Effectiveness of technology-based psychosocial interventions on diabetes distress and health-relevant outcomes among type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

A scoping review of digital health technologies in multimorbidity management: mechanisms, outcomes, challenges, and strategies

INTRODUCTION

Multimorbidity amplifies healthcare burdens due to the intricate requirements of patients and the pathophysiological complexities of multiple diseases. To address this, digital health technologies play a crucial role in effective healthcare delivery, requiring comprehensive evidence on their applications in managing multimorbidity. Therefore, this scoping review aims to identify various types of digital health technologies, explore their mechanisms, and identify barriers and facilitators within the context of multimorbidity.

METHODS

This scoping review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Scoping Reviews guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were used to search articles. Data extraction focused on study characteristics, types of health technologies, mechanisms, outcomes, challenges, and facilitators. Results were presented using figures, tables, and texts. Thematic analysis was employed to describe mechanisms, impacts, challenges, and strategies related to digital health technologies in managing multimorbidity.

RESULTS

Digital health technology encompasses smartphone apps, wearable devices, and platforms for remote healthcare (telehealth). These technologies work through care coordination, collaboration, communication, self-management, remote monitoring, health data management, and tele-referrals. Digital health technologies improved quality of care and life, cost efficiency, acceptability of care, collaboration, streamlined healthcare delivery, reduced workload, and bridging knowledge gaps. Patients' and healthcare providers' resistance and skills, lack of support (technical, financial, and infrastructure), and ethical concerns (e.g., privacy) barred digital health technologies implementation. Arranging organization, providing technical support, employing care coordination strategies, enhancing acceptability, deploying appropriate technology, considering patient needs, and adhering with ethical principles facilitate digital health technologies implementation.

CONCLUSIONS

Digital health technology holds significant promise in improving care for individuals with multimorbidity by enhancing coordination, self-management, and monitoring. Successful implementation requires addressing challenges such as patient resistance and infrastructure limitations through targeted strategies and investments. It is also essential to consider usability, privacy, and trustworthiness when adopting these tools.

Evaluating a mental health support mobile app for adults with type 1 diabetes living in rural and remote communities: The REACHOUT pilot study

AIMS

To evaluate a mobile app that delivers mental health support to adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) living in rural and remote communities using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Intervention fidelity, Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework.

METHODS

This study recruited 46 adults to participate in a 6-month intervention using REACHOUT, a mobile app that delivers peer-led mental health support (one-on-one, group-based texting and face-to-face virtual). Baseline and 6-month assessments measured diabetes distress (DD), depressive symptoms and perceived support (from family/friends, health care team and peers) along with other RE-AIM metrics.

RESULTS

Calculations for reach and adoption found that 3% of eligible adults enrolled in REACHOUT and 55% of diabetes education centres participated in recruitment efforts. Maintenance metrics revealed 56% and 24% of peer supporters and participants, respectively, became peer supporters for a subsequent randomized controlled trial of REACHOUT. Post-intervention reductions were observed for overall distress (p = 0.007), powerlessness (p = 0.009), management distress (p = 0.001), social perception distress (p = 0.023), eating distress (p = 0.032) and depressive symptoms (p = 0.009); and elevations in support from family/friends and peers. After adjusting for sex and age, only support-related improvements persisted. When analysing women and men groups separately, women reported lower levels of overall distress, three distress subscales, and higher levels of family/friends and peer support whereas men did not.

CONCLUSIONS

While reach was relatively low, metrics for adoption and maintenance are promising. Improvements in distress were observed for the total sample, but these changes were reduced when controlling for sex and age, with significance maintained only for women. Digital health-enabled peer support may be instrumental in the delivery of mental health support to geographically isolated communities.

5. Facilitating Positive Health Behaviors and Well-being to Improve Health Outcomes: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2025

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, an interprofessional expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

Exploring the impact of stigma on health-related quality of life among individuals with sickle cell disease: a moderated mediation analysis of distress and social support

Despite extensive research on the impact of stigma on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with sickle cell disease, gaps remain in understanding the mechanisms through which this association occurs. We investigated how stigma impacts HRQoL among people with sickle cell disease (SCD) through distress and the moderating role of social support in this association. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, we sampled 165 people with SCD in Nigeria, who completed relevant measures. Results showed that distress mediated the stigma-HRQoL link, and social support moderated this mediation. Intervention may do well to incorporate psychological therapies and strengthen social support networks to improve the HRQoL of people living with sickle cell disease.

The effectiveness of psychological interventions on diabetes distress and glycemic level in adults with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

The treatment of diabetes distress plays an important role in diabetes care; however, no meta-analysis has been performed to synthesize the short- and long-term effects of psychological interventions tailored for diabetes distress in people with type 2 diabetes. We aim to evaluate the evidence on tailored psychological interventions for diabetes distress as the primary outcome, focusing on individuals with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Two reviewers independently searched eight databases from their inception to September 2024. EndNote X9 was used to screen records. The Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials was used to assess the risk of bias. The GRADE system was used to assess the overall certainty of the evidence. A random effect model was used to determine the mean difference or standardized mean difference with 95% CIs. Subgroup analyses based on several intervention characteristics and sensitivity analyses were also conducted.

RESULTS

Totally, 22,279 records were yielded, and we finally included 18 studies in our systematic review. The meta-analysis included data from 16 studies representing 1639 participants. Interventions types included mindfulness-based and cognitive behavioral therapy, among others. Duration of interventions ranged from 4 weeks to 6 months. We found that psychological interventions that measured diabetes distress significantly reduced diabetes distress in the short-term in people with type 2 diabetes (SMD= -0.56; 95% CI= -0.90, -0.22; p = 0.001). Subgroup analysis indicated that this effect could be enhanced when delivered in a group format, by psychologist, using a technology component, or including participants having elevated baseline diabetes distress. However, the short- and long-term effects on HbA1c were non-significant, with results showing (MD = 0.02; 95% CI = -0.23 to 0.26; p = 0.89) and (MD = -0.27; 95% CI = -0.64 to 0.10; p = 0.15), respectively. The long-term effect on diabetes distress was also non-significant (SMD = -0.45; 95% CI = -0.93 to 0.03; p = 0.07).

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological interventions tailored for diabetes distress in people with type 2 diabetes are effective in reducing the level of diabetes distress immediately after the intervention. More trials are still needed to further enrich the evidence in this area.

The Final Frontier in Diabetes Care: Implementing Research in Real-World Practice

Despite extensive evidence related to the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its complications, most people at risk for and people who have diabetes do not receive recommended guideline-based care. Clinical implementation of proven care strategies is of the utmost importance because without this, even the most impressive research findings will remain of purely academic interest. In this review, we discuss the promise and challenges of implementing effective approaches to diabetes prevention and care in the real-world setting. We describe successful implementation projects in three critical areas of diabetes care-diabetes prevention, glycemic control, and prevention of diabetes-related complications-which provide a basis for further clinical translation and an impetus to improve the prevention and control of T2D in the community. Advancing the clinical translation of evidence-based care must include recognition of and assessment of existing gaps in care, identification of barriers to the delivery of optimal care, and a locally appropriate plan to address and overcome these barriers. Care models that promote team-based approaches, rather than reliance on patient-provider interactions, will enhance the delivery of contemporary comprehensive diabetes care.

Digital biomarkers: 3PM approach revolutionizing chronic disease management - EPMA 2024 position

Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) have become a major global health concern. They constitute the leading cause of disabilities, increased morbidity, mortality, and socio-economic disasters worldwide. Medical condition-specific digital biomarker (DB) panels have emerged as valuable tools to manage NCDs. DBs refer to the measurable and quantifiable physiological, behavioral, and environmental parameters collected for an individual through innovative digital health technologies, including wearables, smart devices, and medical sensors. By leveraging digital technologies, healthcare providers can gather real-time data and insights, enabling them to deliver more proactive and tailored interventions to individuals at risk and patients diagnosed with NCDs. Continuous monitoring of relevant health parameters through wearable devices or smartphone applications allows patients and clinicians to track the progression of NCDs in real time. With the introduction of digital biomarker monitoring (DBM), a new quality of primary and secondary healthcare is being offered with promising opportunities for health risk assessment and protection against health-to-disease transitions in vulnerable sub-populations. DBM enables healthcare providers to take the most cost-effective targeted preventive measures, to detect disease developments early, and to introduce personalized interventions. Consequently, they benefit the quality of life (QoL) of affected individuals, healthcare economy, and society at large. DBM is instrumental for the paradigm shift from reactive medical services to 3PM approach promoted by the European Association for Predictive, Preventive, and Personalized Medicine (EPMA) involving 3PM experts from 55 countries worldwide. This position manuscript consolidates multi-professional expertise in the area, demonstrating clinically relevant examples and providing the roadmap for implementing 3PM concepts facilitated through DBs.

A pilot study to address the mental health of persons living with lymphatic filariasis in Léogâne, Haiti: Implementing a chronic disease self-management program using a stepped-wedge cluster design

BACKGROUND

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) inflict significant comorbid disability on the most vulnerable communities; yet interventions targeting the mental health of affected communities are lacking. A pilot study to assess the effectiveness of a chronic disease self-management program (CDSMP) was introduced to lymphatic filariasis peer support groups in Léogâne, Haiti.

METHODS

Using a closed-cohort stepped-wedge cluster trial design, Hope Clubs were assigned into Arm 1 (n=118 members) and Arm 2 (n=92). Household surveys, measuring self-rated health, depression, disease self-efficacy, perceived social support, and quality of life, were conducted at baseline (before CDSMP); midpoint (after Arm 1/before Arm 2 completed CDSMP); and endpoint (after CDSMP). Non-Hope Club member patients (n=74) were evaluated at baseline for comparison.

RESULTS

Fifty percent of Hope Club members (Arm 1: 48.3%, Arm 2: 52.2%) screened positive for depression at baseline, compared with 36.5% of non-Hope Club members. No statistically significant differences were found in outcome measures between intervention observation periods. At endpoint, depressive illness reduced to 28.7% (Arm 1) and 27.6% (Arm 2).

CONCLUSIONS

The intervention was feasible to integrate into Hope Clubs, showed overall positive effects and reduced depressive symptoms. More studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of implementing CDSMP in the NTD context.

CONTEXTE

Les maladies tropicales négligées (MTN) infligent d'importantes incapacités comorbides aux communautés les plus vulnérables; pourtant, les interventions ciblant la santé mentale des communautés affectées font défaut. Une étude pilote visant à évaluer l'efficacité d'un programme d'autogestion des maladies chroniques (CDSMP) a été introduite dans des groupes de soutien par les pairs pour la filariose lymphatique à Léogâne, en Haïti.

MÉTHODES

Dans le cadre d'un essai en grappe à cohorte fermée, les clubs Hope ont été répartis entre le bras 1 (n=118 membres) et le bras 2 (n=92). Des enquêtes auprès des ménages, mesurant l'auto-évaluation de la santé, la dépression, l'auto-efficacité face à la maladie, le soutien social perçu et la qualité de vie, ont été menées au départ (avant le CDSMP), à mi-parcours (après que le bras 1 / avant que le bras 2 ait terminé le CDSMP) et à la fin (après le CDSMP). Les patients non membres du Hope Club (n=74) ont été évalués au début de l'étude à des fins de comparaison.

RÉSULTATS

Cinquante pourcent des membres du Hope Club (bras 1 : 48,3%, bras 2 : 52,2%) ont été dépistés positifs pour la dépression au début de l'étude, contre 36,5% des non-membres du Hope Club. Aucune différence statistiquement significative n'a été constatée dans les mesures des résultats entre les périodes d'observation de l'intervention. À la fin de l'étude, la maladie dépressive était réduite à 28,7% (bras 1) et 27,6% (bras 2).

