Using Tablets to Monitor Pain and Quality of Life in Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Gibson Regina, Azhar Gohar, Sharma Shakshi, Swafford Riley, Coker Karen, Wei Jeanne Y
Primary Institution: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Hypothesis
Can tablets effectively measure chronic pain and its impact on cognition, sleep, depression, and quality of life in older adults?
Conclusion
The study successfully demonstrated that older adults can use tablets to record their health parameters, providing valuable data for personalized pain management.
Supporting Evidence
- 71 older adults participated in the study.
- Participants recorded 1,944 responses over three months.
- 80% of participants reported some level of pain.
- 28% reported memory symptoms.
- 33% reported daytime sleepiness.
- 28% had poor sleep quality according to PSQI scores.
- Only one participant showed signs of depression.
Takeaway
Older adults can use tablets to track their pain and health, which helps doctors understand their needs better.
Methodology
Participants used tablets pre-loaded with surveys for 90 days to report on pain, sleep, and depression.
Limitations
The study was a pilot and may not represent all older adults, especially those not using tablets.
Participant Demographics
Mean age 70 years, 23% male, 50% female, with 51% of females being African American.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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