Development and Measurement of the Effects of a Digital Education Solution for Patients Undergoing Total Hip or Knee Arthroplasty (CHUVeduc@home)

Haute Ecole de Santé Vaud

Status: Begins enrollment this month

Conditions: Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; Arthroplasty Replacement, Knee

Treatments: Behavioral: Standard Care Pathway; Behavioral: Digital Preoperative Education with CHUVeduc@home

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07345299

CHUVeduc@home

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a digital patient education solution, CHUVeduc@home, in improving preoperative preparation for patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty. In Switzerland, many patients receive joint replacements each year to relieve osteoarthritis-related pain. With shorter hospital stays, adequate preparation before surgery has become increasingly important.

A total of 160 patients will be randomized into two groups:

Intervention group: access to CHUVeduc@home before surgery. Control group: standard preoperative preparation (group information session and consultation).

All participants will complete questionnaires through the application. No additional visits are required. The intervention lasts approximately 12 weeks.

The primary goal is to determine whether digital education increases patient knowledge, confidence, and satisfaction, and facilitates recovery and return home after surgery. Participation is voluntary and can be withdrawn at any time.

Full description

Study Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to improve preparation for hip or knee surgery. Each year in Switzerland, a large number of individuals receive a hip or knee prosthesis to relieve pain caused by osteoarthritis. Through enhanced perioperative care programs such as the one implemented at CHUV, the length of hospital stay has decreased, making preoperative preparation increasingly important.

Current Practice:

Current practice includes participation in a group information session and a preoperative consultation. However, retaining all provided information can be challenging. To support more effective preparation, the investigators will evaluate a digital application called CHUVeduc@home, integrated within CHUV@home, which is already used during postoperative recovery.

Features of the Application:

The application provides the possibility to:

Review information at an individualized pace. Improve understanding of the surgical and recovery processes. Access quizzes and practical information sheets for training purposes.

Submit questions directly to the Telemonitoring Center team.

Study Design:

The study plans to include 160 participants. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:

A group using the application before surgery. A group following the usual preoperative preparation process.

All participants will use the application to complete study questionnaires. No additional appointments are required. The study duration is approximately 12 weeks. Participation is voluntary and can be discontinued at any time.

Expected Benefits:

The investigators anticipate that this digital approach to preoperative preparation may help participants feel more confident, better informed, and better supported during their return home after surgery.

Enrollment: 160 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• male and female patients admitted to the CHUV musculoskeletal department during the study period
• primary total hip replacement or primary total knee replacement
• a Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool (RAPT) score >6

Exclusion criteria

• a RAPT score <6,
• knee/hip arthroplasty revision surgery
• inability to give informed consent or answer questionnaires knowledgeably due to language or cognitive impairment as reported in the medical record

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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160 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention Group: access to CHUVeduc@home before surgery

Experimental group

Description:

Intervention Group - Pathway with CHUVeduc@home This group follows the standard preoperative pathway, complemented by personalized digital preparation through the CHUVeduc@home application, available 2 to 6 weeks before surgery.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Digital Preoperative Education with CHUVeduc@home

Control Group - Standard Care Pathway

Active Comparator group

Description:

Control Group - Standard Care Pathway This group follows the standard clinical care pathway established at CHUV for patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty. The main steps include: * Consultation with the surgeon * Group information session * Preoperative consultation * Hospital stay for surgery * Discharge and return home * Telemonitoring with CHUV@home after surgery * Postoperative follow-up visit at 6 weeks Participants in this group also use the CHUV@home application to complete study-specific questionnaires; however, they do not receive any additional educational content prior to surgery.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Standard Care Pathway