CONCLUSIONS

L'intervention a pu être intégrée dans les clubs Hope, elle a montré des effets globalement positifs et a permis de réduire les symptômes dépressifs. D'autres études sont nécessaires pour évaluer l'efficacité de la mise en œuvre du CDSMP dans le contexte des MTD.

ANTECEDENTES

Las enfermedades tropicales desatendidas (ETDs) infligen una importante discapacidad comórbida a las comunidades más vulnerables; sin embargo, faltan intervenciones dirigidas a la salud mental de las comunidades afectadas. Se introdujo un estudio piloto para evaluar la eficacia de un programa de autogestión de enfermedades crónicas (CDSMP, por sus siglas en inglés) en grupos de apoyo entre pares de filariasis linfática en Léogâne, Haití.

MÉTODOS

Utilizando un diseño de ensayo por conglomerados de cohortes cerradas escalonadas, los Clubes Esperanza fueron asignados al Grupo 1 (n=118 miembros) y al Grupo 2 (n=92). Se realizaron encuestas en los hogares para medir la autoevaluación de la salud, la depresión, la autoeficacia frente a la enfermedad, el apoyo social percibido y la calidad de vida en la línea de base (antes del CDSMP), en el punto medio (después de que el Grupo 1/antes de que el Grupo 2 completara el CDSMP) y en el punto final (después del CDSMP). Los pacientes que no pertenecían al Club Esperanza (n=74) fueron evaluados al inicio del estudio a modo de comparación.

RESULTADOS

El 50% de los miembros del Club Esperanza (Grupo 1: 48,3%, Grupo 2: 52,2%) dieron positivo en depresión al inicio del estudio, en comparación con el 36,5% de los no miembros del Club Esperanza. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las medidas de resultado entre los periodos de observación de la intervención. Al final, la enfermedad depresiva se redujo al 28,7% (Grupo 1) y al 27,6% (Grupo 2).

CONCLUSIONES

La intervención fue factible de integrar en los Clubes Esperanza, mostróefectos positivos generales y redujo los síntomas depresivos. Se necesitan más estudios para evaluar la eficacia de la aplicación del CDSMP en el contexto de las ETD.

Psychological resilience mediates the relationship between diabetes distress and depression among persons with diabetes in a multi-group analysis

The aim to examine the link between diabetes distress and depression in individuals with diabetes, assess the mediating role of psychological resilience in this relationship, and analyses if these relationships differ between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The study utilized a cross-sectional design. A total of 181 (age 33-72 years, mean = 54.76 years, and SD = 9.05 years) individuals diagnosed with diabetes who were receiving treatment from State Specialist Hospitals in Okitipupa were selected for the study using the convenient sampling technique. The data were analysed using Pearson Multiple correlation and multi-group mediation analysis. The analyses were carried out with Smartpls and IBM/SPSS Version 28.0. The results revealed a significant positive correlation between diabetes distress and depression (r = .80, p < .05), suggesting that higher levels of diabetes distress were associated with increased depression scores. Additionally, psychological resilience partially mediated the relationship between diabetes distress and depression (b = - 0.10, p < .05), signifying that resilience played a crucial role in mitigating the impact of diabetes distress on depression. Furthermore, a multi-group analysis was conducted to explore potential differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes subgroups. The relationship between diabetes distress and depression was found to be more pronounced in the Type 1 subgroup (difference = 0.345, p < .05), while the relationship between psychological resilience and depression was negatively stronger in the Type 2 subgroup (difference = - 0.404, p < .05) compared to the Type 1 subgroup. There is an intricate linkage between diabetes distress, resilience, and depression, emphasizing the differential roles of resilience in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The insights gleaned from this study underscore the importance of considering the type of diabetes when designing interventions and support mechanisms for individuals with diabetes who are also suffering from depression. By advancing our understanding of these dynamics, we can strive for more effective and personalized approaches to improve the overall well-being of those living with diabetes.

