Personal Health Library App for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

Overseen By Kimberly Vasquez, MPH

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Yale University

Disqualifiers: Visual, cognitive, language, relocation

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a new tool called the Personal Health Library (PerHL) for individuals recently released from jail or prison. It will compare the combination of PerHL and the MyChart app against using only MyChart, a health app commonly used to track medical information. The goal is to determine if PerHL helps users manage their health more effectively. The trial seeks English-speaking individuals with a chronic condition who have been out of a correctional facility within the last year and are already receiving regular medical care. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative health management solutions for those transitioning from correctional facilities.

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.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that the Personal Health Library (PerHL) app helps people manage their health information after incarceration. Although specific safety data is unavailable, the app is a digital tool, not a medication, so traditional safety concerns like side effects do not apply.

PerHL stores medical and socioeconomic information, making it easier for users to access their health records. It is designed to be easy to use, especially for those unfamiliar with digital tools, suggesting it is user-friendly.

The app integrates with MyChart, a well-known and trusted patient portal for managing health information. MyChart allows users to view their medications, test results, and appointments in one place. Its established reputation adds reliability to the overall experience.

In summary, while researchers continue to study PerHL, its design and integration with MyChart suggest it is a safe and easy-to-use option for managing health information. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it looks at how a Personal Health Library (PerHL) app might help formerly incarcerated individuals manage their health. Unlike the standard patient portals like MyChart, which offer basic access to medical records, PerHL aims to provide a more personalized and comprehensive health management experience. This app could empower users by offering tailored health information and support, potentially improving their ability to navigate healthcare systems and manage chronic conditions. By focusing on this unique population, the trial hopes to reveal insights into how digital health tools can bridge gaps in care and support successful reintegration into society.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for formerly incarcerated individuals?

Research shows that people who have been in prison often face health problems and require more frequent hospital visits, especially soon after release. In this trial, participants will be randomized into different arms to evaluate the effectiveness of the Personal Health Library (PerHL) app. One group will receive access to PerHL along with the standard of care patient portal, MyChart. Studies have found that using PerHL with MyChart can help individuals manage their health better after leaving prison. This app aims to provide users with personalized health information tailored to their needs. While data collection on its effectiveness continues, early feedback suggests it could be a valuable tool for improving health in this group. ^{3 4 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Karen Wang, MD, MHS

Principal Investigator

Yale University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-speaking adults over 18 who have been released from prison within the last year, are engaged in primary care, and have at least one chronic condition. It's not suitable for those planning to move soon or with cognitive, visual impairments or language barriers.

Inclusion Criteria

engaged in primary care in the community

English-speaking

have been released from a correctional facility in the past year

Exclusion Criteria

planned relocation

You have issues with thinking or memory.

I have a visual impairment.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete a baseline assessment and are randomly assigned to intervention or control group

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Intervention

Participants in the intervention group use PerHL, while control group uses MyChart. Meetings with RA at baseline, 1, and 3 months

3 months

3 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for acceptance, perceived usefulness, and other outcomes

3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Epic®MyChart
• Personal Health Library (PerHL)
• Personal Health Library (PerHL) + MyChart

Trial Overview The study is testing a Personal Health Library (PerHL) combined with MyChart against just using MyChart. PerHL aims to help manage personal health data post-incarceration. Participants will be randomly assigned to either group.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Access to Personal Health Library (PerHL) + MyChart Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants randomized to the PerHL arm will have access to PerHL and the standard of care patient portal (Epic®MyChart).

Group II: Control - MyChart Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants randomized to the control arm will receive the standard of care patient portal (Epic®MyChart).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Yale University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,963

Recruited

3,046,000+

National Library of Medicine (NLM)

Collaborator

Trials

42

Recruited

108,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a randomized trial involving 105 participants, two dietary recording app prototypes were tested for accuracy and efficiency, both achieving over 98% accuracy in recording food intake.

The self-chosen tab app was significantly more time-efficient for inputting food items compared to the autonomous exhaustive list app, although users occasionally missed selecting food attributes, which did not happen with the exhaustive list.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluating Mobile Health Apps for Customized Dietary Recording for Young Adults and Seniors: Randomized Controlled Trial. Liu, YC., Chen, CH., Tsou, YC., et al.[2020]

Mobile health (mHealth) apps are categorized by their functions, such as behavior change and self-management, but there is limited clinical guidance on their effective use in patient care, highlighting a gap in evidence-based recommendations.

Data security and patient privacy are major concerns when using mHealth apps, and there is a need for better involvement of patients in the development of guidelines to ensure that these apps meet their needs and improve clinical outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

What is the clinical value of mHealth for patients? Rowland, SP., Fitzgerald, JE., Holme, T., et al.[2023]

The mobile app My Wellness Coach (MWC) showed promising feasibility and acceptability among underserved populations, with 76% of participants setting health goals and significant improvements in overall wellbeing and physical health after 3 months.

Participants using MWC in a group setting had a higher goal completion rate (60%) compared to those using it individually (20%), suggesting that group support may enhance the app's effectiveness in promoting behavior change.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

My Wellness Coach: evaluation of a mobile app designed to promote integrative health among underserved populations. Yuan, NP., Brooks, AJ., Burke, MK., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10193212/

Personal Health Libraries for People Returning From ... Individuals released from carceral facilities have high rates of hospitalization and death, especially in the weeks immediately after their return to ...

2. scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstreams/c7652d9f-31aa-4bd2-9f93-3e5cfc619a2f/download

Design of Personal Health Libraries for People Returning ... This study aimed to employ a user-centered design approach to create a digital Personal Health Library (PerHL) for previously incarcerated individuals. The ...

3. yalechil.com yalechil.com/work/personal-health-libraries-for-formerly-incarcerated-individuals-perhl

Personal Health Libraries for Formerly Incarcerated ... Particularly, ten million individuals are released from prisons and jails each year and have a high risk of poor health outcomes. Given the abrupt change in ...

4. files-profile.medicine.yale.edu files-profile.medicine.yale.edu/documents/aca2e199-ab2b-4edc-b987-42523c34a13a

ANNUAL REPORT PerHL is developing and testing a personal health library mobile app designed for and in partnership with formerly incarcerated people. This study brings.

5. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/370495922_Personal_Health_Libraries_for_People_Returning_From_Incarceration_Protocol_for_a_Qualitative_Study

(PDF) Personal Health Libraries for People Returning From ... Results: As of February 2023, we have completed 27 qualitative interviews with individuals recently released from carceral systems (n=20) and ...

6. par.nsf.gov par.nsf.gov/servlets/purl/10337529

Seo_Digital Skills and Online Health_2022 The current research was guided by several key questions related to the use of online health information by formerly incarcerated women. Key ...

7. mychart.org mychart.org/

MyChart | MyChart is Epic All your health information in one place. See your medications, test results, upcoming appointments, medical bills, price estimates, and more.