Stephanie W Ong1, Sarbjit V Jassal2, Judith A Miller3, Eveline C Porter4, Joseph A Cafazzo5, Emily Seto6, Kevin E Thorpe7, Alexander G Logan8. 1. Departments of Pharmacy, Nephrology. 2. Medicine, Nephrology, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 3. Medicine, Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 4. Nursing, and Nephrology. 5. Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Techna Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering. 6. Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, and Techna Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 7. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, and Applied Health Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 8. Medicine, Nephrology, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; logan@lunenfeld.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Patient self-management has been shown to improve health outcomes. We developed a smartphone-based system to boost self-care by patients with CKD and integrated its use into usual CKD care. We determined its acceptability and examined changes in several clinical parameters. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: We recruited patients with stage 4 or 5 CKD attending outpatient renal clinics who responded to a general information newsletter about this 6-month proof-of-principle study. The smartphone application targeted four behavioral elements: monitoring BP, medication management, symptom assessment, and tracking laboratory results. Prebuilt customizable algorithms provided real-time personalized patient feedback and alerts to providers when predefined treatment thresholds were crossed or critical changes occurred. Those who died or started RRT within the first 2 months were replaced. Only participants followed for 6 months after recruitment were included in assessing changes in clinical measures. RESULTS: In total, 47 patients (26 men; mean age =59 years old; 33% were ≥65 years old) were enrolled; 60% had never used a smartphone. User adherence was high (>80% performed ≥80% of recommended assessments) and sustained. The mean reductions in home BP readings between baseline and exit were statistically significant (systolic BP, -3.4 mmHg; 95% confidence interval, -5.0 to -1.8 and diastolic BP, -2.1 mmHg; 95% confidence interval, -2.9 to -1.2); 27% with normal clinic BP readings had newly identified masked hypertension. One hundred twenty-seven medication discrepancies were identified; 59% were medication errors that required an intervention to prevent harm. In exit interviews, patients indicated feeling more confident and in control of their condition; clinicians perceived patients to be better informed and more engaged. CONCLUSIONS: Integrating a smartphone-based self-management system into usual care of patients with advanced CKD proved feasible and acceptable, and it appeared to be clinically useful. The results provide a strong rationale for a randomized, controlled trial.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Patient self-management has been shown to improve health outcomes. We developed a smartphone-based system to boost self-care by patients with CKD and integrated its use into usual CKD care. We determined its acceptability and examined changes in several clinical parameters. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: We recruited patients with stage 4 or 5 CKD attending outpatient renal clinics who responded to a general information newsletter about this 6-month proof-of-principle study. The smartphone application targeted four behavioral elements: monitoring BP, medication management, symptom assessment, and tracking laboratory results. Prebuilt customizable algorithms provided real-time personalized patient feedback and alerts to providers when predefined treatment thresholds were crossed or critical changes occurred. Those who died or started RRT within the first 2 months were replaced. Only participants followed for 6 months after recruitment were included in assessing changes in clinical measures. RESULTS: In total, 47 patients (26 men; mean age =59 years old; 33% were ≥65 years old) were enrolled; 60% had never used a smartphone. User adherence was high (>80% performed ≥80% of recommended assessments) and sustained. The mean reductions in home BP readings between baseline and exit were statistically significant (systolic BP, -3.4 mmHg; 95% confidence interval, -5.0 to -1.8 and diastolic BP, -2.1 mmHg; 95% confidence interval, -2.9 to -1.2); 27% with normal clinic BP readings had newly identified masked hypertension. One hundred twenty-seven medication discrepancies were identified; 59% were medication errors that required an intervention to prevent harm. In exit interviews, patients indicated feeling more confident and in control of their condition; clinicians perceived patients to be better informed and more engaged. CONCLUSIONS: Integrating a smartphone-based self-management system into usual care of patients with advanced CKD proved feasible and acceptable, and it appeared to be clinically useful. The results provide a strong rationale for a randomized, controlled trial.
Authors: Alexander G Logan; M Jane Irvine; Warren J McIsaac; Andras Tisler; Peter G Rossos; Anthony Easty; Denice S Feig; Joseph A Cafazzo Journal: Hypertension Date: 2012-05-21 Impact factor: 10.190
Authors: Alexander G Logan; Warren J McIsaac; Andras Tisler; M Jane Irvine; Allison Saunders; Andrea Dunai; Carlos A Rizo; Denice S Feig; Melinda Hamill; Mathieu Trudel; Joseph A Cafazzo Journal: Am J Hypertens Date: 2007-09 Impact factor: 2.689
Authors: Joseph A Cafazzo; Mark Casselman; Nathaniel Hamming; Debra K Katzman; Mark R Palmert Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2012-05-08 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Stefan Becker; Andreas Kribben; Sven Meister; Clarissa Jonas Diamantidis; Nicole Unger; Anna Mitchell Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-10-23 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Stephanie W Ong; Sarbjit V Jassal; Eveline C Porter; Kyoyoon K Min; Akib Uddin; Joseph A Cafazzo; Valeria E Rac; George Tomlinson; Alexander G Logan Journal: Clin J Am Soc Nephrol Date: 2021-03-18 Impact factor: 8.237