Mobile App for Monitoring 3-Month Postoperative Functional Outcome After Hip Fracture: Usability Study

Patient-clinician digital health interventions for the hip fracture population: a scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Older adults with hip fracture often require extensive post-surgery care across multiple sectors, making follow-up care even more important to ensure an ideal recovery. With the increased adoption of technology, patient-clinician digital health interventions can potentially improve post-surgery outcomes of hip fracture patients by helping them and their caregivers better understand the various aspects of their care, post-hip fracture surgery. The purpose of this study was to examine the available literature on the impact of hip fracture-specific, patient-clinician digital health interventions on patient outcomes and health care delivery processes. We also aimed to identify the barriers and enablers to the uptake and implementation of these technologies and to provide strategies for improved use of these digital health interventions.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review following the six stages of Arksey and O'Malley's framework and following the PRISMA-ScR reporting format. Searches were conducted in five databases. In addition to hand searching for relevant studies from the references of all included studies, we also conducted a grey literature search to identify relevant primary studies. Screening of titles and abstracts as well as full texts were performed independently by two reviewers. Two reviewers also performed the data extraction of the included studies.

RESULTS

After screening 3,638 records, 20 articles met the criteria and 1 article was identified through hand searching. Various patient-clinician digital health interventions were described including telehealth /telerehabilitation programs (n = 6), care transition /follow-up interventions (n = 5), online resources (n = 2), and wearable devices /sensor monitoring (n = 1). Outcomes were varied and included functional status, gait/mobility, quality of life, psychological factors, satisfaction, survival/complications, caregiver outcomes, compliance, technology-user interactions, and feedback on the use of the digital health interventions. For clinicians, a key barrier to the use of the digital health interventions was the acceptability of the technology. However, the usefulness of the digital health intervention by clinicians was seen as both a barrier and an enabler. For patients and caregivers, all the themes were seen as both a barrier and an enabler depending on the study. These themes included: 1) availability and access, 2) usability, 3) knowledge and skills, 4) acceptability, and 5) usefulness of the digital health intervention.

CONCLUSION

Many behavioural factors affect the use of patient-clinician digital health interventions. However, a specific attention should be focused on the acceptability of the technology by the clinicians to encourage uptake of the digital health interventions. The results of this scoping review can help to better understand the factors that may be targeted to increase the use of these technologies by clinicians, patients, and caregivers.

Barriers and Enablers to the Use of Web-Based Applications for Older Adults and Their Caregivers Post-Hip Fracture Surgery: A Descriptive Qualitative Study

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to describe the barriers and enablers to the use of web-based applications designed to help manage the personalized needs of older adults and their caregivers post-hip fracture surgery while transitioning from hospital to geriatric rehabilitation to home.

Methods

This was a descriptive qualitative study consisting of semi-structured interviews informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework. The study took place between March 2021 and April 2022 on an orthopaedic unit in a large academic health sciences centre and in a geriatric rehabilitation service in Ontario, Canada. The transcripts were analyzed using a systematic 6-step approach.

Results

Interviews were conducted with older adults (n = 10) and with caregivers (n = 8) post-hip fracture surgery. A total of 21 barriers and 24 enablers were identified. The top two barriers were a need for basic computer skills (n = 11, 61.1%) and a preference for direct verbal communication (n = 10, 55.6%). The top two enablers were having no concerns with using web-based applications (n = 12, 66.7%) and having ease of access to information (n = 10, 55.6%).

Conclusion

We described the key barriers and enablers to the use of web-based applications from the perspectives of older adults and their caregivers. These factors will inform further developments of web-based applications aimed at improving the care transition from hospital to geriatric rehabilitation to home post-hip fracture surgery.

