Effects of Social Networking on Chronic Disease Management in Arthritis
| Status: | Active, not recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Rheumatology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 8/19/2018 |
| Start Date: | April 7, 2016 |
| End Date: | April 2021 |
Phase 2 & Phase 3, Effects of Social Networking on Chronic Disease Management in Arthritis
Objectives:
The overall goal of this study is to use the principles of chronic disease management to
develop and test an online social networking intervention using the FB platform in a
randomized controlled trial. Our specific objectives are as follows:
Aim 1: To develop and establish an independent closed community in FB for patients with
rheumatoid arthritis, providing an educational platform for disease self-management and the
potential for engaging in social networking with peers (Phase 2).
Objective 1. To beta test the features and navigation buttons and panels in the newly
developed website and FB group.
Objective 2. To evaluate the contents, ease of use and satisfaction with the newly developed
website and FB group by patient advocates (consultants to the study) who participate as
members of the Facebook community.
Aim 2: To evaluate the efficacy of the FB community intervention combined with an educational
website to improve patients' self-management (including knowledge, which is the primary
outcome), decision making and patient-reported outcomes compared with the educational website
alone (Phase 3). We hypothesize that participation in an online closed community offering
evidence-based information combined with peer interaction and support will improve patients'
knowledge.
The overall goal of this study is to use the principles of chronic disease management to
develop and test an online social networking intervention using the FB platform in a
randomized controlled trial. Our specific objectives are as follows:
Aim 1: To develop and establish an independent closed community in FB for patients with
rheumatoid arthritis, providing an educational platform for disease self-management and the
potential for engaging in social networking with peers (Phase 2).
Objective 1. To beta test the features and navigation buttons and panels in the newly
developed website and FB group.
Objective 2. To evaluate the contents, ease of use and satisfaction with the newly developed
website and FB group by patient advocates (consultants to the study) who participate as
members of the Facebook community.
Aim 2: To evaluate the efficacy of the FB community intervention combined with an educational
website to improve patients' self-management (including knowledge, which is the primary
outcome), decision making and patient-reported outcomes compared with the educational website
alone (Phase 3). We hypothesize that participation in an online closed community offering
evidence-based information combined with peer interaction and support will improve patients'
knowledge.
Pilot Testing Phase:
Five participants will be recruited to pilot test and give feedback on the control
educational website and the FB community. Participants will have access to the educational
website and FB, for a period of one week. The main purpose is to test ease of use and
satisfaction with both platforms. After 1 week, research staff will call the participant to
obtain feedback about the websites. The interview will last approximately 30 minutes and in
the case the participant does not finish the interview, the investigators will conduct a
follow-up phone interview.
Randomization Phase:
Participants will complete a self response electronic questionnaire at baseline. Participants
then randomized into one of two arms: Intervention (FB + Website) and Control (Website
alone). The participant will be shown how to access the website and the Facebook page on the
internet about rheumatoid arthritis. Patients will be assessed at three and six months after
baseline via email self response electronic questionnaires. This phase will recruit 220
participants.
Five participants will be recruited to pilot test and give feedback on the control
educational website and the FB community. Participants will have access to the educational
website and FB, for a period of one week. The main purpose is to test ease of use and
satisfaction with both platforms. After 1 week, research staff will call the participant to
obtain feedback about the websites. The interview will last approximately 30 minutes and in
the case the participant does not finish the interview, the investigators will conduct a
follow-up phone interview.
Randomization Phase:
Participants will complete a self response electronic questionnaire at baseline. Participants
then randomized into one of two arms: Intervention (FB + Website) and Control (Website
alone). The participant will be shown how to access the website and the Facebook page on the
internet about rheumatoid arthritis. Patients will be assessed at three and six months after
baseline via email self response electronic questionnaires. This phase will recruit 220
participants.
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Age 18 years or older (usability test and RCT)
2. Staff of the Department of General Internal Medicine (usability test)
3. Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis by a rheumatologist (RCT)
4. Ongoing or prior treatment with traditional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs or
biologic agents (RCT)
5. Adequate cognitive status as determined by a research coordinator at recruitment. To
assess the participant's capacity to take part in the interview, the interviewer will
note and comment on the participant's spontaneous speech and capacity to write date at
the time of consent. Participants should be oriented to person, place, date, time, and
events (RCT)
6. Living in the community (not institutionalized, etc. ) (RCT)
7. Able to communicate in English (RCT)
8. Use internet on average at-least once a week (RCT);
9. Disease duration 10 years or less (RCT)
10. Familiarity with and participation in social media (e.g. Facebook) (usability test and
RCT)
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Participants not willing to complete interviews or survey instruments (usability test
and RCT)
2. Hospitalized (RCT)
3. Patients who do not verbally, written, or electronically consent to participate
(usability test and RCT)
We found this trial at
1
site
1515 Holcombe Blvd
Houston, Texas 77030
Houston, Texas 77030
713-792-2121
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center The mission of The University of Texas MD...
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