why choose us

300×250 Ad Slot

Research Article: Using Digital Health Technologies to Monitor Pain, Medication Adherence and Physical Activity in Young People with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Feasibility Study

Date Published: 2024-02-02

Abstract:
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis can be influenced by pain, medication adherence, and physical activity. A new digital health intervention, InteractiveClinics, aims to monitor these modifiable risk factors. Twelve children, aged 10 to 18 years, received daily notifications on a smartwatch to record their pain levels and take their medications, using a customised mobile app synchronised to a secure web-based platform. Daily physical activity levels were automatically recorded by wearing a smartwatch. Using a quantitative descriptive research design, feasibility and user adoption were evaluated. The web-based data revealed the following: Pain: mean app usage: 68% (SD 30, range: 28.6% to 100%); pain score: 2.9 out of 10 (SD 1.8, range: 0.3 to 6.2 out of 10). Medication adherence: mean app usage: 20.7% (SD, range: 0% to 71.4%), recording 39% (71/182) of the expected daily and 37.5% (3/8) of the weekly medications. Pro-re-nata (PRN) medication monitoring: 33.3% (4/12), one to six additional medications (mean 3.5, SD 2.4) for 2–6 days. Physical activity: watch wearing behaviour: 69.7% (439/630), recording low levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (mean: 11.8, SD: 13.5 min, range: 0–47 min). To conclude, remote monitoring of real-time data is feasible. However, further research is needed to increase adoption rates among children.

Introduction:
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common paediatric rheumatological disorder, impacting the lives of 6000 Australian children [1]. JIA is classified as an arthritis of unknown origin, manifesting before the age of 18 years and lasting for more than a period of six weeks [2,3]. Diagnosis is concluded after all other possible causes are eliminated [4].

Read more

300×250 Ad Slot