Development of a Web-Based Gout Self-Management Program

The use of social media among health professionals to facilitate chronic disease self-management with their patients: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this systematic review was to summarize the evidence pertaining to the use of social media by health professionals to facilitate chronic disease self-management with their patients.

METHODS

A systematic approach was used to retrieve and extract relevant data. A total of 5163 citations were identified, of which seven unique studies met criteria for inclusion; one was a randomized controlled trial, two were prospective cohort studies, and four were qualitative studies. The following social media platforms were evaluated: discussion forums (6 studies) and collaborative project (1 study).

RESULTS

The available evidence suggests that health professionals perceived discussion forums and collaborative projects to be useful social media platforms to facilitate chronic disease self-management with patients. No relevant evidence was found regarding the use of other social media platforms. Most studies indicated positive findings regarding health professionals' intention to use discussion forums, while the one study that used a collaborative project also indicated positive findings with its perceived ease of use as health professionals felt that it was useful to facilitate chronic disease self-management with patients. Mixed findings were seen in regards to health professionals' perceived ease of use of discussion forums. The most common barrier to using social media platforms was the lack of time in health professionals' schedules.

CONCLUSIONS

Discussion forums and collaborative projects appear to be promising resources for health professionals to assist their patients in self-managing their chronic conditions; however, further research comparing various social media platforms is needed.

Mobile applications to enhance self-management of gout

BACKGROUND

Gout is an arthritic condition that is characterised by extremely painful, debilitating acute attacks and eventual joint and organ damage if not controlled. Despite the availability of very effective therapies that, if adhered to, will prevent acute attacks and long-term damage, the disorder is increasingly prevalent. There is an urgent need to improve self-management of gout.

OBJECTIVES

Mobile health (mHealth) applications ('apps'), designed to facilitate management of chronic conditions, present novel opportunities for supporting patient self-management of gout. The aim of this review was to assess features of available gout management apps designed to assist consumers in managing their gout and their consistency with guidelines for gout management.

METHODS

English-language, smart-device apps designed to assist self-management of gout were identified using search term "gout" and downloaded from Apple and Google Play app stores. To be included in the review, apps had to allow users to monitor their gout disease (e.g. serum uric acid (sUA) tracking, record acute attacks) and/or educate patients about gout. Investigators derived patient-focused recommendations for gout management from contemporary guidelines. Features of reviewed apps were independently assessed by two reviewers for their facilitation of these recommendations.

RESULTS

The search identified 57 apps possibly relevant to gout management, of which six met the inclusion criteria. One app incorporated all recommendations for patient-focused gout management from guidelines including monitoring sUA, recording attacks and lifestyle advice. However, the majority of these elements were not functional within the app, and instead required users to manually complete printouts.

CONCLUSIONS

Currently, only one app exists that includes all recommendations to facilitate patient self-management of gout, however some features can only be actioned manually. Given the lack of progress in achieving better patient outcomes and the promise of mHealth interventions to deliver significant gains, new or updated gout management apps are required to promote successful self-management of this chronic disease.

A Web-based self-management exercise and diet intervention for breast cancer survivors: pilot randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Regular exercise and dietary practices have been shown to affect the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and survival of breast cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE

The current study aimed to investigate whether the WSEDI was a feasible and primarily effective method for promoting exercise and dietary behaviours for breast cancer patients.

DESIGN

A 12-week randomized, controlled trial.

SETTING

Oncology outpatient treatment clinics at 3 university hospitals and 1 National Cancer Center in South Korea.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty-nine breast cancer patients who had received curative surgery and completed primary cancer treatment within 12 months prior to the study and who had been diagnosed with stage 0-III cancers within 2 years prior to the study were recruited.

METHODS

Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group, which used a Web-based self-management exercise and diet intervention program incorporating transtheoretical model (TTM)-based strategies (n=29), or to the control group, which used a 50-page educational booklet on exercise and diet (n=28). The intervention efficacy was measured at the baseline and 12 weeks via a Web-based survey that addressed the promotion of exercise and consumption of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables (F&V) per day, dietary quality, HRQOL, anxiety, depression, fatigue, motivational readiness, and self-efficacy.

RESULTS

The proportion of subjects who performed at least moderate-intensity aerobic exercise for at least 150 min per week; ate 5 servings of F&V per day; and had overall improvements in dietary quality, physical functioning and appetite loss (HRQOL), fatigue, and motivational readiness was greater in the intervention group than in the control group. The self-efficacy with respect to exercise and F&V consumption was greater in the intervention group than in the control group. A Web-based program that targets changes in exercise and dietary behaviours might be effective for breast cancer survivors if the TTM theory has been used to inform the program strategy, although further research with a larger sample size is required to enable definitive conclusions.