None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Poor adherence to osteoporosis management guidelines is associated with a higher fracture risk, with increases in subsequent utilisation of health care services and their associated health care costs. We will recruit 50 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who have current prescriptions for anti-osteoporosis medication. We will randomly allocate 25 women to receive a voice-controlled intelligent personal assistant (VIPA) device (Amazon Alexa) that will provide regular medication reminders and education related to fracture risk factors, a home-based exercise program, and nutritional advice (delivered using both audio and video functions of the VIPA device), for six months. The remaining 25 women will receive general information about managing osteoporosis via monthly emails. We will compare osteoporosis self-management behaviours (medication adherence, physical activity and dietary nutrient intakes) in both groups for 12 months. We will also assess usability and acceptability of VIPAs in the intervention group. We hypothesise that women randomised to the VIPA intervention group will demonstrate greater anti-osteoporosis medication adherence, higher physical activity levels and greater intakes of protein and calcium compared with women in the control group.
Interventions
We will recruit 50 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who have current prescriptions for anti-osteoporosis medication. We will randomly allocate 25 women to receive a voice-controlled intelligent personal assistant (VIPA) device (Amazon Alexa) that will provide regular medication reminders and education related to fracture risk factors, a home-based exercise program, and nutritional advice (delivered using both audio and video functions of the VIPA device), for six months. The educational ma
We will recruit 50 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who have current prescriptions for anti-osteoporosis medication. We will randomly allocate 25 women to receive a voice-controlled intelligent personal assistant (VIPA) device (Amazon Alexa) that will provide regular medication reminders and education related to fracture risk factors, a home-based exercise program, and nutritional advice (delivered using both audio and video functions of the VIPA device), for six months. The educational material will be specifically designed for this study and approximately 18 <5 minute education videos will be delivered over 6 months (one per month for each of medication, exercise and nutrition). Educational videos will be displayed on the Amazon Alexa device when participants access the software using voice commands. In addition, participants will receive exercise instructions on three days per week for the entire six-month intervention which will include progressive home-based activities focused on improving strength, balance and bone health (using impact exercises like hopping and jumping). While the exercise and nutritional programs are not personalised, the medication program will be tailored to be specific to the participant's reported osteoporosis medication. Exercise will be progressed over time by increasing the number of activities completed per session (4 activities per session for the first two-month period, 8 activities per session for the second two-month period, and 12 activities per session for the third two-month period), generally corresponding with an increase in duration of exercise sessions from 10-15 minutes per session to approximately 30 minutes per session. Adherence to accessing educational material will be determined by participant responses to questions broadcast by Alexa at the completion of educational videos. Similarly, exercise adherence will be determined by responses to questions regarding exercise.
Sponsors
Deakin University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
50 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
English-speaking, women aged 50 years and older who have experienced menopause, self-reported diagnosis of osteoporosis and is currently receiving an approved drug treatment on a monthly, six-monthly or annual schedule, safely able to complete an unsupervised home-based exercise program, has a Medicare number and is willing to consent to data linkage, and has access to a personal email address via home computer/tablet/smartphone and a home Wi-Fi network.
Exclusion criteria
Participants are ineligible if they report currently being unable to walk across a room unaided; are non-English speaking or have difficulty communicating with study personnel or a VIPA device due to speech or hearing problems; unwilling to be randomised; planning to be away from the VIPA device for greater than or equal to 4 weeks during the 6-month intervention period; severe knee or hip osteoarthritis (awaiting a joint replacement) that would interfere with ability to complete exercise; recent fracture (past 3 months) limiting exercise; renal disease requiring dialysis; and any other disorder of such severity that life expectancy is less than 12 months, or any cognitive or physical impairment or disability that in the opinion of the study investigators would result in the participant having difficulty interacting with Buddy Link or performing unsupervised exercise safely. Participants who answer ‘yes’ to any of six questions on the Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) pre-exercise screening tool will also be excluded. This is a validated and recommended pre-exercise screening tool for ensuring safety for exercise at moderate exertion, endorsed by Australia’s peak exercise body (ESSA).
Outcome results
None listed