GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
Conditions
Keywords
GERD, Gastroesophageal reflux disease, mobile apps, mobile applications, medication adherence
Brief summary
Adherence to GERD treatment, including medication, diet, and lifestyle, is essential for symptom control and complication prevention, yet adherence rates remain low due to various demographic and clinical factors. Digital therapeutics, particularly mobile health applications, have shown promising potential in supporting chronic disease management and improving patient outcomes. The GERDCare mobile application was developed with direct input from gastrointestinal experts. It is designed to enhance treatment adherence and patient engagement by offering features such as educational resources, symptom tracking, medication reminders, and direct communication between patients and physicians. We are conducting a single-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of using GERDCare in improving patient adherence. Patients are followed up after four weeks of GERD treatment.
Interventions
Features of GERDCare that support management of GERD
Sponsors
Study design
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
* ≥18 years old * Presents with typical GERD symptoms (regurgitation, heartburn) * Owns a smartphone and capable of using smartphone applications.
Exclusion criteria
* Acute GI conditions (upper GI bleeding, acute peptic ulcer…) * GI malignancy (esophageal cancer, gastric cancer…) * Severe chronic comorbidities (heart failure, liver failure, chronic kidney disease…) * Pregnancy, alcohol abuse, mental health conditions impacting medication adherence or app usage
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Proportion of patients with good adherence at 4 weeks | 4 weeks after recruitment | Patients achieved a score of ≥27 points on the General Medication Adherence Scale (GMAS) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in GERD symptom severity | 4 weeks after recruitment | GERD symptom severity evaluated by the GerdQ score |
| Proportion of patients with clinical improvement after 4 weeks | 4 weeks after recruitment | Symptom resolution evaluated clinically |
| Changes of patients' quality of life after 4 weeks | 4 weeks after recruitment | Patient's quality of life evaluated by the GERD-QoL score |
Countries
Vietnam