Abstract NS1: Mobile Health Technology Is Feasible And Effective For Self-management Support Among Underserved Stroke Survivors

Background and Purpose: Self-management Support (SMS) helps stroke survivors control risk factors to prevent second stroke. Little is known about feasibility and effectiveness of using mobile health technology (MHT) for SMS among underserved stroke survivors. The investigators studied feasibility and effectiveness of using a video teleconference mobile application to deliver a SMS program to underserved, hard to reach stroke survivors. Methods: The Video teleconference Self-management TO Prevent stroke (V-STOP) program was evaluated using longitudinal design with measurements at baseline, immediately post intervention (6 weeks), intermediate (12 weeks), and at study end (18 weeks). Medically underserved stroke survivors with uncontrolled stroke risk factors were included. Feasibility was assessed as time in intervention, telehealth satisfaction, stroke knowledge and SMS effectiveness were measured as psychological (depression, PHQ-8; anxiety, GAD-7), social (community integration questionnaire), and stroke self-management (goal attainment) outcomes. Generalized estimating equations were used with site and time in intervention as covariates. Results: V-STOP was successfully delivered to 106 participants using MHT over 2 years. Mean age was 59.3 (±10.9), majority were white (82.1%), males (54.3%), not living alone (85.9%), married (52.8%), with low annual income (<$25,000) ( 58.5%), and health insurance (59.4%). Program feasibility indicated mean number of V-STOP sessions were 4.6 (±1.8), with 4.4 (±2.0) hours of total time for the intervention. Overall satisfaction at 6 weeks with V-STOP (4.8(±0.5)) and telehealth (4.7(±0.5)) was high. Stroke knowledge was high at 12 weeks (9.6(±0.7)). SMS effectiveness indicated improvement in psychological outcomes at 6, 12, and 18 weeks from baseline; depression (18 weeks - β = 0.64 (CI 0.49-0.84)) and anxiety (18 weeks - β = 0.66 (CI 0.51-0.85)). Community integration improved by 18 weeks - β = 1.08 (CI 1.01-1.16) and stroke self-management also improved long term at 12 and 18 weeks (β = 0.92 (CI 0.84-0.99). Conclusion: MHT is feasible to deliver SMS to underserved stroke survivors. It improves psycho-social and self-management goal setting and goal attainment outcomes.