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Randomized Controlled Trial of Home Telemonitoring for Elderly People

Not Applicable
Conditions
Diabetes Mellitus
Chronic Heart Failure
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Interventions
Device: Wireless monitors for disease specific clinical parameters.
Registration Number
NCT00893685
Lead Sponsor
Health Information Management, Belgium
Brief Summary

The DREAMING clinical trial is part of the DREAMING project, which has the objective to demonstrate that the DREAMING platform consisting of integrated health monitoring, alarm handling and videoconferencing services produces clinical benefits to its users and economic benefits to the health authorities. The study evaluates the long-term (30 months) effect of continuous use of the DREAMING subsystems and is testing the hypothesis that such use is superior to usual care alone in reducing the deterioration of health related quality of life that is associated to age and chronic disease. It also tests the hypothesis that the DREAMING environment is superior to usual care in delaying the transfer to nursing or elderly homes and in reducing the incidence and duration of hospitalisation episodes. The trial will also evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the DREAMING platform. Outcomes are assessed in six different health care systems (Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden) and will represent a basis for the adoption of DREAMING services by the respective health authorities.

Detailed Description

Homes of participants are equipped with environmental sensors, motion detection, and with wireless sensors for blood pressure, blood glucose, body weight, blood oxygen saturation, peak expiratory flow and electrocardiogram. Disease related parameters are monitored at least daily and the measured values are transmitted to a central monitoring unit. In case of abnormal values, health alarms are generated and transmitted to the local health authorities to trigger eventual intervention by the physicians and nurses who normally follow the participants. Participants and health professionals can stay in contact via an easy to use, home television based videoconferencing system. Participants are also equipped with a a personal alarm and GPS-enhanced localisation system.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
300
Inclusion Criteria

Inclusion criteria:

  • Diagnosis of chronic heart failure
  • Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus
  • Diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Only in the case that the number of recruited participants is not sufficient, inclusion criteria can be extended to one or more of the following conditions:

  • History of myocardial infarction
  • History of stroke (brain ischemia or hemorrhage)
  • History of falls within the last two years
  • Hospitalization during the last two years (for every reason)
Exclusion Criteria
  • Not willing to participate (e.g non signing informed consent)
  • Inability to use the DREAMING equipment
  • Significant impairment of language comprehension or expression (aphasia)
  • Diagnosis of dementia
  • Completely dependent on others for the activities of daily living
  • Living without access to ISDN or DSL service

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Home telemonitoringWireless monitors for disease specific clinical parameters.-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Health related quality of life as assessed by the SF-36 questionnaire, at the beginning, at midterm and at the end of the trial period0, 15, 30 months
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Time to permanent transfer to elderly homesMeasured at month 30
Total and average length of stay in hospitalMeasured at month 30
Number of consultations with general practitionersMeasured at month 30
Number of consultations with medical specialistsMeasured at month 30
Number of home visits by nursesMeasured at month 30
Number of ambulance transportsMeasured at month 30
Number of accesses to emergency roomsMeasured at month 30
Number of fallsMeasured at month 30
Number of femur fracturesMeasured at month 30
HbA1c change over time (only for participants with a diagnosis of diabetes)Measured at month 30
SurvivalMeasured at month 30
Depression as measured by HADSMeasured at months 0, 15 and 30
Number of hospitalisationsMeasured at month 30
Number of permanent transfers to elderly homesMeasured at month 30

Trial Locations

Locations (6)

East Tallin Central Hospital

🇪🇪

Tallin, Estonia

Langeland Municipality

🇩🇰

Langeland, Denmark

GP Surgery

🇸🇪

Heby, Sweden

Servicio Aragones de Salud

🇪🇸

Barbastro, Spain

Pflegwerk Berlin, Mediplus

🇩🇪

Berlin, Germany

Azienda per i Servizi Sanitari ASS N.1

🇮🇹

Trieste, Italy

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