK preference-based value set for the Short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS), using discrete choice experiment (DCE) and composite time trade-off (C-TTO) methods. This value set enables the estimation of Mental Well-being Adjusted Life Years (MWALYs), offering an alternative to Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) for the cost-effectiveness analysis of interventions aimed at improving mental well-being. The use of MWALYs in economic evaluations helps capture aspects of mental well-being that may not be fully reflected in commonly used health-related quality-of-life instruments, such as EQ-5D. This research has been presented at international academic meetings, including the International Health Economics Association (iHEA) World Congress and Health Economists’ Study Group meetings. Prof. Yiu continues to contribute to a Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF)-supported project that he initiated as Principal Investigator. The project adopts a mixed-methods approach, incorporating DCE and C-TTO methods, to derive a Hong Kong preference-based value set for the Chinese version of the SWEMWBS, drawing on preference data from more than 1,000 members of the general public. It aims to quantify the relative importance that the public places on different dimensions of mental well-being, support the estimation of MWALYs and inform the design and evaluation of interventions to improve population mental well-being.

Prof. Yiu previously contributed to the Jockey Club PHARM+ Community Medication Service Network project, evaluating pharmacist-led Minor Ailment Service (MAS) and Medication Management Services (MMS) in NGO-affiliated community pharmacies. His work examined service structures and implementation processes, alongside humanistic, economic and clinical outcomes. He also contributed to the translation and validation of the Traditional Chinese version of the Pharmacy Services Questionnaire (PSQ) to assess patient satisfaction with pharmacy services in Hong Kong. In addition, he has investigated patients’ preferences and willingness to pay for MMS using contingent valuation, the price sensitivity meter, and DCE methods. This research aims to inform primary care service improvements, support the development of community pharmacy services and contribute to efforts to reduce pressure on the public healthcare system.

Prof. Yiu has been invited to speak on health preference research and its applications to health policy and HTA, including at the Southern Pharmacoeconomics Forum in mainland China. His first-author and corresponding-author publications have appeared in journals including Social Science & Medicine, Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, Value in Health Regional Issues, Quality of Life Research, and Communications Medicine. Alongside his research, Prof. Yiu teaches and supervises undergraduate and master’s students. He obtained a Professional Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education from The University of Hong Kong in 2025. He is committed to developing students’ skills in qualitative and quantitative research and equipping them to apply these methods to improve healthcare services in Hong Kong and beyond.

 

Health Economics

  • Health preference research, including preference elicitation using discrete choice experiments (DCEs), time trade-off (TTO), contingent valuation, and other stated preference survey methods
  • Population health-related quality of life
  • Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs)
  • Qualitative research, including think-aloud interviews, focus group interviews, and in-depth interviews
  • Clinical trials and evaluation of health outcomes
  • Economic evaluation (cost-effectiveness analysis)
  • Survey development and validation

Prof. Yiu is seeking highly motivated Research Assistants with a strong interest in applying mixed-methods approaches to quality-of-life research and conducting health preference research using discrete choice experiments. Interested candidates are welcome to email their CVs to hhed.yiu@cityu.edu.hk

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1492-9414  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hei-hang-edmund-yiu-153372105/  

X: https://twitter.com/Edmund_Yiu

Selected Publications (*=Corresponding author)

  1. Yiu, H. H. E., Yan, V. K. C., Au, C. C. L., Deng, E. K., Wong, M. C. S., Yan, B. P., Wong, W. C. W., Liu, S. Y., Wong, C. K. & Chan, E. W. (2026) Patient Preferences for Lipid-Lowering Agents in Hypercholesterolemia: A Discrete Choice Experiment. Value in Health Regional Issues, 101662. doi: 10.1016/j.vhri.2026.101662

     

  2. Cheung, C. L., Yiu, H. H. E. (Co-first author), Ng, V. W. S., Chan, F. N. K., Sun, J. H. T., Hung, N. H. C., Mak, R. H. M., Lee, M. T., Lee, T. K. H., Cheung, G. D., Law, K. K. K., Cheng, F. W. T., Hung, A. T. F., Chen, T. F., Chan, E. W. Y., Wong, I. C. K. & Wan, E. Y. F. (2026) Evaluating the Clinical and Humanistic Impact of a Self-Care and Minor Ailment Service (MAS). Communications Medicine, 6 (1): 468. doi: 10.1038/s43856-026-01679-3

