Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Health App Recommendation Tool
NCT ID: NCT07216716
Last Updated: 2025-11-10
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
NA
15 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2025-11-01
2026-08-31
Brief Summary
Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.
Specifically, the objective of this research is to assess the acceptability of the current HART design among target end-users in their individual contexts. The overarching goal of this project is to connect those in the ADRD community with available, usable, and effective digital tools to promote the highest possible level of health and wellness in community settings.
To achieve this goal, the study will recruit 15 family caregivers living with their loved ones with ADRD, who will trial HART and provide feedback. Participation will include two data collection sessions (pre-intervention and post-intervention) within a four-week trial period. Participants will be asked to complete the HART, explore the recommended apps, and provide feedback on HART's usability through several brief surveys.
Detailed Description
Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.
Proposed Solution: To bridge this gap, the Health App Recommendation Tool (HART) has been developed as a user-friendly platform designed to connect dementia caregivers with biomedical health apps tailored to their individual requirements.
HART operates by gathering targeted information from users regarding their specific needs, accessibility considerations, available supports, and technology literacy through a brief intake survey. A sophisticated matching algorithm then evaluates these user profiles against a library of health apps that have been objectively reviewed, providing a curated list of the most suitable applications for each caregiver. This personalized approach aims to facilitate the adoption and sustained use of health apps, thereby enhancing caregivers' health and quality of life.
Preliminary evaluations indicate that HART holds promise in setting a new standard in personalized health technology, offering a practical solution for dementia caregivers navigating the extensive and uncharted landscape of biomedical health applications that address their individual and multifaceted needs. By simplifying the process of finding suitable health technologies, HART not only alleviates the burden on caregivers but also empowers them to manage their own health and caregiving responsibilities more effectively. The ongoing refinement and evaluation of HART are crucial to ensuring its effectiveness and widespread adoption, ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes for dementia caregivers and their care recipients.
Conditions
See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.
Keywords
Explore important study keywords that can help with search, categorization, and topic discovery.
Study Design
Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.
NA
SINGLE_GROUP
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
NONE
Study Groups
Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.
HART Use
After providing consent, participants will complete baseline surveys via REDCap, followed by a 35-minute virtual onboarding session on Microsoft Teams. During onboarding, participants will learn about the Health App Recommendation Tool (HART) and create a profile. Using an algorithm, HART matches participant needs with health apps, displaying the top three to four recommendations. Study staff will record these apps and provide download guidance. No app data will be shared with the team. Participants may use the apps as they choose over a four-week period. Afterward, follow-up assessments will be sent via REDCap, including WHOQoL, SF-36, PHQ-4, ZBI, Global Fatigue Index, and Davis Usability Surveys. Both baseline and follow-up surveys take about 35 minutes to complete.
Health App Recommendation Tool (HART)
In 2023, over 11 million family members provided 19.2 billion hours of unpaid care for people with dementia in the U.S. Caregivers face significant physical and emotional challenges, while many individuals with ADRD prefer to stay in their homes. Mobile health apps offer support but often lack user-friendly guidance and are hard to navigate.
The Health App Recommendation Tool (HART) bridges this gap by assisting ADRD caregivers in finding suitable health apps. It evaluates users' daily needs and preferences, using end-user informed points of measurement to match them with objectively reviewed apps within the HART App Library. This user-centered tool, shaped by ongoing feedback, simplifies app discovery, ensuring personalized recommendations that enhance caregiving and improve quality of life.
Interventions
Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.
Health App Recommendation Tool (HART)
In 2023, over 11 million family members provided 19.2 billion hours of unpaid care for people with dementia in the U.S. Caregivers face significant physical and emotional challenges, while many individuals with ADRD prefer to stay in their homes. Mobile health apps offer support but often lack user-friendly guidance and are hard to navigate.
The Health App Recommendation Tool (HART) bridges this gap by assisting ADRD caregivers in finding suitable health apps. It evaluates users' daily needs and preferences, using end-user informed points of measurement to match them with objectively reviewed apps within the HART App Library. This user-centered tool, shaped by ongoing feedback, simplifies app discovery, ensuring personalized recommendations that enhance caregiving and improve quality of life.
Eligibility Criteria
Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.
Inclusion Criteria
* Serving as an active caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia
* Have access to smart devices such as smartphones, tablets, or smartwatches
Exclusion Criteria
* Participants who do not provide caregiving on a routine basis (e.g., part-time or secondary caregivers) will be excluded
* Participants who do not own or have access to any smart device will be excluded
18 Years
65 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.
University of Pittsburgh
OTHER
Responsible Party
Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.
Julie Faieta
Assistant Professor
Principal Investigators
Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.
Julie M Faieta, PhD, MOT
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
University of Pittsburgh
Locations
Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Countries
Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.
Central Contacts
Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.
Facility Contacts
Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.
Daniel Fisher
Role: primary
Other Identifiers
Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.
STUDY25080051
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id