Can online and app-based interventions be used by people with diabetes to reduce diabetes distress? A protocol for a scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes distress has been defined as "the negative emotional or affective experience resulting from the challenge of living with the demands of diabetes". Diabetes distress affects 20%-25% of individuals living with diabetes and can have negative effects on both diabetes regulation and quality of life. For people living with diabetes distress, innovative tools/interventions such as online or app-based interventions may potentially alleviate diabetes distress in a cost-effective way. The specific research questions of this scoping review are: (1) what are the effects of online or app-based interventions on diabetes distress for adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and (2) what are the characteristics of these interventions (eg, type of intervention, duration, frequency, mode of delivery, underlying theories and working mechanisms)?

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A scoping review will be conducted, using the methodological framework of Arksey and O'Malley along with Levac et al. Eligible studies are: studies of adults ≥18 years old with type 1 or 2 diabetes using an online or app-based intervention and assessing diabetes distress as the primary or secondary outcome. Five databases (Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Scopus) will be searched and is limited to articles written in English, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish or Dutch. Two reviewers will independently screen potentially eligible studies in Covidence, select studies, and together chart data, collate, summarise, and report the results. We will adhere to the Preferred reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR).

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The scoping review has been exempt from full ethical review by the Regional Committees on Health Research Ethics for Southern Denmark (case number: S-20232000-88). The results of the review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences and workshops with relevant stakeholders.

Technology-Supported Integrated Care Innovations to Support Diabetes and Mental Health Care: Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

For individuals living with diabetes and its psychosocial comorbidities (eg, depression, anxiety, and distress), there remains limited access to interprofessional, integrated care that includes mental health support, education, and follow-up. Health technology, broadly defined as the application of organized knowledge or skill as software, devices, and systems to solve health problems and improve quality of life, is emerging as a means of addressing these gaps. There is thus a need to understand how such technologies are being used to support, educate, and help individuals living with co-occurring diabetes and mental health distress or disorder.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this scoping review was to (1) describe the literature on technology-enabled integrated interventions for diabetes and mental health; (2) apply frameworks from the Mental Health Commission of Canada and World Health Organization to elucidate the components, type, processes, and users of technology-enabled integrated interventions for diabetes and mental health; and (3) map the level of integration of interventions for diabetes and mental health.

METHODS

We searched 6 databases from inception to February 2022 for English-language, peer-reviewed studies of any design or type that used technology to actively support both diabetes and any mental health distress or disorder in succession or concurrently among people with diabetes (type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes). Reviewers screened citations and extracted data including study characteristics and details about the technology and integration used.

RESULTS

We included 24 studies described in 38 publications. These studies were conducted in a range of settings and sites of care including both web-based and in-person settings. Studies were mostly website-based (n=13) and used technology for wellness and prevention (n=16) and intervention and treatment (n=15). The primary users of these technologies were clients and health care providers. All the included intervention studies (n=20) used technology for clinical integration, but only 7 studies also used the technology for professional integration.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this scoping review suggest that there is a growing body of literature on integrated care for diabetes and mental health enabled by technology. However, gaps still exist with how to best equip health care professionals with the knowledge and skills to offer integrated care. Future research is needed to continue to explore the purpose, level, and breadth of technology-enabled integration to facilitate an approach to overcome or address care fragmentation for diabetes and mental health and to understand how health technology can further drive the scale-up of innovative integrated interventions.

Learning in a Virtual Environment to Improve Type 2 Diabetes Outcomes: Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Given the importance of self-management in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a major aspect of health is providing diabetes self-management education and support. Known barriers include access, availability, and the lack of follow through on referral to education programs. Virtual education and support have increased in use over the last few years.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the Diabetes Learning in a Virtual Environment (LIVE) study was to compare the effects of the LIVE intervention (educational 3D world) to a diabetes self-management education and support control website on diet and physical activity behaviors and behavioral and metabolic outcomes in adults with T2DM over 12 months.

METHODS

The LIVE study was a 52-week multisite randomized controlled trial with longitudinal repeated measures. Participants were randomized to LIVE (n=102) or a control website (n=109). Both contained the same educational materials, but the virtual environment was synchronous and interactive, whereas the control was a flat website. Data were collected at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months using surveys and clinical, laboratory, and Fitbit measures. Descriptive statistics included baseline characteristics and demographics. The effects of the intervention were initially examined by comparing the means and SDs of the outcomes across the 4 time points between study arms, followed by multilevel modeling on trajectories of the outcomes over the 12 months.

