A feasibility pilot using a mobile personal health assistant (PHA) app to assist stroke patient and caregiver communication after hospital discharge

Abstract

Background: Recent advancements have lowered national acute stroke mortality, yet posthospital care and readmission rates remain challenges. A personal health assistant (PHA) may help manage the spectrum of posthospital care. We hypothesized that a PHA application (app) would be associated with high poststroke patient care satisfaction and might prevent hospital readmission.Methods: This is a case series of acute stroke patients admitted to a single, tertiary care, comprehensive stroke center (Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida) who were offered a personal health assistance through a smart phone app. Patients were screened based on having a cerebrovascular event and the ability to use a necessary device. All patients received the standard poststroke discharge protocol, the PHA app, and the 30-day Likert scale survey. Results:We screened 21 patients and enrolled 3 (14%) before premature financial closure. Two of the 3 patients rated the app highly, and the third patient had not started using it. Of the ineligible patients, 4 had no device, 3 declined enrollment, and 2 were not able to use the device. One of the 2 patients who used the PHA app was readmitted for new stroke symptoms.Conclusions: Both patients who used the app were very satisfied with the PHA and their posthospital care coordination. This study had an enrollment rate of about 14% due to various factors, including limited access or utilization of necessary technology. Though limited by final patient sample size and early termination from funding, this study provides useful information about developing future mobile health apps for acute stroke patients.

Gesundheits-Apps als Instrumente der Prävention? – Eine Interviewstudie zu Potenzialen für das hausärztliche Setting

“…Sie werden mit verschiedenen Positivpotenzialen in Verbindung gebracht, z. B. einem Empowerment und einer Motivation, sich gesundheitsbewusst zu verhalten [1,19,22,23]. Ein weiterer Vorzug von Apps kann in einer Effektivierung der Arzt-Patient-Beziehung liegen (erhöhte Therapietreue, frühere Identifizierung von Krankheitsrisiken; [19]).…”

Social work support and unmet social needs in life after stroke: a cross-sectional exploratory study

“…Stroke patients are often affected by long-term disabilities with complex needs requiring a combination of medical, nursing, therapeutic and social interventions to address a wide range of concurrent symptoms such as paresis, spasticity, pain, aphasia, cognitive impairment and depression [1][2][3]. Several approaches have been proposed to provide comprehensive assistance to patients after stroke [4,5], however, many focus on promoting early return to the community rather than on-going care [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13].…”

Um aplicativo para a aprendizagem do protocolo Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support

“…Este dispositivo desenvolvido para servir como mais um meio de comunicação, hoje é usado para diversas outras funções, inclusive no apoio ao aprendizado de novos conhecimentos. Globalmente, os celulares estão interconectando usuários de diversas regiões e esta interação permite uma habilidade imprescindível para comunicação relacionada à saúde, aplicativos para monitoramento e auxílio de doenças e melhora de comunicação entre pacientes, médicos e enfermeiros (SIEGEL et al, 2016). Ademais, a partir de seus benefícios e facilidade de acesso, os aplicativos móveis são cada vez mais utilizados por diferentes perfis de usuários, inclusive por pessoas de distintas classes sociais (SONG et al, 2014).…”