Study of Self-monitoring of Weight & Blood Pressure (Via patientMpower Platform) in Hemodialysis

Pilot-scale, prospective, open-label, randomized, two-period, cross-over intervention study.

Each patient will be randomized to one of the two possible observation sequences:

Sequence 1: run-in (2 weeks): usual care followed by period 1 (4 weeks): patientMpower application (+digital weighing scales & BP monitor) followed by period 2 (4 weeks): sham application

OR

Sequence 2: run-in (2 weeks): followed by period 1 (4 weeks) sham application followed by period 2 (4 weeks): patientMpower application (+digital weighing scales & BP monitor)

The study will not make any other changes to the therapeutic interventions offered to the patients. Patients will follow their usual care and hemodialysis programme throughout the study.

Proposed sample size is approximately 50 patients.

Patients will be recruited through three haemodialysis facilities under the governance of Beaumont Hospital, a tertiary care centre for nephrology in Dublin, Ireland.

The study observational intervention is an electronic health journal, the patientMpower application (with a supplied digital weighing scales and BP monitor). This has been developed specifically for patients undergoing hemodialysis. The app is an electronic application downloaded to the patient's mobile phone or tablet device. The app is designed to allow the patient to report various parameters relevant to hemodialysis and record these on a regular basis, ideally daily. The information recorded by the patients will be stored in a secure cloud system and will be available to the patient through their phone or mobile device at all times. No personal health data are stored on the phone or mobile device itself.

Patient-reported measures (at a minimum) will include body weight (at least one reading /day), BP and compliance with relevant medication. Additional patient-reported measures which can be reported on the patientMpower app include body temperature, activity levels and symptoms.

The control observation will be usual care with a sham electronic application (which will not allow recording of body weight, BP or other measurements).

The objective of this pilot-scale cross-over open label randomized study is to assess the effect of self-monitoring using the patientMpower electronic health journal [+digital weighing scales &BP monitor] on outcomes in ambulatory hemodialysis patients.The primary objective will be to determine the frequency of use of the patientMpower app (+digital weighing scales & BP monitor).

Inclusion criteria

• Requires maintenance hemodialysis in an ambulatory care setting.
• Aged at least 18 years.
• Has daily unrestricted access to a suitable smart phone or tablet device at home.
• Has an e-mail address.
• Has home broadband and/or mobile data as part of their mobile phone service.
• Demonstrates understanding of correct use of the patientMpower application, digital weighing scales, BP monitor and other study equipment.
• Capable and willing to perform measurements (e.g. weight, BP) at home and record information on the patientMpower application on a daily basis.
• Willing to give written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Significant confusion or any concomitant medical condition, which would limit the ability of the patient to record symptoms or other parameters on an electronic health journal