RESULTS

This trial included 211 participants who consented. The mean age was 58.85 (SD 10.1) years, and a majority were White (127/211, 60.2%), non-Hispanic (198/211, 93.8%), married (107/190, 56.3%), and female (125/211, 59.2%). Mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level at baseline was 7.64% (SD 1.79%) and mean BMI was 33.51 (SD 7.25). We examined weight loss status versus randomized group, where data with no weight change were eliminated, and the LIVE group experienced significantly more weight loss than the control group (P=.04). There were no significant differences between groups in changes in physical activity and dietary outcomes (all P>.05), but each group showed an increase in physical activity. Both groups experienced a decrease in mean HbA1c level, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides over the course of 12 months of study participation, including those participants whose baseline HbA1c level was 8.6% or higher.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirmed that there were minor positive changes on glycemic targets in both groups over the 12-month study period; however, the majority of the participants began with optimal HbA1c levels. We did find clinically relevant metabolic changes in those who began with an HbA1c level >8.6% in both groups. This study provided a variety of resources to our participants in both study groups, and we conclude that a toolkit with a variety of services would be helpful to improving self-care in the future for persons with T2DM.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02040038; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02040038.

Development of a Community-Based e-Health Program for Older Adults With Chronic Diseases: Pilot Pre-Post Study

Background

Chronic diseases may impact older adults’ health outcomes, health care costs, and quality of life. Self-management is expected to encourage individuals to make autonomous decisions, adhere to treatment plans, deal with emotional and social consequences, and provide choices for healthy lifestyle. New eHealth solutions significantly increase the health literacy and empower patients in self-management of chronic conditions.

Objective

This study aims to develop a Community-Based e-Health Program (CeHP) for older adults with chronic diseases and conduct a pilot evaluation.

Methods

A pilot study with a 2-group pre- and posttest repeated measures design was adopted. Community-dwelling older adults with chronic diseases were recruited from senior activity centers in Singapore. A systematic 3-step process of developing CeHP was coupled with a smart-device application. The development of the CeHP intervention consists of theoretical framework, client-centric participatory action research process, content validity assessment, and pilot testing. Self-reported survey questionnaires and health outcomes were measured before and after the CeHP. The instruments used were the Self-care of Chronic Illness Inventory (SCCII), Healthy Aging Instrument (HAI), Short-Form Health Literacy Scale, 12 Items (HLS-SF 12), Patient Empowerment Scale (PES), and Social Support Questionnaire, 6 items. The following health outcomes were measured: Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Symbol Digit Modalities Test, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins/very-low-density lipoproteins (LDL/VLDL), fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c), and BMI.

Results

The CeHP consists of health education, monitoring, and an advisory system for older adults to manage their chronic conditions. It is an 8-week intensive program, including face-to-face and eHealth (Care4Senior App) sessions. Care4Senior App covers health education topics focusing on the management of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, brain health, healthy diet, lifestyle modification, medication adherence, exercise, and mindfulness practice. Content validity assessment indicated that the content of the CeHP is valid, with a content validity index (CVI) ranging 0.86-1 and a scale-CVI of 1. Eight participants in the CeHP group and 4 in the control group completed both baseline and post intervention assessments. Participants in the CeHP group showed improvements in fasting glucose, HbA_1c, TC, LDL/VLDL, BMI, SCCII indices (Maintenance, Monitoring, and Management), HAI, and PES scores post intervention, although these changes were not significant. For the participants in the control group, the scores for SCCII (management and confidence) and HLS-SF 12 decreased post intervention.

Conclusions

The CeHP is feasible, and it engages and empowers community-dwelling older adults to manage their chronic conditions. The rigorous process of program development and pilot evaluation provided valid evidence to expand the CeHP to a larger-scale implementation to encourage self-management, reduce debilitating complications of poorly controlled chronic diseases, promote healthy longevity and social support, and reduce health care costs.