E-health for promoting physical activity in ethnic minority, a clinical trial

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Determine if full trial of digital technologies (E-health) to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in South Asians with knee osteoarthritis for reducing functional limitation feasible Hypothesis: Trial of E-health is feasible among South Asians with knee osteoarthritis to improve functional limitation. Design and subjects: Pilot randomized controlled trial of 2 parallel groups; 50 South Asian obese patients with joint pain will be recruited with assessment at baseline,1, 4, 7 and 10months Study Instruments: treatment adherence rate and follow-up rate Interventions: Patients in the intervention group will have activated mobile app and wearable smartband and 12-week practicum in using the devices to achieve target of increased daily step counts (monitored by smartband) and reduced calories intake (by AI app assessing meals’ photos). Control group will have inactivated mobile app and smartband for daily activity data retrieval for comparison only. Main Outcome measures: Adherence and follow-up rates are the main outcomes to assess feasibility. Functional limitation (gait speed&WOMAC) is assessed, which is main outcome in future trial. Data analysis: Adherence will be expressed as percentage of day following study protocol. Follow-up rate will be percentage of patients completing the whole protocol. Functional limitations will be compared using Mann-Whitney U test for between-group and Wilcoxon test for within-group comparison. Expected results: Adherence and follow-up rates greater than 70% will indicate a larger randomized controlled trial feasible. Within-group change in functional limitations will be observed in the intervention group.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• software skills
• soft skills
• experience in fieldwork
• interpersonal relationship/communication skills