A Mobile Health App for the Collection of Functional Outcomes After Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Monitoring the functional status of poststroke patients after they transition home is significant for rehabilitation. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies may provide an opportunity to reach and follow patients post discharge. However, the feasibility and validity of functional assessments administered by mHealth technologies are unknown. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, validity, and reliability of functional assessments administered through the videoconference function of a mobile phone–based app compared with administration through the telephone function in poststroke patients after rehabilitation hospitalization. Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted in a rehabilitation hospital in Southeast China. Participants were randomly assigned to either a videoconference follow-up (n=60) or a telephone follow-up (n=60) group. We measured the functional status of participants in each group at 2-week and 3-month follow-up periods. Half the participants in each group were followed by face-to-face home visit assessments as the gold standard. Validity was assessed by comparing any score differences between videoconference follow-up and home visit assessments, as well as telephone follow-up and home visit assessments. Reliability was assessed by computing agreements between videoconference follow-up and home visit assessments, as well as telephone follow-up and home visit assessments. Feasibility was evaluated by the levels of completion, satisfaction, comfort, and confidence in the 2 groups. Results Scores obtained from the videoconference follow-up were similar to those of the home visit assessment. However, most scores collected from telephone administration were higher than those of the home visit assessment. The agreement between videoconference follow-up and home visit assessments was higher than that between telephone follow-up and home visit assessments at all follow-up periods. In the telephone follow-up group, completion rates were 95% and 82% at 2-week and 3-month follow-up points, respectively. In the videoconference follow-up group, completion rates were 95% and 80% at 2-week and 3-month follow-up points, respectively. There were no differences in the completion rates between the 2 groups at all follow-up periods (X21=1.6, P=.21 for 2-week follow-up; X21=1.9, P=.17 for 3-month follow-up). Patients in the videoconference follow-up group perceived higher confidence than those in the telephone follow-up group at both 2-week and 3-month follow-up periods (X23=6.7, P=.04 for 2-week follow-up; X23=8.0, P=.04 for 3-month follow-up). The videoconference follow-up group demonstrated higher satisfaction than the telephone follow-up group at 3-month follow-up (X23=13.9; P=.03). Conclusions The videoconference follow-up assessment of functional status demonstrates higher validity and reliability, as well as higher confidence and satisfaction perceived by patients, than the telephone assessment. The videoconference assessment provides an efficient means of assessing functional outcomes of patients after hospital discharge. This method provides a novel solution for clinical trials requiring longitudinal assessments. Trial Registration chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR1900027626; http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=44831&htm=4.

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A Mobile Health App for the Collection of Functional Outcomes After Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.17219 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Li Li ◽

Jia Huang ◽

Jingsong Wu ◽

Cai Jiang ◽

Shanjia Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Status ◽

Functional Outcomes ◽

Home Visit ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Completion Rates ◽

Validity And Reliability ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Group Completion ◽

