ElderTree Smart System for Older Adults

Summary

Multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) are costly and pervasive among older adults. MCCs account for 90% of Medicare spending, and 65% of Medicare beneficiaries have 3 or more chronic conditions; 23% have 5 or more. MCCs are often addressed in primary care, where time pressures force a focus on medication and lab results rather than self-management skills.

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate whether voice-activated "smart" technology increases adoption and sustains use of an evidence-based electronic health intervention (Elder Tree, or ET) for older adults with multiple chronic conditions, and thereby improves its potential to widely enhance quality of life and health outcomes. ET is an existing intervention providing tools, motivation, and support on a computer platform to help older adults manage their health.

An Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ)-funded randomized controlled trial (RCT) found that ET improved quality of life and other factors among high users of primary care with multiple chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. However, many people did not use it extensively, which is a common problem with all web apps.

Conditions

• Chronic Pain

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

ElderTree on laptop (ET- LT)

ElderTree (ET) is an existing intervention providing tools, motivation, and support on a computer platform to help older adults manage their health. ET is based on the extensively tested Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (CHESS). ET is a "walled garden" free of ads, with design features based on older users' feedback as well as best-practice principles such as uncluttered screens and large type. ET uses computers to deliver key elements of successful interventions: long duration, ongoing outreach, prompts, monitoring, cognitive reframing, action planning, problem solving, self-tailoring, and peer support. ET-LT arm will access ET on Laptop (ET- LT)

BEHAVIORAL

ElderTree on smart system (ET- SS)

ElderTree (ET) is an existing intervention providing tools, motivation, and support on a computer platform to help older adults manage their health. ET is based on the extensively tested Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (CHESS). ET is a "walled garden" free of ads, with design features based on older users' feedback as well as best-practice principles such as uncluttered screens and large type. ET uses computers to deliver key elements of successful interventions: long duration, ongoing outreach, prompts, monitoring, cognitive reframing, action planning, problem solving, self-tailoring, and peer support. ElderTree on smart system (ET- SS) will use voice-activated "smart" speakers connected to the Internet. Because they are used by talking and listening rather than typing and reading, many barriers associated with laptop use can be avoided.

BEHAVIORAL

Treatment as usual (TAU)

Treatment as usual (TAU)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

  collaborator FED

• University of Wisconsin, Madison

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• David H. Gustafson, PhD · UW-Madison

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-07-29

Primary Completion

2023-09-26

Completion

2023-09-26

Countries

• United States

Study Locations