Post-fracture care programs for prevention of subsequent fragility fractures: a literature assessment of current trends

Post-fracture care (PFC) programs evaluate and manage patients with a minimal trauma or fragility fracture to prevent subsequent fractures. We conducted a literature review to understand current trends in PFC publications, evaluate key characteristics of PFC programs, and assess their clinical effectiveness, geographic variations, and cost-effectiveness. We performed a search for peer-reviewed articles published between January 2003 and December 2020 listed in PubMed or Google Scholar. We categorized identified articles into 4 non-mutually exclusive PFC subtopics based on keywords and abstract content: PFC Types, PFC Effectiveness/Success, PFC Geography, and PFC Economics. The literature search identified 784 eligible articles. Most articles fit into multiple PFC subtopics (PFC Types, 597; PFC Effectiveness/Success, 579; PFC Geography, 255; and PFC Economics, 98). The number of publications describing how PFC programs can improve osteoporosis treatment rates has markedly increased since 2003; however, publication gaps remain, including low numbers of publications from some countries with reported high rates of osteoporosis and/or hip fractures. Fracture liaison services and geriatric/orthogeriatric services were the most common models of PFC programs, and both were shown to be cost-effective. We identified a need to expand and refine PFC programs and to standardize patient identification and reporting on quality improvement measures. Although there is an increasing awareness of the importance of PFC programs, publication gaps remain in most countries. Improvements in established PFC programs and implementation of new PFC programs are still needed to enhance equitable patient care to prevent occurrence of subsequent fractures.

Digital Health Technologies for Long-term Self-management of Osteoporosis: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background

Osteoporosis is the fourth most common chronic disease worldwide. The adoption of preventative measures and effective self-management interventions can help improve bone health. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies can play a key role in the care and self-management of patients with osteoporosis.

Objective

This study presents a systematic review and meta-analysis of the currently available mHealth apps targeting osteoporosis self-management, aiming to determine the current status, gaps, and challenges that future research could address, as well as propose appropriate recommendations.

Methods

A systematic review of all English articles was conducted, in addition to a survey of all apps available in iOS and Android app stores as of May 2021. A comprehensive literature search (2010 to May 2021) of PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore was conducted. Articles were included if they described apps dedicated to or useful for osteoporosis (targeting self-management, nutrition, physical activity, and risk assessment) delivered on smartphone devices for adults aged ≥18 years. Of the 32 articles, a random effects meta-analysis was performed on 13 (41%) studies of randomized controlled trials, whereas the 19 (59%) remaining studies were only included in the narrative synthesis as they did not provide enough data.

Results

In total, 3906 unique articles were identified. Of these 3906 articles, 32 (0.81%) articles met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed in depth. The 32 studies comprised 14,235 participants, of whom, on average, 69.5% (n=9893) were female, with a mean age of 49.8 (SD 17.8) years. The app search identified 23 relevant apps for osteoporosis self-management. The meta-analysis revealed that mHealth-supported interventions resulted in a significant reduction in pain (Hedges g −1.09, 95% CI −1.68 to −0.45) and disability (Hedges g −0.77, 95% CI −1.59 to 0.05). The posttreatment effect of the digital intervention was significant for physical function (Hedges g 2.54, 95% CI −4.08 to 4.08) but nonsignificant for well-being (Hedges g 0.17, 95% CI −1.84 to 2.17), physical activity (Hedges g 0.09, 95% CI −0.59 to 0.50), anxiety (Hedges g −0.29, 95% CI −6.11 to 5.53), fatigue (Hedges g −0.34, 95% CI −5.84 to 5.16), calcium (Hedges g −0.05, 95% CI −0.59 to 0.50), vitamin D intake (Hedges g 0.10, 95% CI −4.05 to 4.26), and trabecular score (Hedges g 0.06, 95% CI −1.00 to 1.12).

Conclusions

Osteoporosis apps have the potential to support and improve the management of the disease and its symptoms; they also appear to be valuable tools for patients and health professionals. However, most of the apps that are currently available lack clinically validated evidence of their efficacy and focus on a limited number of symptoms. A more holistic and personalized approach within a cocreation design ecosystem is needed.

Trial Registration

PROSPERO 2021 CRD42021269399; https://tinyurl.com/2sw454a9

Development of clinical-guideline-based mobile application and its effect on head CT scan utilization in neurology and neurosurgery departments

Background

There is little evidence regarding the adoption and intention of using mobile apps by health care professionals (HCP) and the effectiveness of using mobile apps among physicians is still unclear. To address this challenge, the current study seeks two objectives: developing and implementing a head CT scan appropriateness criteria mobile app (HAC app), and investigating the effect of HAC app on CT scan order.