     

  3. Yiu, H. H. E.*, Chow, L. H., Au, C. C. L., Deng, E. K., Zhao, Z., Wei, Y., Lee, K. J., Huang, C., Yang, Y., Kang, W., Petrou, S., Madan, J. & Chan, E. W. (2025) A think-aloud study exploring the application of composite time trade-off and discrete choice experiment methods for valuing the Chinese Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (C-SWEMWBS). Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 23 (1): 1–12. doi: 10.1186/s12955-025-02433-4

     

  4. Cheung, C. L., Yiu, H. H. E. (Co-first author), Chan, F. N. K., Cho, T. L. H., Sun, J. H. T., Lee, M. T., Lee, T. K. H., Cheung, G. D., Law, K. K. K., Wong, J. K. T., Cheng, F. W. T., Lo, L. K. Y., Yuen, W. H. C., Yuen, R. P. Y., Chen, T. F., Chan, E. W. Y., Wong, I. C. K., Ng, V. W. S. & Wan, E. Y. F. (2025) Translation and validation of the Pharmacy Services Questionnaire (PSQ) in a Chinese population. Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 18 (1): 2527409. doi: 10.1080/20523211.2025.2527409

     

  5. Yiu, H. H. E., Deng, K., Fung, L. W., Ye, X., Blais, J. E., Tse, H. F., Wong, M. C. S., Yan, B. P., Wong, W. C. W., Li, X., Wong, C. K. H., Wong, C. K. & Chan, E. W. (2024) Lipid-lowering agent preferences among patients with hypercholesterolemia: A focus group study. Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 17(1): 2421261. doi: 10.1080/20523211.2024.2421261

     

  6. Yiu, H. H. E.*, Buckell, J., Petrou, S., Stewart-Brown, S. & Madan, J. (2023) Derivation of a UK preference-based value set for the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS) to allow estimation of Mental Well-being Adjusted Life Years (MWALYs). Social Science & Medicine, 327 115928. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115928

     

  7. Yiu, H. H. E., Yan, V. K., Wei, Y., Ye, X., Huang, C., Castle, D. J., Chui, C. S., Lai, F. T., Li, X., Wong, C. K., Wan, E. Y., Wong, I. C. & Chan, E. W. (2023) Risks of COVID-19-related hospitalisation and mortality among individuals with mental disorders following BNT162b2 and CoronaVac vaccinations: A case-control study. Psychiatry Research, 329 115515. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115515 

     

  8. Yiu, H. H. E.*, Al-Janabi, H., Stewart-Brown, S., Petrou, S. & Madan, J. (2022) The use of composite time trade-off and discrete choice experiment methods for the valuation of the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS): a think-aloud study. Quality of Life Research, 31 (9): 2739-2751. doi: 10.1007/s11136-022-03123-0

     

  9. Huang, Z., Liu, X., Yu, Z., He, Y., Yi., X., Yiu, H. H. E., Gao, A., & Ming, W. K. (2026) Evolution of Discourse in the Reddit Hemorrhoid Community: Topic and Sentiment Analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 28 e90427. doi: 10.2196/90427

     

  10. Leung, S. M., Lee, K. J., Wei, Y., Yan, V. K., Deng, E. K., Deb, S., Castle, D., Huang, C., Yiu, H. H. E., Lui, S. S. Y., Ng, V. W. S., Lai, F. T. T., Yan, W. C., Chan, E. W. (2026) Differences in associations between long-acting injectable and oral antipsychotic prescribing and healthcare utilisation in people with intellectual disability: a self-controlled case series (LOID study). BMJ Mental Health, 29:e302830. doi: 10.1136/bmjment-2026-302830

     

  11. Wang, K., Lee, C. C. L., Qu, G., Tang, C. T. K., Yiu, H. H. E., Yang, X., Wong, C. K. M., Wong, S. Y., S., & Yip, B. H. K. (2026) Individual preferences for the design of a health coaching-based lifestyle promotion program among middle-aged adults: a discrete choice experiment. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. doi: 10.1186/s12955-026-02584-y

     