Functional Assessments

BACKGROUND Monitoring the functional status of poststroke patients after they transition home is significant for rehabilitation. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies may provide an opportunity to reach and follow patients post discharge. However, the feasibility and validity of functional assessments administered by mHealth technologies are unknown. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, validity, and reliability of functional assessments administered through the videoconference function of a mobile phone–based app compared with administration through the telephone function in poststroke patients after rehabilitation hospitalization. METHODS A randomized controlled trial was conducted in a rehabilitation hospital in Southeast China. Participants were randomly assigned to either a videoconference follow-up (n=60) or a telephone follow-up (n=60) group. We measured the functional status of participants in each group at 2-week and 3-month follow-up periods. Half the participants in each group were followed by face-to-face home visit assessments as the gold standard. Validity was assessed by comparing any score differences between videoconference follow-up and home visit assessments, as well as telephone follow-up and home visit assessments. Reliability was assessed by computing agreements between videoconference follow-up and home visit assessments, as well as telephone follow-up and home visit assessments. Feasibility was evaluated by the levels of completion, satisfaction, comfort, and confidence in the 2 groups. RESULTS Scores obtained from the videoconference follow-up were similar to those of the home visit assessment. However, most scores collected from telephone administration were higher than those of the home visit assessment. The agreement between videoconference follow-up and home visit assessments was higher than that between telephone follow-up and home visit assessments at all follow-up periods. In the telephone follow-up group, completion rates were 95% and 82% at 2-week and 3-month follow-up points, respectively. In the videoconference follow-up group, completion rates were 95% and 80% at 2-week and 3-month follow-up points, respectively. There were no differences in the completion rates between the 2 groups at all follow-up periods (X21=1.6, P=.21 for 2-week follow-up; X21=1.9, P=.17 for 3-month follow-up). Patients in the videoconference follow-up group perceived higher confidence than those in the telephone follow-up group at both 2-week and 3-month follow-up periods (X23=6.7, P=.04 for 2-week follow-up; X23=8.0, P=.04 for 3-month follow-up). The videoconference follow-up group demonstrated higher satisfaction than the telephone follow-up group at 3-month follow-up (X23=13.9; P=.03). CONCLUSIONS The videoconference follow-up assessment of functional status demonstrates higher validity and reliability, as well as higher confidence and satisfaction perceived by patients, than the telephone assessment. The videoconference assessment provides an efficient means of assessing functional outcomes of patients after hospital discharge. This method provides a novel solution for clinical trials requiring longitudinal assessments. CLINICALTRIAL chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR1900027626; http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=44831&htm=4.

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Reduction in patient outcomes but implant-derived preservation of function following total knee arthroplasty: longitudinal follow-up of a randomized controlled trial

The Bone & Joint Journal ◽

10.1302/0301-620x.102b4.bjj-2019-0767.r2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 102-B (4) ◽

pp. 434-441 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

David F. Hamilton ◽

Richard Burnett ◽

James T. Patton ◽

Gavin J. MacPherson ◽

A. H. R. W. Simpson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Effect Size ◽

Functional Outcomes ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Group Differences ◽

Large Effect Size ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Total Knee

Aims There are comparatively few randomized studies evaluating knee arthroplasty prostheses, and fewer still that report longer-term functional outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate mid-term outcomes of an existing implant trial cohort to document changing patient function over time following total knee arthroplasty using longitudinal analytical techniques and to determine whether implant design chosen at time of surgery influenced these outcomes. Methods A mid-term follow-up of the remaining 125 patients from a randomized cohort of total knee arthroplasty patients (initially comprising 212 recruited patients), comparing modern (Triathlon) and traditional (Kinemax) prostheses was undertaken. Functional outcomes were assessed with the Oxford Knee Score (OKS), knee range of movement, pain numerical rating scales, lower limb power output, timed functional assessment battery, and satisfaction survey. Data were linked to earlier assessment timepoints, and analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) mixed models, incorporating longitudinal change over all assessment timepoints. Results The mean follow-up of the 125 patients was 8.12 years (7.3 to 9.4). There was a reduction in all assessment parameters relative to earlier assessments. Longitudinal models highlight changes over time in all parameters and demonstrate large effect sizes. Significant between-group differences were seen in measures of knee flexion (medium-effect size), lower limb power output (large-effect size), and report of worst daily pain experienced (large-effect size) favouring the Triathlon group. No longitudinal between-group differences were observed in mean OKS, average daily pain report, or timed performance test. Satisfaction with outcome in surviving patients at eight years was 90.5% (57/63) in the Triathlon group and 82.8% (48/58) in the Kinemax group, with no statistical difference between groups (p = 0.321). Conclusion At a mean 8.12 years, this mid-term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial cohort highlights a general reduction in measures of patient function with patient age and follow-up duration, and a comparative preservation of function based on implant received at time of surgery. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(4):434–441.

