Multiple Chronic Conditions for Older Adults

University of Wisconsin (UW)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Chronic Disease

Treatments: Behavioral: TAU + ElderTree; Other: Treatment as usual (TAU) + Internet

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT03387735

ENGR\INDUSTRIAL ENGR\CHESS (Other Identifier)

A195010 (Other Identifier)

2017-0849

1R01HL134146-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Multiple chronic conditions are common and expensive among patients aged ≥65 and are associated with lower quality of life, poorer response to treatment, worse medical and psychiatric outcomes, higher mortality, and higher costs of care.

The primary purpose of this study is to conduct a randomized clinical trial (RCT) to examine the effects of ElderTree --a web-based intervention--on health outcomes and healthcare use among older adults with several chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, COPD, BMI over 30, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, arrhythmia/atrial fibrillation, chronic pain, arthritis.

The investigator's hypothesis is that patients assigned to TAU+ElderTree will have better quality of life and fewer primary care visits than those assigned to TAU+Internet.

Enrollment: 346 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. are ≥65 years old

2. have been treated in the University of Wisconsin Health clinics for at least the previous 18 months with no plans to leave during the study period

3. have 3 or more of the following chronic conditions: hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, arthritis, BMI over 30, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia/atrial fibrillation, pulmonary heart disease or pulmonary vascular disease, chronic pain, COPD

4. report no current psychotic disorder that would prevent participation

5. have no acute medical problem requiring immediate hospitalization

6. be able to read and sign the consent form in English

7. have no known terminal illness

8. be willing to share health-related study data and

   • Systolic and diastolic BP
   • Weight
   • BMI
   • HDL/LDL
   • HbA1C
   • pain score
   • lung function
   • health care utilization: number of ER visits, urgent care visits, primary care visits and specialty care visits

9. allow researchers to share information with their primary care physician

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

---

346 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Treatment as usual (TAU) + Internet

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Patients will be given access to helpful websites such as National Institute on Aging.

Treatment:

Other: Treatment as usual (TAU) + Internet

Treatment as usual (TAU) + ElderTree

Experimental group

Description:

Patients will be given access to the ElderTree website for 12 months which provides tools, motivation, and social support to help them manage their specific set of chronic conditions and communicate with peers and their primary care physician.

Treatment:

Behavioral: TAU + ElderTree