Mobile technology health solutions for psychosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Mobile technology health management for patients with severe mental illness - A feasibility study (REFRAME)
IRAS ID
205395
Contact name
Emmanuel Rollings-Kamara
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
East London NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 31 days
Research summary
The psychosocial care for patients with severe mental illness (SMI) is currently suboptimal; due to the complexity of the disorder patients require multidisciplinary flexible care arrangements involving different providers, often resulting in poor treatment adherence and problems with therapeutic engagement. Consequently, a significant number of patients suffer with social isolation and poor quality of life. Current routine appointment systems do not sufficiently provide for urgent care needs.
New and cost-effective ways of delivering integrated health social care for patients with SMI are required. This pilot study is aiming to explore the clinical benefits of an enhanced community care intervention that uses an interactive simple technology (SMS text messaging) communication system.
This system – called ‘Florence’ – is providing a user friendly, easy to use and non- stigmatising add-on to the current care pathway at low cost. Service users can use the system free of charge on their own mobile phones. The intervention is provided in the spirit of recovery oriented care and supports service users gaining more control over their problem monitoring as well as the necessary appointment arrangements with health professionals.On a daily basis service users will receive short text messages from ‘Florence’ intended to help them developing their self-management skills; service users will be able to alert staff to their unmet needs and receive messages as reminders for appointments and to take their medication as prescribed. In addition, a simple number code will be agreed between patients and clinicians to indicate their wellbeing/early warning signs for relapses; this code will be sent as text messages and prompt a response from the patient’s care coordinator as required.
The technology has been successfully implemented for patients with long-term medical conditions (e.g. Hypertension, Asthma, Diabetes and for smoking cessation) but not yet been systematically utilised and tested for the care of patients with SMI.
Participants will be assessed at baseline and after six months. The evaluation will analyse a variety of outcomes: accounts from service user / staff and data from service provision and questionnaires regarding patient-clinician contacts, treatment adherence, relapse rates and service user satisfaction / self-management skills.REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1117
Date of REC Opinion
2 Aug 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion