Guest posting by Sonali Mahendran
There are several resources available to improve patient health and knowledge. Recently, ORCAS, a health app intervention developer, created a method of mobile intervention for patients with nonspecific lower back pain. This app tracks the user’s pain levels and provides a pain-management program. This app works with Fitbit to record the patient’s activities, accounting for the patient’s occupation—whether the user sits, stands, drives, lifts for extended periods of time as part of his work. With insurance company Cigna, ORCAS tested the app with employed adults in a four-month study. One group of participants used the FitBack app, another received six links to online NLBP resources via email, and the third, the control group, returned only for periodic checkups. According to the study, after the four months, the FitBack users performed better than both the control group and the alternative therapy group with regard to physical, behavioral, and occupational outcome measures; control group members were 1.7 times more likely to report current back pain than FitBack users, and alternative therapy recipients were 1.6 times more likely to report current back pain than FitBack users. The rates of current back pain were 21% for FitBack users, 41% for alternative therapy recipients, and 41% for the control group after the final assessment. Moreover, FitBack users demonstrated higher satisfaction. It is important to note that the FitBack intervention was neither supported by professional caregivers nor integrated with a health care plan, which may provide even stronger evidence for FitBack’s positive effects on NLBS patients.
Another study suggested that interactive, personalized web content may improve patient health and overall knowledge. The intervention group received a web-based interactive health communication application (IHCA), which provided decision, social, and behavioral change support. On the other hand, the control group received the same content, but in the form of a content tree without any personalization. This study showed that, among 561 participants who had either type 2 diabetes or chronic back pain, the intervention group used the tool for an average of 51.2 minutes, while the control group used their tool for an average of 37.6 minutes. Participants in the intervention group were more knowledgeable about their condition and showed better emotional wellbeing.
From these studies, it is evident that patients will utilize resources as they become available. But what happens if usage of these resources tapers off? How do we maintain user engagement?
With regard to our team’s project, we can provide parents of children with congenital heart disease a large binder of information, an online course tailored to each family, or a virtual hospital library. However, patients must be willing to return to these resources as needed and prepare themselves for future discussions with the physician, surgeon, or any other hospital staff member. We can take the measures necessary for the families to receive sufficient information, but we need to keep the families motivated and remind them that they can return to these resources and use them efficiently to become more knowledgeable and, thus, engaged in their child’s care.
What motivates an individual to become involved in self-care? Do interactive resources have potential? How might we facilitate that motivation and encourage individuals to become more knowledgeable and thus reap the benefits of deeper engagement in their own health care?
http://mobihealthnews.com/41086/study-interactive-tailored-web-content-may-improve-patient-health-knowledge/#more-41086
http://mobihealthnews.com/39725/cigna-helps-tests-efficacy-of-standalone-self-management-app-for-back-pain/