The goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of the Digital Connect Project on increasing functional capacity defined by the WHO-ICOPE and health-related quality of life (HRQL) among homebound older adults.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust is launching the Digital Connect project to increase the well-being and social connectedness of the homebound older adults. A total of 32 NGOs are applying for 7,500 tablets and data plan (in total) through this project. Different digital programs will be rolled out to enhance their well-being and social connectedness. This study aim is to capture the impact of this Digital Connect project on the health outcomes of the homebound older adults. The tablet intervention will be offered by the NGOs within a 2-year timeframe. Web-based multi-domain lifestyle training intervention will be conducted to promoted and focus three lifestyles: nutritional advice, exercise and cognitive training; chat communication with research team, and personalized agenda on daily activities and an information library. The object of this study is to explore the dose-response relationship between online engagement in the different types of activity and the improvement in the corresponding health outcomes, including the five domains: (1) Physical function, (2) Cognitive function, (3) Psychological function, (4) Social function and (5) Health-related quality of life. One baseline assessment and four follow-ups will be arranged in every 3-month interval. To account for immortal time bias, each subject will be created with two clones at time zero and assigned each of the two clones to either treatment or control group, respectively. The engagement experience will be explored by interviewing the participants and service stakeholders through the planning and delivery of the digital intervention for the homebound older adults.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
1,024
Web-based multi-domain lifestyle training intervention will be conducted to promoted and focus three lifestyles: nutritional advice, exercise and cognitive training; chat communication with research team, and personalized agenda on daily activities and an information library.
The University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Health-related quality of life (HRQL)
Measure by EQ-5D-5L (range from -0.59 to 1.0), higher score indicates better quality of life
Time frame: Changes from baseline to 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, and 12 month post-intervention.
Physical function
Measured by Short Physical Performance Battery (range from 0 to 12), with higher score indicating better physical performance
Time frame: Changes from baseline to 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, and 12 month post-intervention.
Cognitive function score
Measured by 5-minute Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (range from 0 to 30), A score of 26 or over is considered to be normal.
Time frame: Changes from baseline to 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, and 12 month post-intervention.
Subjective Memory Score
Measured by 7-item Memory Complaint Scale (MCS) (range from 0 to 14), lower score indicates better memory performance. No MCs (0-2), Mild MCs (3-6), Moderate MCs (7-10), Severe MCs (11-14).
Time frame: Changes from baseline to 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, and 12 month post-intervention.
Loneliness score
Measured by 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale (range 3-9), higher score indicates greater loneliness.
Time frame: Changes from baseline to 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, and 12 month post-intervention.
Depression score
Measured by The 8-item Geriatric Depression Scale (range 0 to 8), with higher score indicating higher risk of depression
Time frame: Changes from baseline to 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, and 12 month post-intervention.
Social function
Measured by 8-item Social Connectedness Scale Revised (range 0 to 48), \<22 indicates lack of social connectedness
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Time frame: Changes from baseline to 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, and 12 month post-intervention.