Evaluating a Novel Rehabilitation Chatbot: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial for Distal Radius Fracture Recovery

NCT ID: NCT07308691

Last Updated: 2025-12-30

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

44 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-12-02

Study Completion Date

2027-02-28

Brief Summary

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This study is a single-center pilot randomized controlled trial evaluating a rehabilitation chatbot, "Wrist Health," for elderly patients (60-90 years) recovering from conservatively treated distal radius fractures in Hong Kong. The trial compares conventional hospital-based rehabilitation plus a conventional home program with the same conventional rehabilitation supplemented by the chatbot, which delivers home exercises, education, reminders, and real-time usage tracking. Participants are randomized 1:1, followed for 12 weeks, and assessed at baseline, week 6, and week 12 using functional measures (range of motion, grip and pinch strength, PRWE), satisfaction, quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), adherence, feasibility metrics, and Technology Acceptance Model-based usability and acceptance outcomes.

Data will be analyzed primarily on an intention-to-treat basis using appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests for between-group comparisons and repeated-measures methods to examine change over time, with qualitative feedback analyzed thematically. The study has obtained/will obtain ethics approval from relevant institutional review boards, uses informed consent procedures, and applies robust data protection measures (password-protected systems, anonymization, locked physical storage, and secure destruction after the retention period). The findings are expected to provide preliminary evidence on clinical usability, feasibility, and effectiveness of the chatbot and to inform the design of a larger, definitive RCT and potential integration of digital rehabilitation tools into routine practice for elderly distal radius fracture patients.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Fracture Distal Radius

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Chatbot with conventional rehabilitation

Participants receive standard outpatient occupational therapy rehabilitation for conservatively treated distal radius fractures (2 sessions/week for 12 weeks, focusing on range of motion, strengthening, and functional tasks) plus the "Wrist Health" mHealth chatbot for home-based rehabilitation. The chatbot delivers personalized daily home exercises, educational content on fracture recovery, adherence reminders, real-time progress tracking, and Q\&A support.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Wrist Health chatbot

Intervention Type DEVICE

This intervention combines generative AI conversational interface with therapist backend monitoring. It supplements (does not replace) 2x/week outpatient occupational therapy, focusing on conservative distal radius fracture.

Conventional Rehabilitation Only

Participants receive standard outpatient occupational therapy rehabilitation for conservatively treated distal radius fractures (2 sessions/week for 12 weeks) plus a conventional paper-based home exercise program. This includes printed instructions for daily wrist range of motion, strengthening, and functional exercises, with weekly paper exercise logs for self-monitoring. No digital tools, reminders, or interactive features are provided.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Conventional DRF rehabilitation

Intervention Type OTHER

standard outpatient occupational therapy rehabilitation for conservatively treated distal radius fractures (2 sessions/week for 12 weeks) plus a conventional paper-based home exercise program. This includes printed instructions for daily wrist range of motion, strengthening, and functional exercises, with weekly paper exercise logs for self-monitoring. No digital tools, reminders, or interactive features are provided.

Interventions

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Wrist Health chatbot

This intervention combines generative AI conversational interface with therapist backend monitoring. It supplements (does not replace) 2x/week outpatient occupational therapy, focusing on conservative distal radius fracture.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Conventional DRF rehabilitation

standard outpatient occupational therapy rehabilitation for conservatively treated distal radius fractures (2 sessions/week for 12 weeks) plus a conventional paper-based home exercise program. This includes printed instructions for daily wrist range of motion, strengthening, and functional exercises, with weekly paper exercise logs for self-monitoring. No digital tools, reminders, or interactive features are provided.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age 60-90 years and literate (able to read Chinese).
* Diagnosis of distal radius fracture (confirmed radiologically).
* Completed conservative treatment (post injury approximately 6 weeks) and cleared for active rehabilitation.
* Ability to provide informed consent and comply with study procedures.
* Access to a compatible smartphone or tablet for chatbot use.

Exclusion Criteria

* Illiterate or unable to read Chinese.

* Cognitive impairment or inability to follow Cantonese instructions.
* Complications such as complex regional pain syndrome or open fractures with significant soft tissue injury.
* Bilateral wrist fractures or previous fracture of the unaffected wrist.
* Concurrent participation in another clinical trial.
* Significant comorbidities limiting participation in rehabilitation (e.g., severe neurological or psychiatric illness)
Minimum Eligible Age

60 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

90 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Lun Yan Ngan, Master

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Locations

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FHSS

Hong Kong, , Hong Kong

Site Status

Countries

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Hong Kong

References

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Amorosa LF, Vitale MA, Brown S, Kaufmann RA. A functional outcomes survey of elderly patients who sustained distal radius fractures. Hand (N Y). 2011 Sep;6(3):260-7. doi: 10.1007/s11552-011-9327-7. Epub 2011 Mar 8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22942849 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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CIRB-2025-568-5

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id