Effects of mHealth on Promoting Self-care Health Management Among Older Adults in the Community

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Telemedicine

Treatments: Other: mHealth application with interactivity; Other: mHealth application

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03878212

mHSC-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

Many of the existing mobile health (mHealth) apps designed in a reactive care approach, in which people do not receive individualized care until they consulted health care professionals through the apps. This proposal endeavors to develop a proactive mHealth application on promoting self-care ability and health among older adults to examine the differential benefits of adding nurse interaction supported by an integrated health-social partnership model in the use of mHealth.

Full description

Objectives: Many of the existing mobile health (mHealth) apps designed in a reactive care approach, in which people do not receive individualized care until they consulted health care professionals through the apps. This proposal endeavors to develop a proactive mHealth application on promoting self-care ability and health among older adults to examine the differential benefits of adding nurse interaction supported by an integrated health-social partnership model in the use of mHealth.

Hypothesis to be tested: There is no difference in self-management outcomes, individual and societal benefits between the subjects receiving mHealth+Interactivity, mHealth, and usual care.

Design and subjects: This is a single-blinded, three-armed randomized controlled trial. The subjects are people who are aged 60 or above with chief complaints of either pain, hypertension, or diabetes mellitus.

Instruments: mHealth application designed by the research team with the information technological support by Smartone.

Interventions: mHealth with interactivity group receives both mHealth app and nurse case management supported by a social service team in community. mHealth group will have access to health content on mHealth platform only. Usual care group receives usual community services.

Main outcome measures: Self-management outcomes (self-efficacy, pain score, blood pressure, capillary blood glucose), individual (quality of life, depression) and societal benefits (institutionalization and health service utilization).

Data analysis: Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) is used to determine the between-group effects, within-group effects, and the interaction effects.

Expected results: Older adults would benefit from supported self-care equipping them with sufficient knowledge, skills and confidence to lead to relatively independent life at home.

Enrollment: 221 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• people who are aged 60 or above
• with chief complaints of either pain, hypertension, or diabetes mellitus
• living within the service areas and (4) using smartphone

Exclusion criteria

• already engaged in other mHealth programs
• diagnosed with psychiatric problems
• bed-bound
• living in area with no internet coverage

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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221 participants in 3 patient groups

mHealth+I

Experimental group

Description:

This group of participants will receive a proactive mHealth with interactivity program which includes two main elements: 1) mHealth application designed by the research team with the information technological support by Smartone and 2) nurse case management supported by a social service team

Treatment:

Other: mHealth application with interactivity

mHealth

Active Comparator group

Description:

The mHealth group will have access to the health content on the mHealth platform. This group 2018 HMRF Open Call Proposal Section 13: Proposed Research Project 5 will enjoy the same content and client-initiated help if needed. Same as the above group, the client is invited to use the mHealth application. A reminder message will pop up on the screen of smartphone when participants have not used it for more than one week. The participants are encouraged to read the self-care information that is featured in the app. There is a button for the client-imitated call if they would like to consult a nurse.

Treatment:

Other: mHealth application

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

All groups will receive usual community services. The study district provides community-based health talks and basic health checks such as measuring blood pressure and blood glucose that are accessible to all residents, and their participation is voluntary. Both health and social services are available in the community for those who need help, including referral for further help if appropriate. These services are however episodic with design for continuity of care. No mHealth application will be provided to the participants in this group but the individuals are free to do their own surfing for e-health information.