A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mobile Health Intervention to Promote Self-Management after Lung Transplantation.
DeVito Dabbs A, Song MK, et al.American Journal of Transplantation 2016; 16(7): 2172-80
Aims
To compare the mobile health intervention pocket PATH in promoting self-management behaviours versus usual care in lung transplant recipients.
Interventions
Participants were randomized to receive either Pocket PATH or usual care.
Participants
201 lung transplant recipients aged > 18 years.
Outcomes
Primary outcomes measured were self-monitoring, adhering to the regime, and reporting critical health changes. Secondary measured outcomes were perceived capability to engage in self care, rehospitalisation and mortality.
Follow-up
12 months
CET Conclusions
This is a very nice study from Pittsburgh evaluating the use of a mobile health intervention (Pocket PATH) to allow patients after lung transplantation to monitor their own course. The outcomes were compared with a similar group of recipients who just had usual care. Two hundred and one patients were randomised in this study (so it is a sizeable group) and the self-management behaviours, such as self-care, rehospitalisation and mortality, were evaluated during the first year after transplantation. The mobile mHealth intervention group performed better with self-monitoring, adherence to the medical regimen and the reporting of abnormal health indicators than the usual care group, but there was no difference in rehospitalisation or mortality between the two groups. Thus, as the authors suggest, this mHealth intervention on self-management behaviours does hold promise and warrants further testing. I could not agree more and this approach might well be applicable to transplantation of other organs.
Data analysis
Available case analysis
Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT00818025