Exploring the Feasibility of a Digital Service to Improve Nutrition and Hydration Status of Older Adults

Chloe French

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Dehydration; Malnutrition; Healthy Aging

Treatments: Device: Keep-on-Keep-Up Nutrition (KOKU-Nut)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05943366

17372

Details and patient eligibility

About

Trial Design: This is a feasibility randomised controlled trial.

Aim: The study aims to assess the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial using a digital health tool (Keep-On-Keep-Up Nutrition, KOKU-Nut) to improve dietary intake in community-dwelling older adults.

Objectives:

1. Is it feasible and practical to run KOKU-Nut study as a powered randomised controlled trial.
2. Adherence to the intervention, motivations, barriers and facilitators of engaging with KOKU-Nut

Study population:

Community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older

Intervention:

Participants in the intervention group will be asked to engage with KOKU-Nut at least 3 times a week throughout the 12-week period. A crib sheet and contact details for the research team will be available if participants require additional support to help with technical issues.

Control:

Participants will continue with usual care and receive a leaflet developed by Age UK about the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

Timing and duration 3 month intervention with interviews carried out approximately one week after the intervention period

Full description

Background:

Dietary patterns can play an important role in health in older age. Apps that encourage dietary change are available and commonly used in younger populations, however; few are designed for the nutritional and technical requirements of older adults. Keep-On-Keep-Up Nutrition (KOKU-Nut) is the latest development of the digital tool and includes nutritional games based on the Eatwell guide to nudge older adults to improve their diet with a specific focus on protein, fibre and fluid. The innovation process has brought together researchers, clinicians, software designers and older users to co-develop the digital tool.

In this study, researchers will test the practicality of KOKU-Nut as an intervention before further larger studies are conducted to assess it's effectiveness.

The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial using this digital health tool (KOKU-Nut) to improve dietary intake in community-dwelling older adults. Participants will be randomised to receive usual care and an information booklet about living a healthy lifestyle or to the intervention group and asked to engage with KOKU-Nut 3 times a week for 12 weeks.

Enrollment: 30 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 65 years or older
• Living independently in the community
• Have access to the internet (to complete online dietary assessment)
• Willing to use an iPad or tablet (their own or one provided) for the duration of the study

Exclusion criteria

• Unable to communicate in English
• Have a known cognitive impairment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

KOKU-Nut

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will be helped to download KOKU-Nut onto their ipad or tablet during the baseline visit and will receive training. In cases where participants do not have the necessary devices or data to join the intervention, a tablet with KOKU-Nut installed will be provided for the duration of the intervention. Participants will be asked to engage with KOKU-Nut at least 3 times a week throughout the 12-week period.

Treatment:

Device: Keep-on-Keep-Up Nutrition (KOKU-Nut)

Usual care

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants will continue with usual care and will receive a leaflet developed by Age UK about the importance of a healthy lifestyle including information on the importance of staying active and nutrition.