Key result
The Penn State Heart Assistant tablet application was associated with weight loss (slope -0.17, p=0.002) and increased exercise (slope 0.08, p=0.04) over 30 days in heart failure patients.
Why the study?
Does a web-based tablet application improve self-care activities in heart failure patients?
Does a web-based tablet application improve self-care activities in heart failure patients?
Effect estimate: slope -0.17 for weight; slope 0.08 for exercise
p-value: p=0.002 for weight; 0.04 for exercise
A web-based tablet application is feasible and may improve self-care activities such as weight monitoring and exercise in heart failure patients.
Does not yet support routine use of tablet apps in heart failure; hypothesis-generating and requires randomized confirmation.
The Penn State Heart Assistant, a web-based, tablet computer-accessed, secure application was developed to conduct a proof of concept test, targeting patient self-care activities of heart failure patients including daily medication adherence, weight monitoring, and aerobic activity. Patients (n = 12) used the tablet computer-accessed program for 30 days-recording their information and viewing a short educational video. Linear random coefficient models assessed the relationship between weight and time and exercise and time. Good medication adherence (66% reporting taking 75% of prescribed medications) was reported. Group compliance over 30 days for weight and exercise was 84 percent. No persistent weight gain over 30 days, and some indication of weight loss (slope of weight vs time was negative (-0.17; p value = 0.002)), as well as increased exercise (slope of exercise vs time was positive (0.08; p value = 0.04)) was observed. This study suggests that mobile technology is feasible, acceptable, and has potential for cost-effective opportunities to manage heart failure patients safely at home.
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Lloyd et al. (2017) studied heart failure (n=12). The Penn State Heart Assistant was evaluated on relationship between weight and time and exercise and time (slope -0.17 for weight; slope 0.08 for exercise, p=0.002 for weight; 0.04 for exercise). The Penn State Heart Assistant tablet application was associated with weight loss (slope -0.17, p=0.002) and increased exercise (slope 0.08, p=0.04) over 30 days in heart failure patients.
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