Self-Health Monitoring by Smart Devices and Ontology Technology for Older Adults With Uncontrolled Hypertension: Quasi-Experimental Study.
Sutteeporn Moolsart, Khajitpan M Kritpolviman
PMID 41086427WHAT IT FOUND
Older adults with uncontrolled hypertension who used a smartwatch, app, and nurse-led messaging for 12 weeks saw their mean arterial pressure drop significantly compared to usual care.
However, self-reported behavior scores did not differ between the two groups.
Key findings
01The experimental group showed a statistically significant reduction in mean arterial pressure compared to the comparison group post-intervention.
02There was no statistically significant difference between the experimental and comparison groups in overall hypertension-controlling behavior scores after the 12-week program.
03Within the experimental group, significant improvements were observed specifically in exercise and stress management behaviors.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study used a quasi-experimental design with geographic allocation rather than randomization, which increases the risk of selection bias. Participants and nurses were not blinded to the group assignment, which may have influenced self-reported behavior scores, particularly in the comparison group. The sample consisted of urban older adults with access to smartphones and internet, limiting generalizability to rural areas or those with lower digital literacy. The study relied on self-reported questionnaires for behavioral outcomes, which are subject to recall bias and social desirability. Attrition was present, with 46 of 52 experimental and 45 of 52 comparison participants completing the study.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by the Thailand Science Research and Innovation Fund and the Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that the technology caused a broader change in all self-management behaviors. While blood pressure improved significantly, the study found no significant difference in overall self-reported behavior scores between the intervention and usual care groups, suggesting the physiological benefit may stem from specific factors like stress reduction or monitoring rather than widespread behavioral change.