Evaluation of a hand-held, computer-based intervention to promote early self-care behaviors after lung transplant.
BACKGROUND
Lung transplant recipients are expected to perform self-care behaviors to maximize transplant-related health outcomes. Despite high non-adherence rates in performing these self-care behaviors, and the dire clinical consequences of such non-adherence, interventions are lacking. Pocket Personal Assistant for Tracking Health (Pocket PATH) is a hand-held device developed for patients to record health data, review data trends, and report condition changes to the transplant team.


METHODS
A pilot trial was conducted to compare self-care agency, self-care behaviors, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between recipients randomized to use Pocket PATH (n = 15) vs. standard care (n = 15) for the first two months following hospital discharge after lung transplantation.


RESULTS
Baseline characteristics were equivalent across groups. Patients in the Pocket PATH group showed significantly higher ratings of self-care agency, performed self-care behaviors at significantly higher rates, and reported significantly better HRQOL than standard care controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Pocket PATH is more efficacious than standard care in promoting early self-care agency, self-care behaviors, and HRQOL in lung recipients. A large-scale randomized controlled trial is needed to test the impact of Pocket PATH on long-term self-care behaviors.
DeVito Dabbs
Annette
A
School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. ajdst42@pitt.edu
Dew
Mary Amanda
MA
Myers
Brad
B
Begey
Alex
A
Hawkins
Robert
R
Ren
Dianxu
D
Dunbar-Jacob
Jacqueline
J
Oconnell
Erin
E
McCurry
Kenneth R
KR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011788:Quality of Life; D017010:Reminder Systems; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012648:Self Care