Healed Ulcer
Conditions
Keywords
Diabetic foot
Brief summary
This is a novel feasibility study to test the participant acceptance and usability of a specifically designed smart phone app. It will also explore the effects of smart phone technology in improving self-referrals into the diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) service. Furthermore, it will be explored if this increase in self-referrals will influence the outcome of people with diabetes who have recently had a healed foot ulceration.
Detailed description
The rationale behind this study is if the investigators can introduce a new technology (a smart phone app) which is acceptable to patients, engages them and prompts people to take preventative health behaviours then the investigators may be able to influence the low rates of appropriate self-referral. There is evidence that links poor glycaemic control and hypertension to DFUs, so engagement in these areas of wider diabetes management needs to be reviewed, the latest National Diabetes Audit (NDA) shows only 20% of people with Type 1 and 42% of people with Type 2 diabetes achieve the 3 NICE standards for HbA1c, BP and cholesterol. In addition, healthcare providers are being asked to investigate new systems that may increase patient engagement with and the uptake of the NICE 8 annual care processes. The latest NDA shows only 40% of patients with type 1 and 60% of patients with type 2 diabetes currently have all 8 .
Interventions
OTHERIntellin smart phone application
This feasibility study will explore if creating an electronic platform Intellin smart phone application can promote and support timely self-referral for individuals with a recently healed DFU. It will explore the software applications acceptance and ease of use for patients.
Sponsors
Innovate UK
Gendius Ltd
Natalie Garratt
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* • 18 years of age will be screened to meet the eligibility criteria: * Consultant or GP diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (Type I or II) , documented on the electronic patient record with HbA1C greater than 48mmol/mol * History of a recent diabetes foot ulcer defined as being eligible for the national diabetes foot audit and classified as healed for at least 4 weeks and no more than 12 weeks * Able to provide informed consent * Has no reasons that they could not be part of the study for 12 months such as moving out the area for attending appointments or short life expectancy from a diagnosed illness * Owns a smart phone
Exclusion criteria
* No smart phone * Comorbidity such as poor eyesight which limits the use of smart phone * Participation in an interventional study within the last 30 days * Critical illness that prevents participating for a period of time
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Acceptability, suitability and usability of the INTELLIN platform | 12 months | A 5-point rating scale as assessed by the participants and the clinical team. The 5 point rating is a likert scale where respondants are offered a choice of 5 pre coded responses 1 being strongly disagree 2 disagree 3 (neutral point) niether disagree or agree 4 agree and 5 strongly agree so the individual can express how much they agree or disagree with the experience of using the application |
| The proportion of patients who self-refer for recurrence of diabetic foot-ulcer over a twelve-month period, compared with the current National diabetes foot audit average of 33.3% | 12 months | Proportion of participants self-referring using the Intellin platform SOS button over 12 months compared with the current National diabetes foot audit average of 33.3% |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Proportion of patients who would recommend Intellin platform to others | 12 months | A 5-point rating scale as assessed by the participants and the clinical team A 5-point rating scale as assessed by the participants and the clinical team. The 5 point rating is a likert scale where respondants are offered a choice of 5 pre coded responses 1 being strongly disagree 2 disagree 3 (neutral point) niether disagree or agree 4 agree and 5 strongly agree so the individual can express how much they agree or disagree with the experience of using the application. |
| Proportion of patients who access the Intellin app every day | 12 months | Case report form and the app electronic database |
| Proportion of patients who discontinue the study because they are unable to use the app | 12 months | Case report form |
| The proportion of patients who report that the INTELLIN app has improved their understanding of the need for the 8 annual checks | 12 months | Case report form and the app electronic database |
| The proportion of patients who report that the INTELLIN app has improved their understanding of the management of their diabetes | 12 months | Case report form and the app electronic database |
| The effect of using INTELLIN on quality of life | 12 months | EQ-5D-5L questionnaire |
| Proportion of self-referrals that are deemed by the Clinician to be appropriate according to NICE guidelines | 12 months | Case report form |
| Time to recurrence of ulcer over 12 months. | 12 months | Data will be compared to published rates |
| The impact of using INTELLIN on healthcare utilisation and costs associated with Diabetic Foot Ulcers | 12 months | Drivers of cost utilisation to include, number of GP visits, outpatient visits, hospital bed medication and type of medication, procedures for patients that develop an ulcer |
| The proportion of patients with lower limb amputations | 12 months | As compared to published data |
| Changes in cardiovascular markers | 12 months | Blood pressure measurements, blood test results and medication |
| Proportion of patients completing NICE 8 point annual checks over 12 months compared with the current national diabetes foot audit average of 60% | 12 months | Case report form and the app electronic database |
| The proportion of patients with recurrence of foot ulcer over 12 months | 12 months | As compared to published data |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed