An interactive digital calendar with mobile phone reminders (RemindMe) for people with cognitive impairment: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background

People with cognitive impairment often need support to perform everyday-life activities. Interventions are available, but evidence-based interventions are lacking.

Aim

This pilot RCT aimed to investigate use of an intervention with an interactive digital calendar with mobile phone reminders (RemindMe) in relation to change in outcomes and impact on occupational performance, independence, health-related quality of life, and psychosocial impact of the support for people with cognitive impairment.

Method

The study design was a multi-centre parallel-group pilot RCT [ClinicalTrails.gov, identifier: NCT04470219]. Fifteen participants from primary rehabilitation centres in Sweden were recruited and randomly assigned to intervention group (n = 8) receiving the intervention with RemindMe, or control group (n = 7) receiving usual treatment by an occupational therapist. Data were collected at baseline, after two- and four months, and analysed using descriptive and non-parametric statistics.

Result

The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM item n-r) showed significant differences. There were no significant differences in health-related quality of life nor in the psychosocial impact of the used support.

Conclusion

Plausible changes in outcome measures were found in COPM and FIM (items n-r). These instruments indicate change in outcome measures and impact on occupational performance and independence.

Keywords:

• Brain injuries
• occupational therapy
• prospective memory
• rehabilitation
• self-help devices
• smartphone
• stroke
• time management

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge associate Professor Inga-Lill Boman (Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm Sweden) for her contribution to the conception of the study. The authors would also like to thank patients and occupational therapists at the participating rehabilitation clinics in southeast Sweden for their valuable contributions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was part of the research programme, ICT4Self-Care, supported by [VR FORTE] under Grant [2014-4100]; [the Research and scholarship management in Region Östergötland] under Grant [LIO-815111]; and [The Swedish Stroke Association (STROKE-Riksförbundet)].