This study is a pilot study for a larger future research project aimed at examining the effects of patient education delivered via a mobile application on patients' self-reported receipt of information in relation to their information needs, as well as on patient-reported quality of life, pain, and functional capacity, compared with traditional patient education provided during in-person appointments or by telephone. The primary objective of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility of conducting the forthcoming larger-scale study. Research questions: 1. How does patient education delivered via a mobile application meet the information needs of patients undergoing joint replacement surgery, and is the intervention feasible to implement in a larger research setting? 2. How do the instruments used in the pilot study (EKhp/RKhp, EQ-5D-5L, NRS, and OKS/OHS) and the study design function when delivered via a mobile application for the intervention group and in conjunction with traditional patient education for the control group, and are the instruments and study design suitable for conducting a larger-scale study. The study will be conducted as a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Patients will be allocated into two groups: Intervention group: receives patient education via a mobile application. Control group: receives traditional patient education during face-to-face clinic visits or by telephone. Data will be collected using questionnaires before surgery (three measurement points) and after surgery (two measurement points).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
40
The mobile application intervention is delivered via a free smartphone application provided by Buddy Healthcare Ltd Oy. The application contains digital patient education material for patients undergoing total joint replacement surgery, corresponding in content to the printed Patient Guide.
Patient education provided verbally either face-to-face or by telephone.
Coxa, Hospital for Joint Replacement
Tampere, Finland
Feasibility and Acceptability
Primary outcome measures focus on evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention by assessing recruitment, adherence, acceptability, and fidelity. Recruitment will be evaluated by determining the proportion of patients who meet the eligibility criteria and the proportion of eligible patients who consent to participate. Adherence will be assessed by examining the proportion of participants who complete all questionnaires and the proportion who do not contribute data due to drop-out. Acceptability will be explored in terms of how well the study design and intervention content are received by participants. Fidelity will be evaluated by assessing how closely the intervention content is delivered as intended.
Time frame: A repeated measures design will be conducted; at baseline, 2 months before surgery, 1-2 weeks before surgery , 4-8 weeks after surgery and 3 months after surgery
Expected Knowledge of Hospital Patients, EKhp (©Leino-Kilpi, Salanterä, Hölttä 2003)
A 40-item self-report questionnaire. The instrument based on six knowledge dimensions: biophysiological, functional, experiential, ethical, social, and financial knowledge. Items are on a scale from 0 to 4. All scale scores will be reversed from the original order to facilitate interpretation in statistical analyses (original: 1 = "strongly agree" and 4 = "strongly disagree"; reversed: 4 = "strongly agree" and 1 = "strongly disagree"). Higher scores indicate greater expectations of patient information.
Time frame: Baseline, before randomization
Received Knowledge of Hospital Patients, RKhp (©Leino-Kilpi, Salanterä, Hölttä 2003)
A 40-item self-report questionnaire. The instrument based on six knowledge dimensions: biophysiological, functional, experiential, ethical, social, and financial knowledge. Items are on a scale from 0 to 4. All scale scores will be reversed from the original order to facilitate interpretation in statistical analyses (original: 1 = "strongly agree" and 4 = "strongly disagree"; reversed: 4 = "strongly agree" and 1 = "strongly disagree"). Higher scores indicate higher level of information received.
Time frame: 2 weeks before surgery and 4-8 weeks after surgery
Changes in health-related quality of life
Quality of life on the EuroQoL-5 Dimensions EQ-5D-5L. The measure is standardised instrument looking at quality of life across five health domains (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression).
Time frame: Baseline, 1-2 weeks before surgery , 4-8 weeks after surgery
Changes in pain scale measurement
NRS, Numeral Rating Scale.
Time frame: Baseline, 1-2 weeks before surgery , 4-8 weeks after surgery
Changes in patient reported outcome measures scores (PROMs), Functional improvement
Oxford Knee Score (OKS)
Time frame: 2 months before surgery and 3 months after surgery
Changes in patient reported outcome measures scores (PROMs), Functional improvement
Oxford Hip Score (OHS)
Time frame: 2 months before surgery and 3 months after surgery
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.