A Technology-Based Intervention to Support Older Adults in Living Independently: Protocol for a Cross-National Feasibility Pilot

Vera Stara; Margherita Rampioni; Adrian Alexandru Moșoi; Dominic M Kristaly; Sorin-Aurel Moraru; Lucia Paciaroni; Susy Paolini; Alessandra Raccichini; Elisa Felici; Lorena Rossi; Cristian Vizitiu; Alexandru Nistorescu; Mihaela Marin; Gabriella Tónay; András Tóth; Tamás Pilissy; Gábor Fazekas

doi:10.3390/ijerph192416604

A Technology-Based Intervention to Support Older Adults in Living Independently: Protocol for a Cross-National Feasibility Pilot

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 10;19(24):16604. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192416604.

Authors

Vera Stara¹, Margherita Rampioni¹, Adrian Alexandru Moșoi², Dominic M Kristaly³, Sorin-Aurel Moraru³, Lucia Paciaroni⁴, Susy Paolini⁴, Alessandra Raccichini⁴, Elisa Felici¹, Lorena Rossi¹, Cristian Vizitiu⁵, Alexandru Nistorescu⁵, Mihaela Marin⁵, Gabriella Tónay⁶, András Tóth^{6

7}, Tamás Pilissy^{6

7}, Gábor Fazekas^{6

8}

Affiliations

¹ Model of Care and New Technologies, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Via Santa Margherita 5, 60124 Ancona, Italy.
² Department of Psychology, Education and Teacher Training, Transilvania University of Brasov, B-dul Eroilor 29, 500036 Brasov, Romania.
³ Department of Automatics and Information Technology, Transilvania University of Brasov, B-dul Eroilor 29, 500036 Brasov, Romania.
⁴ Neurology Department, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Via della Montagnola 81, 60100 Ancona, Italy.
⁵ Institute of Space Science, Atomistilor Str. 409, 077125 Magurele, Romania.
⁶ National Institute of Locomotor Diseases and Disabilities, National Institute for Medical Rehabilitation, Szanatórium utca 19, 1121 Budapest, Hungary.
⁷ Department of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Muegyetem rkp 3., 1111 Budapest, Hungary.
⁸ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Szeged, Dugonics Square 13, 6720 Szeged, Hungary.

Abstract

Innovative technologies can support older adults with or without disabilities, allowing them to live independently in their environment whilst monitoring their health and safety conditions and thereby reducing the significant burden on caregivers, whether family or professional. This paper discusses the design of a study protocol to evaluate the acceptance, usability, and efficiency of the SAVE system, a custom-developed information technology-based elderly care system. The study will involve older adults (aged 65 or older), professional and lay caregivers, and care service decision-makers representing all types of users in a care service scenario. The SAVE environmental sensors, smartwatches, smartphones, and Web service application will be evaluated in people's homes situated in Romania, Italy, and Hungary with a total of 165 users of the three types (cares, elderly, and admin). The study design follows the mixed method approach, using standardized tests and questionnaires with open-ended questions and logging all the data for evaluation. The trial is registered to the platform ClinicalTrials.gov with the registration number NCT05626556. This protocol not only guides the participating countries but can be a feasibility protocol suitable for evaluating the usability and quality of similar systems.

Keywords: active ageing; older adults; protocol; technology-based intervention.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Feasibility Studies
Humans
Quality of Life*
Romania
Surveys and Questionnaires
Technology*

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT05626556

Grants and funding

This study is part of the SAVE project co-financed by the EU (Active and Assisted Living Program, AAL-CP-2018-5-149). This study was also partially supported by Ricerca Corrente funding from the Italian Ministry of Health.