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Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Hyaluronic Acid Injections for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: Results at 5 Years of a Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

The American Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/0363546518814532 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 47 (2) ◽

pp. 347-354 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Alessandro Di Martino ◽

Berardo Di Matteo ◽

Tiziana Papio ◽

Francesco Tentoni ◽

Filippo Selleri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Hyaluronic Acid ◽

Functional Status ◽

Platelet Rich Plasma ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Symptomatic Relief ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Over Time

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have been proposed as a new conservative option for knee degeneration to provide symptomatic relief and delay surgical intervention. Although the current literature provides some evidence on the benefits of this technique compared with viscosupplementation, no studies have been performed to compare their long-term effects. Purpose: To compare the long-term clinical outcomes provided by intra-articular injections of either PRP or hyaluronic acid (HA) to treat knee degenerative disease. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods: Patients with a history of chronic symptomatic knee degenerative changes and osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 0-3) were enrolled: 192 patients were randomized to undergo 3 blinded weekly intra-articular injections of either PRP or HA. Patients were prospectively evaluated before the injection and then at 2, 6, 12, and 24 months and a mean of 64.3 months (SD, 7.8 months) of follow-up. Evaluation was based on International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective (main outcome), EuroQol visual analog scale, and Tegner scores; 167 patients reached the final evaluation. Results: Both treatments were effective in improving knee functional status and symptoms over time: Mean ± SD IKDC subjective score improved significantly for both PRP and HA groups ( P < .0005) and remained stable over time up to 24 months (from 53.3 ± 14.3 to 67.3 ± 18.1 and from 50.3 ± 13.2 to 62.1 ± 20.8 for PRP and HA groups, respectively). At final evaluation, a significant IKDC reduction was observed in both treatment groups, with the PRP group still presenting significantly higher values compared with baseline: PRP 60.5 ± 19.0 ( P < .001 vs baseline), HA 55.7 ± 18.8 (not significant vs baseline). A comparative analysis showed no significant intergroup difference in any of the clinical scores at any follow-up point. The median duration of patient subjective perception of symptomatic relief was 9 months for HA and 12 months for PRP (not significant). The only significant difference was observed in the rate of reintervention at 24 months, which was significantly lower in the PRP group (22.6% vs 37.1%, P = .036). Conclusion: Both treatments were effective in improving knee functional status and symptoms over time. PRP did not provide an overall superior clinical improvement compared with HA in terms of either symptomatic-functional improvement at different follow-up points or effect duration. Registration: NCT01670578 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

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Effects of the Use of Tourniquet in Total Knee Arthroplasty on the Clinical and Functional Outcomes with 5 Years of Follow-up: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The Journal of Knee Surgery ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1731719 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sherwan A. Hamawandi ◽

Hazhar I. Amin ◽

Ameer K. Al-Humairi

Keyword(s):

Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Functional Outcomes ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Thigh Pain ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Total Knee

AbstractThe use of tourniquet in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) had a lot of controversies with no clear agreement about the advantages and disadvantages of tourniquet. This study aims to show the effects of tourniquet use in TKA on the functional and clinical outcomes with follow-up of 5 years. This is a randomized, double-blind, and single-center study of 101 patients who were treated by TKA and divided randomly into two groups. Tourniquet was used in group A and was not used in group B. Both groups were assessed by Knee Society score (KSS), knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS), visual analogue scale (VAS) score for thigh pain, and postoperative complications. Both groups were followed up for 5 years. The group of no tourniquet showed significant better functional outcomes measured by KSS at postoperative periods of 2 weeks (p = 0.001), 6 weeks (p = 0.006), and 3 months (p = 0.034), and KOOS at postoperative periods of 2 weeks (p = 0.001), 6 weeks (p =0.001), and 3 months (p = 0.016). However, there was no significant difference in long-term follow-up of 5 years. There were significantly better results with use of tourniquet regarding surgeon's visualization during surgery, less operative time, and less calculated blood loss, while significantly better results with no use of tourniquet were reported regarding less hospital stay, less postoperative analgesic consumption, and less postoperative thigh pain measured by VAS score at postoperative periods of day 1 (p = 0.001), day 5 (p = 0.001), 2 weeks (p = 0.001), and 6 weeks (p = 0.001). Regarding postoperative blood transfusion and clinical deep venous thrombosis, there was no significant difference between use of tourniquet or not. The evidence presented in this level-1 randomized controlled trial suggests that no use of tourniquet in TKA can improve functional outcomes in early postoperative period with no significant difference on functional outcome at 5 years of follow-up.

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