Evaluation of a new Healthcare Social Media platform (ZWIP) for frail elderly: improving care coordination and self-management

ISRCTN ISRCTN11165483
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11165483
Secondary identifying numbers 311050201
Submission date
26/11/2012
Registration date
21/12/2012
Last edited
18/01/2019
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Other
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Frail elderly people often face considerable difficulties in navigating the healthcare system. Care is fragmented, with involvement from a constantly changing group of professionals from a variety of care settings. Because of this fragmentation, general practitioners, specialists, nurses and other professionals are frequently unaware of the fact that they provide care for the same patients. There needs to be better coordination between professionals through sharing information about the patients in order to improve their care. Intensive communication between the professionals, the patients and their caregivers is also necessary for shared decision-making and self-management, which lead to better patient outcomes. In order to realize such goals, professionals have to be aware of the patient’s goals, and they should be able to provide care in accordance with such goals. Elderly patients generally wish to be informed about their care and appreciate if they wishes are taken into account when decisions are made. Also, accurate and timely information is necessary for shared decision-making. However, with the current organization of care, patients often do not receive continuous care, engage in shared decision-making or practice self-management. For this reason interventions are being developed to address this problem. ZWIP is intended to facilitate both patients’ self-management and collaboration between professionals. ZWIP is a healthcare social-media network for frail older people, their caregivers and professionals. A main feature of ZWIP is that patients are central in the system - patients and their caregivers decide which professionals join their network, and professionals can exchange messages with the patients and each other. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of ZWIP compared to standard care.

Who can participate?
Frail elderly patients aged over 70 living in the east of the Netherlands.

What does the study involve?
Participants in general practices using ZWIP are compared with participants in practices using standard care. Participants are assessed by questionnaire.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Patients can communicate with their professionals through ZWIP. There are no risks or side effects involved.

Where is the study run from?
The study is run from the Radboud University Medical Centre, and about 11 GP practices in the east of the Netherlands take part in the study.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2011 to December 2012.

Who is funding the study?
ZonMw, Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development.

Who is the main contact?
René Melis
rene.melis@radboudumc.nl

Study website

Contact information

Dr René Melis
Scientific

Post box 9101
Reinier Postlaan
Route 934
Nijmegen
6500 HB
Netherlands

Phone +31 (0)24 3616772
Email rene.melis@radboudumc.nl

Study information

Study designNon-randomized controlled trial with before and after measurement
Primary study designObservational
Secondary study designNon randomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)GP practice
Study typeQuality of life
Participant information sheet http://www.zowelnn.nl/files/A4%20ZWIP%20patientenfolder.pdf
Scientific titleA controlled clinical trial to evaluate the Health and Welfare Information Portal: improved information for and about frail elderly and their caregivers
Study acronymZWIP
Study objectivesZWIP will lead to improved patient outcomes as compared to standard care.
Ethics approval(s)Radboud University Medical Centre Medical Ethics Council
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedFrail elderly living at home
InterventionZWIP is a complex intervention, intended to facilitate both patient's self-management and collaboration between professionals. ZWIP is a healthcare social-media network for multi-disciplinary communication for frail older people, their caregivers and professionals. The system registers patient goals and action plans which are associated with the goals in consultation with the patients. A main feature of the ZWIP is that patients are central in the system, patients and their caregivers decide which professionals join their network. Professionals can exchange messages with the patients and each other using ZWIP.

In the control group, frail elderly receive standard care.
Intervention typeBehavioural
Primary outcome measureKatz-15 IADL, SF-36 social functioning, SF-36 psychological functioning after 1 year of usage
Secondary outcome measures1. Patient and caregiver experience with being informed
2. Patient and caregiver experience with self-management
3. Patient and caregiver experience with co-decision making
4. Patient and caregiver experience with satisfaction with care
5. Emergency GP appointments
6. Unplanned hospitalization
7. Objective caregiver burden
8. Carer-Qol
Overall study start date13/01/2011
Completion date01/12/2012

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupSenior
SexBoth
Target number of participants642 vs. 402
Key inclusion criteriaFrail elderly as identified by the EASYcare-Two step Older people Screening diagnostic instrument.
Development of an instrument for the identification of frail elderly as a target population for integrated care.
Key exclusion criteriaDoes not meet inclusion criteria
Date of first enrolment13/01/2011
Date of final enrolment01/12/2012

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Netherlands

Study participating centre

Post box 9101
Nijmegen
6500 HB
Netherlands

Sponsor information

ZonMw (Netherlands)
Research organisation

Laan van Nieuw Oost Indië 334
Postbox 93 245
The Hague
2509 AE
Netherlands

Phone +31 (0)70 349 51 11
Email info@zonmw.nl
Website http://www.zonmw.nl/en/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/01yaj9a77

Funders

Funder type

Research organisation

ZonMw (Netherlands)
Private sector organisation / Other non-profit organizations
Alternative name(s)
Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development
Location
Netherlands

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/08/2011 17/01/2019 Yes No
Results article results of a mixed methods process evaluation of use of the Health and Welfare portal 17/12/2014 17/01/2019 Yes No
Results article results of first experiences with a two-step method for discussing goals with community-dwelling frail older people 01/10/2015 17/01/2019 Yes No
Results article results of reducing fragmentation in the care of frail older people 01/04/2013 17/01/2019 Yes No
Results article results of the development of the Health and Welfare Information Portal (ZWIP) 19/09/2012 17/01/2019 Yes No
Results article results of the effectiveness of an online health community (OHC) intervention for older people with frailty aimed at facilitating multidisciplinary communication 23/06/2014 17/01/2019 Yes No
Results article results of the impact of interprofessional education on collaboration attitudes, skills, and behaviour among primary care professionals 01/06/2012 17/01/2019 Yes No
Results article results of the process evaluation of ZWIP implementation 15/08/2012 17/01/2019 Yes No

Editorial Notes

18/01/2019: The following vhanges have been made to the trial record
1. The contact details have been updated
2. The trial website has been changed
3. The plain English summary was updated to reflect the changes above
17/01/2019: Publication references have been added