mHealth for the Monitoring of Brace Compliance and Wellbeing in Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis: Study Protocol for a Feasibility Study

Verónica Martínez-Borba, Carlos Suso-Ribera, Amanda Díaz-García, Judith Salat-Batlle, Diana Castilla, Irene Zaragoza, Azucena García-Palacios and Judit Sánchez-Raya
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Verónica Martínez-Borba: Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Carlos Suso-Ribera: Department of Basic and Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castellón, Spain
Amanda Díaz-García: Department of Psychology and Sociology, Universidad de Zaragoza, 44003 Teruel, Spain
Judith Salat-Batlle: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, Hospital Universitario Vall d’Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Diana Castilla: Department of Personality, Assessment, and Psychological Treatments, Universidad de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Irene Zaragoza: CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERON), 28029 Madrid, Spain
Azucena García-Palacios: Department of Basic and Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castellón, Spain
Judit Sánchez-Raya: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, Hospital Universitario Vall d’Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 15, 1-22

Abstract: Attempts to optimize monitoring of brace adherence prescribed to adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) have generally relied on sensors. Sensors, however, are intrusive and do not allow the assessment of psychological and physical consequences of brace use that might underlie poor adherence. Mobile applications have emerged as alternatives to monitor brace compliance. However, the feasibility and utility of these app-based systems to assess key psychological and physical domains associated with non-adherence remain unexplored. This feasibility study aims to test the usability, acceptability, and clinical utility of an app-based system that monitors brace use and related psychological and physical factors. Forty adolescents with IS daily respond to the app for 90 days. The patient responses may generate clinical alarms (e.g., brace non-adherence, discomfort, or distress) that will be sent daily to the medical team. Primary outcomes will be app usability, acceptability, and response rates. Secondary outcomes will include brace adherence, the number of side effects reported, number and type of clinical alarms, stress, quality of life, perceived health status, and mood. If accepted by patients and clinicians, apps may allow rapid detection and response to undesired events in adolescents undergoing brace treatment.

Keywords: adolescent idiopathic scoliosis; Information and Communication Technologies; mobile application; brace adherence; treatment effectiveness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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