The development and application of the mobile frailty management platform for Chinese community-dwelling older adults

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to develop a mobile frailty management platform for Chinese community-dwelling older adults and evaluate its effectiveness, usability and safety.

Methods

Based on literature research, the research team combined the frailty cycle and integration models, self-determination theory, and technology acceptance models and determined the frailty interventions through expert discussion, then transformed it into multimedia resources, finally, engineers developed the mobile management platform. A cluster sampling, parallel, single-blind, controlled quasi-experimental trial was conducted. Sixty older adults from two community health service centers were recruited from March to August 2023. The control group received routine community care, while the intervention group used the mobile frailty management platform. The incidence of frailty, scores of quality of life, depression, sleep quality, and grip strength within 12 weeks were compared between the two groups, and the availability and safety of the platform were assessed.

Results

A total of 52 participants completed the study, 27 in the intervention group and 25 in the control group. At 12 weeks after the intervention, the frailty state of the intervention group was reversed to pre-frailty. There were no significant differences in the scores of quality of life, depression, sleep quality, and grip strength between the two groups before and 4 weeks after intervention. At 8 weeks and 12 weeks after the intervention, the quality of life, depression, and grip strength of the intervention group were improved with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Sleep quality was statistically significant only 12 weeks after the intervention (P < 0.05). System Usability Scale score for the platform was (87.96 ± 5.88), indicating a highly satisfactory user experience. Throughout the intervention, no adverse events were reported among the older adults.

Conclusions

The mobile frailty management platform effectively improved frailty status, depressive mood, sleep quality, grip strength, and quality of life for Chinese community-dwelling older adults. It holds clinical application value and is an effective tool for strengthening frailty management among Chinese community-dwelling older adults.