  12. He, H., Tang, J., Yan, V. K. C., Blais, J. E., Wong, C.-K., Tam, M. T. K., Yiu, H. H. E., Tse, H.-F. & Chan, E. W. Y. (2026) Combination therapy with moderate-intensity statins and ezetimibe and risk of incident PCI/CABG in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: a propensity-matched cohort study. The Lancet Regional Health–Western Pacific, 71. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2026.101895

     

  13. Kang, W., Lam, B. P., Lau, R. T. L., Li, S. T., Wu, K., Wei, Y., Yang, Y., Lee, K. J., Huang, C., Yan, V. K. C., Yiu, H. H. E., Lee, S. F., Helali, A. E., Lee, V. H. F., Chan, S.L., Hui, R. Y. M., Lam, K. O. & Chan, E. W. (2026) Safety and Effectiveness of Direct Oral Anticoagulants Versus Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin for Cancer-Associated Thrombosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Drug Safety, 1–20. doi: 10.1007/s40264-026-01684-4

     

  14. Li, Y., Chan, V. K. Y., Jit, M., Cheng, F. W. T., Yiu, H. H. E., Bishai, D. M., Craig, D., Chan, E. W. Y., Chan, S. S. M. & Li, X. (2026) Cost-effectiveness of esketamine versus alternative treatment strategies for treatment-resistant depression in Hong Kong: A multi-armed modeling study. PLOS Medicine, 23 (4): e1005047. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1005047

     

  15. Dong, S., Li, Y., Liao, Z., Lin, Q., Yiu, H. H. E., Li, L., Zhao, R., & Ming, W. K. (2026) A comparative study of EQ-5D-5L and SF-6D scales based on patients receiving oral anticoagulant therapy. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 24 (1): 24. doi: 10.1186/s12955-026-02483-2

     

  16. Kavitha, A. K., Adair, T., Fazaeli, A. A., Aronsson, A., Ashaba, M., Backhaus-Hoven, I., Bakhtiari, A., Balaj, M., Barnes, T., Barouni, M., Bayiga, E., Bennett, S., Bergen, N., Bernal, L., Bhattacharya, D., Birabwa, C., Bishai, D., …, Yiu, H. H. E., Yusupov, Y., Zhao, J. J., Zhou, J., Zimmerman, L. A. & Health Inequality Monitoring, N. (2026) WHO launches global network of institutes to strengthen capacity for health inequality monitoring. International Journal for Equity in Health, 25 (1): 79. doi: 10.1186/s12939-026-02780-8

     

  17. Chen, Y., He, Y., Zou, X., Cai, H., Yiu, H. H. E. & Ming, W. K. (2025) Undergraduate nursing students’ preferences for virtual reality simulations in nursing skills training: A discrete choice experiment. Digital health, 11 20552076251339009. doi: 10.1177/20552076251339009

     

  18. Lee, K. J., Wei, Y., Leung, S.-M., Huang, C., Yiu, H. H. E., Deng, E. K., Castle, D. J., Lui, S. S., Wong, V. K., Wong, I. C. & Chan, E. W. (2025) A Decade of Benzodiazepine and Z-drug Use in Hong Kong: A Longitudinal Study. The Lancet Regional Health-Western Pacific, 59. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101591

     

  19. Yip, B. H., Liu, J., Yiu, H. H. E., Tsang, K., Goldstein, D., Loong, H., Wong, R. & Lee, V. W. (2025) Enhancing cost effectiveness considerations in adoption of new drugs in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Medical Journal, 31. doi: 10.12809/hkmj2412259

     

  20. Wei, Y., Yan, V. K. C., Castle, D. J., Huang, C., Deng, E. K., Leung, S.-M., Yiu, H. H. E., Lee, K. J., Lui, S. S. Y, Ng, V. W. S., Hayes, J. F., Lai, F. T.T., Wang, H., Yan, E. W., Chan, E.W. (2025) Disease relapse, all-cause mortality, and adverse events associated with long-acting injectable antipsychotics versus oral antipsychotics in older people with schizophrenia in Hong Kong: a population-based within-subject analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry, 12 (11): 830–840. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(25)00268-8

     

  21. Huang, Z., Liu, X., He, Y., Yi, X., Yu, Z., Huang, J., Yiu, H. H. E. & Ming, W. K. (2025) Depression and anxiety symptom networks in hemorrhoid patients: evidence from the UK biobank. BMC psychology, 13 (1): 1017. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-03170-5

