The Development and Acceptability of a Mobile Application for Tracking Symptoms of Heart Failure Among Older Adults

BACKGROUND Digital health provides opportunities for patients with advanced heart failure and their caregivers to engage in palliative care, but is relatively underexplored. OBJECTIVE To test the acceptability and usability of Convoy-Pal, a mobile palliative care solution for older adults and their family and informal caregivers, i.e., their “social convoy”. METHODS Convoy-Pal includes tablet based and smart watch tools facilitating self-management and access to palliative care resources. Older adults and convoy caregivers completed an acceptability and usability interview via Zoom including open ended questions and the Mobile Application Rating Scale: User Version (uMars). Descriptive analysis was conducted to summarize the results of open-ended feedback and self-reported acceptability and usability. RESULTS Overall, the feedback from users was good (uMars M=3.96, out of 5). Open ended feedback from the interviews included improving graphs and adding monitoring features. CONCLUSIONS Convoy-Pal is perceived acceptable with good usability for both older adults and their caregivers.

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An Analysis of Apps with a Medication List Functionality for Older Adults with Heart Failure: Evaluation using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) and the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics Functionality Score (Preprint)

JMIR mhealth and uhealth ◽

10.2196/30674 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yohanca Maria Diaz-Skeete ◽

David McQuaid ◽

Adewale Samuel Akinosun ◽

Idongesit Ekerete ◽

Natacha Carragher ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Older Adults ◽

Mobile Application ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Medication List ◽

Healthcare Informatics ◽

Failure Evaluation

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A patient-centered mobile intervention to promote self-management and improve patient outcomes in chronic heart failure: The ManageHF4Life trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.26185 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Michael P. Dorsch ◽

Karen B. Farris ◽

Brigid E. Rowell ◽

Scott L. Hummel ◽

Todd M. Koelling

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Mobile Application ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Self Care ◽

Self Management ◽

Control Group ◽

Patient Centered ◽

Self Monitoring ◽

Heart Failure Questionnaire

BACKGROUND Successful management of heart failure (HF) involves guideline based medical therapy as well as self-care behavior. As a result, the management of HF is moving toward a proactive real-time technological model of assisting patients with monitoring and self-management. OBJECTIVE Evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile application intervention that enhances self-monitoring on health-related quality of life, self-management, and reduces HF readmissions. METHODS A single-center randomized controlled trial was performed. Patients greater than 45 years of age and admitted for acute decompensated HF or recently discharged in the past 4 weeks were included. The intervention group used a mobile application (App). The intervention prompted daily self-monitoring and promoted self-management. The control group (No App) received usual care. The primary outcome was the change in Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) from baseline to 6 and 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes were the Self-Care Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) questionnaire and recurrent HF admissions. RESULTS Eighty-three patients were enrolled and completed all baseline assessments. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups with the exception of HF etiology. The App group had a reduced MLHFQ at 6 weeks (37.5 ± 3.5 vs. 48.2 ± 3.7, P=0.039) but not at 12 weeks (44.2 ± 4 vs. 45.9 ± 4, P=0.778) compared to No App. There was no effect of the App on the SCHFI at 6 or 12 weeks. The time to first HF admission was not statistically different between the App versus No App groups (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.39-2.02, P=0.781) over 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS The mobile application intervention improved MLHFQ at 6 weeks, but did not sustain its effects at 12 weeks. No effect was seen on HF self-care. Further research is needed to enhance engagement in the application for a longer period of time and to determine if the application can reduce HF admissions in a larger study. CLINICALTRIAL NCT03149510

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Technology versus Touch: Targeting Heart Failure Self-Care in Older Adults

10.22371/07.2017.012 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Millicent De Jesus

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Older Adults ◽

Self Care

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Telephone Calls To Reduce 30-Day Readmissions For Older Adults With Heart Failure

10.22371/07.2015.037 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Juanette Clark

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Older Adults ◽

Telephone Calls

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Implementation and effectiveness of a multi-domain program for older adults at risk of cognitive impairment at neighborhood senior centres

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-83408-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Pei Ern Mary Ng ◽

Sean Olivia Nicholas ◽

Shiou Liang Wee ◽

Teng Yan Yau ◽

Alvin Chan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

At Risk ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mobile Application ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Blood Parameters ◽

Attrition Rate ◽

Control Group

AbstractTo address the paucity of research investigating the implementation of multi-domain dementia prevention interventions, we implemented and evaluated a 24-week, bi-weekly multi-domain program for older adults at risk of cognitive impairment at neighborhood senior centres (SCs). It comprised dual-task exercises, cognitive training, and mobile application-based nutritional guidance. An RCT design informed by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance framework was adopted. Outcome measures include cognition, quality of life, blood parameters, and physical performance. Implementation was evaluated through questionnaires administered to participants, implementers, SC managers, attendance lists, and observations. The program reached almost 50% of eligible participants, had an attrition rate of 22%, and was adopted by 8.7% of the SCs approached. It was implemented as intended; only the nutritional component was re-designed due to participants’ unfamiliarity with the mobile application. While there were no between-group differences in cognition, quality of life, and blood parameters, quality of life reduced in the control group and physical function improved in the intervention group after 24 weeks. The program was well-received by participants and SCs. Our findings show that a multi-domain program for at-risk older adults has benefits and can be implemented through neighborhood SCs. Areas of improvement are discussed.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04440969 retrospectively registered on 22 June 2020.

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