Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: May 29, 2020
Date Accepted: Aug 6, 2020
Date Submitted to PubMed: Aug 9, 2020
Remote Assessment of Functional Mobility and Strength in Older Cancer Survivors: Protocol for a Validity and Reliability Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Physical performance is an important predictor of disability, quality of life, and premature mortality, and thus is considered an important target of interventions designed to prevent, delay, or attenuate physical functional decline. Currently, low-cost, valid, reliable, and easy to use methods to remotely assess physical performance in older adults do not exist, limiting the reach, scalability, and dissemination of interventions.
Objective:
To describe the rationale and design for a study to evaluate the accuracy, reliability, safety, and acceptability of videoconferencing and self-administered physical performance testing by older adults in their own homes.
Methods:
To enable remote assessment, participants receive a toolkit and instructions for setting up their test course and communicating with the investigator. The study consists of several phases. Phase 1 evaluates proof-of-concept that older adults (age ≥60 years) can follow the testing protocol and use a tablet PC to communicate with the study investigator. Phase 2 evaluates the validity of videoconference vs. face-to-face assessment of physical performance tests. Phase 3 evaluates reliability by enrolling 5-10 participants who agree to repeat the remote assessment (without the face-to-face assessment). Phase 4 enrolls 5-10 new study participants to complete the remote assessment test protocol. Feedback from participants in each phase is used to refine the test protocol and instructions.
Results:
Enrollment began in December 2019. Ten participants completed the proof-of-concept phase (Phase 1). The study was paused in mid-March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.
Conclusions:
This validity and reliability study will provide important information on the acceptability and safety of using videoconferencing to remotely assess physical performance tests, self-administered by older adults in their homes. Videoconferencing has the potential to expand the reach, scalability, and dissemination of interventions, especially to rural areas. Clinical Trial: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04339959; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04339959?term=NCT04339959
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