ElderTree Smart System for Older Adults

Overseen By Klaren Pe-Romashko, MS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Disqualifiers: Alzheimer's, Schizophrenia, Dementia, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 8 months

268 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on using technology to help manage health, so it's likely you can continue your current treatments, but please confirm with the trial coordinators.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment ElderTree on laptop (ET-LT) and ElderTree on smart system (ET-SS) for smoking cessation?

Web-based and smartphone-based interventions have been shown to help people quit smoking, especially when they provide personalized messages and are used alongside nicotine replacement therapy. These digital tools can be more effective than traditional self-help methods. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the ElderTree treatment unique for smoking cessation?

ElderTree treatment is unique because it uses technology, like laptops and smart systems, to provide personalized support and guidance for quitting smoking, which can be more accessible and tailored compared to traditional methods. This approach combines the convenience of digital tools with the potential for real-time, adaptive interventions, making it different from standard care or conventional methods. ^{1 4 5 6 7}

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial is testing if voice-activated smart devices can help older adults with multiple chronic conditions use a health management app more often. The goal is to make it easier for them to manage their health and improve their quality of life.

Research Team

David H. Gustafson, PhD

Principal Investigator

UW-Madison

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Be willing to share healthcare use (e.g. 30-day readmissions) in EHRs (only relevant for UW Health patients, not patients recruited from the community); and

Be ≥60 years old;

Have been treated in University of Wisconsin (UW) Health clinics, with no plans to leave during the study period (only relevant for UW Health patients, not patients recruited from the community);

Exclusion Criteria

You have Alzheimer's disease.

Require an interpreter

You have an illness that is very advanced and expected to result in death within 6 months.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive the ElderTree intervention on either a laptop or smart system to manage their health over multiple chronic conditions

8 months

Regular virtual check-ins

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• ElderTree on laptop (ET- LT)
• ElderTree on smart system (ET- SS)
• Treatment as usual

Participant Groups

Group I: ElderTree on smart system (ET- SS) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will receive ElderTree on a smart system.

Group II: ElderTree on laptop (ET- LT) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will receive ElderTree on a laptop.

Group III: Control group Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Participants will receive treatment as usual (TAU).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,249

Recruited

3,255,000+

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Collaborator

Trials

415

Recruited

6,777,000+

Findings from Research

The Tobacco Tactics website, designed for veterans, underwent usability testing and received positive feedback, leading to over 27 modifications to enhance user experience, with 83% of participants finding it enjoyable and easy to navigate.

In a pilot study, veterans using the Tobacco Tactics website along with nicotine replacement therapy achieved a 40% abstinence rate at 30 days, compared to only 13% in the control group, indicating its potential effectiveness in helping veterans quit smoking.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The development of the tobacco tactics website. Duffy, SA., Fowler, KE., Flanagan, PS., et al.[2021]

A study involving 181 participants found that most users rated the smoking cessation app QuitPal-m as very helpful, but daily usage declined over time, indicating a need for ongoing support to maintain engagement.

The effectiveness of the app was enhanced by supportive accountability from cessation counselors, particularly for smokers with low motivation to quit, highlighting the importance of addressing both personal barriers and technical issues to improve app usage.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Supportive Accountability and Mobile App Use in a Tobacco Control Intervention Targeting Low-Income Minority Mothers Who Smoke: Observational Study. Lepore, SJ., Collins, BN., Killam, HW., et al.[2023]

Smartphone applications for smoking cessation have been shown to increase quit rates among smokers, particularly when users engage with features like audiovisual content, quit plans, and progress tracking.

While these apps can help reduce relapse rates, the effectiveness varies based on how well users adhere to the app's features, indicating that user engagement is crucial for success.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Mobile Apps for Smoking Cessation: A Review. Regmi, K., Kassim, N., Ahmad, N., et al.[2020]

In a study involving 2,054 smokers from a Veterans Affairs Medical Center, various smoking cessation interventions were tested over 30 months, showing that stage-matched manuals alone achieved a cessation rate of 20.3%.

Adding nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and other expert or automated counseling methods did not significantly improve cessation rates compared to the manuals alone, indicating that the effectiveness of these additional interventions may be limited.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluating nicotine replacement therapy and stage-based therapies in a population-based effectiveness trial. Velicer, WF., Friedman, RH., Fava, JL., et al.[2019]

The Pathways to Change (PTC) system is an effective smoking cessation intervention, achieving cessation rates of 22% to 26% in four studies, indicating its efficacy in helping smokers quit.

The intervention's effects appear to increase over time, as follow-up assessments showed larger differences in cessation rates, suggesting lasting benefits beyond the treatment period.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An expert system intervention for smoking cessation. Velicer, WF., Prochaska, JO.[2022]

References

1. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The development of the tobacco tactics website. [2021]

2. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Supportive Accountability and Mobile App Use in a Tobacco Control Intervention Targeting Low-Income Minority Mothers Who Smoke: Observational Study. [2023]

3. Greece pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Mobile Apps for Smoking Cessation: A Review. [2020]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluating nicotine replacement therapy and stage-based therapies in a population-based effectiveness trial. [2019]

5. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Mobile Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention for Smoking Cessation: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. [2020]

6. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An expert system intervention for smoking cessation. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Smart devices and a future of hybrid tobacco cessation programs. [2017]