Methods

A one arm intervention quasi experimental study with before/after analysis was conducted in neurology & neurosurgery (N&N) departments at the academic hospital. We recruited all residents' encounters to N&N departments with head CT scan to examine the effect of HAC app on residents' CT scan utilization. The main outcome measure was CT scan order per patient for seven months at three points, before the intervention, during the intervention, after cessation of the intervention -post-intervention follow-up. Data for CT scan utilization were collected by reviewing medical records and then analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney tests. A focus group discussion with residents was performed to review and digest residents' experiences during interaction with the HAC app.

Results

Sixteen residents participated in this study; a total of 415 N&N encounters with CT scan order, pre-intervention 127 (30.6%), intervention phase 187 (45.1%), and 101 (24.3%) in the post-intervention follow-up phase were included in this study. Although total CT scan utilization was statistically significant during three-time points of the study (P = 0.027), no significant differences were found for CT utilization after cessation of the intervention (P = 1).

Conclusion

The effect of mobile devices on residents' CT scan ordering behavior remains open to debate since the changes were not long-lasting. Further studies based on real interactive experiences with mobile devices is advisable before it can be recommended for widespread use by HCP.

Age Significantly Affects Response Rate to Outcomes Questionnaires Using Mobile Messaging Software

Purpose

To investigate the demographic factors that influence time to respond (TTR), time to completion (TTC), and response rate when using a text messaging-based system and to determine the feasibility and applicability of mobile messaging-based services for collection of patient-reported outcomes among orthopaedic sports medicine patients.

Methods

On the day of surgery, patient mobile phone number was collected and the automated mobile messaging service (MOSIO, Seattle, WA) messaged patients for 10 ``days postoperatively. Patient visual analog scale (VAS) scores were collected 3 times daily, side effects were asked each evening, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference (PI) Short Form was collected on postoperative day 3 and 7.

Results

A total of 177 patients were enrolled in the study. The overall response rate to the survey questions was 75.0%. For all patients, the average TTR of questions was 35.09 ± 12.57 minutes. The TTC was 2.75 ± 3.56 minutes for PROMIS-PI, 3.51 ± 1.26 minutes for VAS, and 3.80 ± 6.87 for side-effect questions. When patients were stratified into age groups, the youngest group, 16 to 32 years, had the greatest response rate of 85.2% and patients in the 49 to 59 years group had the lowest response rate of 68.4% and 69.1%, respectively (P < .001). There was no significant difference in the TTR or TTC for VAS, PROMIS-PI, or side-effect questions when patients were stratified by age or sex groups (P > .05).

Conclusions

Collectively, all age groups successfully achieved a mean response rate of 75%; however, significantly lower response rates were observed for patients >49 years old. Differences in age and sex did not impact the overall TTR or TTC for VAS, PROMIS-PI, or side-effect questions. Mobile-based applications present as an emerging opportunity to track postoperative outcome scores and reduce clinic survey load.

Level of Evidence

Case series, level of evidence IV.

Mobile health applications for older adults: a systematic review of interface and persuasive feature design

OBJECTIVE

Mobile-based interventions have the potential to promote healthy aging among older adults. However, the adoption and use of mobile health applications are often low due to inappropriate designs. The aim of this systematic review is to identify, synthesize, and report interface and persuasive feature design recommendations of mobile health applications for elderly users to facilitate adoption and improve health-related outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus databases to identify studies that discussed and evaluated elderly-friendly interface and persuasive feature designs of mobile health applications using an elderly cohort.

RESULTS

We included 74 studies in our analysis. Our analysis revealed a total of 9 elderly-friendly interface design recommendations: 3 recommendations were targeted at perceptual capabilities of elderly users, 2 at motor coordination problems, and 4 at cognitive and memory deterioration. We also compiled and reported 5 categories of persuasive features: reminders, social features, game elements, personalized interventions, and health education.

DISCUSSION

Only 5 studies included design elements that were based on theories. Moreover, the majority of the included studies evaluated the application as a whole without examining end-user perceptions and the effectiveness of each single design feature. Finally, most studies had methodological limitations, and better research designs are needed to quantify the effectiveness of the application designs rigorously.

CONCLUSIONS

This review synthesizes elderly-friendly interface and persuasive feature design recommendations for mobile health applications from the existing literature and provides recommendations for future research in this area and guidelines for designers.