     

  22. Yi, X., He, Y., Huang, Z., Liu, M., Fekadu, G., Liu, X., Yu, Z., Yiu, H. H. E., Huang, J., Wu, Y. & Ming, W. K. (2025) Exploring the public attitudes toward euthanasia legalization in China, especially among individuals with mental disorders: a national cross-sectional study. Archives of Public Health, 83 (1): 307. doi: 10.1186/s13690-025-01769-z

     

  23. Kang, W., Peng, K., Yan, V. K., Al-Badriyeh, D., Lee, S. F., Yiu, H. H. E., Wei, Y., Li, S. T., Ye, X., El Helali, A., Lam, K. O., Lee, V. H. F., Wong, I. C. K. & Chan, E. W. (2024) Direct oral anticoagulants versus low-molecular-weight heparin in patients with cancer-associated venous thrombosis: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 17 (1): 2375269. doi: 10.1080/20523211.2024.2375269

     

  24. Huang, C., Wei, Y., Yan, V. K., Ye, X., Kang, W., Yiu, H. H. E., Shami, J. J., Cowling, B. J., Tse, M. L., Castle, D. J., Chui, C. S., Lai, F. T., Li, X., Wan, E. Y., Wong, C. K., Hayes, J. F., Chang, W. C., Chung, A. K., Lau, C. S., Wong, I. C. & Chan, E. W. (2023) Vaccine effectiveness of BNT162b2 and CoronaVac against SARS-CoV-2 omicron infection and related hospital admission among people with substance use disorder in Hong Kong: a matched case-control study. The Lancet Psychiatry, 10 (6): 403-413. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(23)00111-6

     

  25. Law, M., Ho, S. S., Tsang, G. K., Ho, C. M., Kwan, C. M., Yan, V. K. C., Yiu, H. H. E., Lai, F. T. T., Wong, I. C. K. & Chan, E. W. Y. (2023) Efficacy and effectiveness of inactivated vaccines against symptomatic COVID-19, severe COVID-19, and COVID-19 clinical outcomes in the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Regional Health-Western Pacific, 37. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100788 

     

  26. Lo, C. W. H., Pathadka, S., Qin, S. X., Fung, L. W., Yan, V. K. C., Yiu, H. H. E., Bloom, C. I., Wong, I. C. K. & Chan, E. W. Y. (2023) Neuropsychiatric events associated with montelukast in patients with asthma: a systematic review. European Respiratory Review, 32 (169). doi: 10.1183/16000617.0079-2023

     

  27. Qin, S. X., Cheng, F. W. T., Kwok, W. C., Fung, L. W., Ma, T. T., Yiu, H. H. E., Bloom, C., McDonald, C. F., Cheung, C.-L., Lai, F. T. T., Chui, C. S. L., Li, X., Wong, C. K. H., Wan, E. Y. F., Wong, I. C. K. & Chan, E. W. Y. (2023) Effectiveness and Respiratory Adverse Events Following Inactivated and mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines in Patients with COPD and Asthma: A Chinese Population-Based Study. Drug Safety, 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s40264-023-01364-7

     

  28. Ye, X., Yan, V. K., Yiu, H. H. E., Shami, J. J., Kang, W., Ma, T., Qin, X., Chui, C. S., Lai, F. T., Li, X., Wan, E. Y., Wong, C. K., Wong, I. C. & Chan, E. W. (2023) BNT162b2 or CoronaVac Vaccinations Are Associated With a Lower Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Stroke After SARS‐CoV‐2 Infection Among Patients With Cardiovascular Disease. Journal of the American Heart Association, 12 (9): e029291. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.122.029291

     

  29. El-Banna, A., Petrou, S., Yiu, H. H. E., Daher, S., Forrester, D., Scourfield, J., Wilkins, D., Evans, R., Turley, R. & Wallace, S. (2021) Systematic review of economic evaluations of children’s social care interventions. Children and Youth Services Review, 121 105864. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105864

     

  30. Petrou, S., Yiu, H. H. E. & Kwon, J. (2018) Economic consequences of preterm birth: a systematic review of the recent literature (2009–2017). Archives of disease in childhood, archdischild-2018-315778. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2018-315778