451 patients were assessed for eligibility for the trial. 105 patients met inclusion criteria for study participation, gave informed consent, and were enrolled in the study prior to discharge. 47 patients were randomized to the TTOC group while 58 patients received the standard of care. Patients were excluded if they no longer met the criteria of being discharged to home; if their hospitalization course worsened, requiring discharge to a subacute rehabilitation center (SAR). A small proportion of patients later refused to participate in the trial when discharged to the home (Figure 1).
Overall, the study arms were balanced by characteristics as there were no statistically significant differences between the groups in regards to demographics including gender, race and education (Table 1). The average age at enrollment was 65 years. 68.5% of individuals in the control group had higher than high-school level of education in comparison to 76.1% of individuals in the telehealth intervention group. In addition, the employment rate was similar in both groups: 43.1% in the control group and 38.3% in the intervention group. No significant difference was seen in the presence of a computer at home: 77.6% for the control group and 63.8% for the telehealth intervention group. Over 97% of study participants had internet in their home, while over 94% owned a cell phone. Both groups had high percentages of patients who used a computer on a regular basis 63.8% in the control group and 77.6% of the TTOC group. Both groups showed high confidence in using smart phones or tablets. On average both groups spent about 4 hours on the computer per day. Similar percentage of individuals in both groups reported their health as either good or very good: 60.3% in the control group and 48.9% in the intervention group. The median scores, on a questionnaire scale of 1-10, were also similar between the 2 groups for the confidence with health management and comfort with technology measures. Patients had an average of 9 diagnoses, and a moderate severity risk score and a moderate rating of disability.
Table 1. Baseline Demographics
|
|
Basic Demographics
|
Standard of Care
n = 57
|
Treatment
n =45
|
P value
|
Age, Mean(SD) a
|
63.67 (14.78)
|
65.66 (13.24)
|
0.483
|
Female, n (%) b
|
35 (63%)
|
29 (64%)
|
0.840
|
Education, n (%) b
|
|
|
|
High School
|
16 (30%)
|
11 (25%)
|
0.807
|
Some College
|
21 (40%)
|
20 (45%)
|
Completed College
|
16 (30%)
|
13 (30%)
|
Race, n ( % Non-Caucasian) a
|
10 (18%)
|
6 (13%)
|
0.561
|
Employed n (%) b
|
25 (44%)
|
17 (38%)
|
0.535
|
|
|
|
|
Sick/Disability
|
|
|
|
Readmission Risk Score a, d
|
45.29 (11.82)
|
45.28 (14.28)
|
0.997
|
Number of Diagnoses, Median c
|
8
|
9
|
0.401
|
Median Number of Follow Up Appointments on Discharge c
|
3
|
2
|
0.348
|
How would you rate your health? n (% Good/Very Good) b
( 0 = Good/Very Good, 1 = Poor/Fair )
|
34 (60%)
|
22 (49%)
|
0.278
|
General Health Rating, Median c
( Poor =0, Fair =1, Good=2, Very Good=3, Excellent =4 )
|
2 (0 ,4)
|
1 (0 ,4)
|
0.141
|
|
|
|
|
Access to Care
|
|
|
|
Emergency Contact Person, Yes n ( %) b
|
57 (100%)
|
42 (93%)
|
0.083
|
Full-time Caregiver, Yes n ( %) b
|
5 (9%)
|
7 (16%)
|
0.291
|
|
|
|
|
Self-Efficacy
|
|
|
|
Confidence in Health Management, Median c
|
9 (4 ,10)
|
8 (2 ,10)
|
0.146
|
Computer/Tech Savviness
|
|
|
|
Do you use a computer on a regular basis? Yes n (%) b
|
45 (79%)
|
29 (64%)
|
0.103
|
How comfortable are you with using technology like a smart phone or tablet? Median (Range) c
|
8 (0 ,10)
|
7 (0 ,10)
|
0.225
|
Do you own a cell phone? b Yes n (%)
|
54 (95%)
|
43 (96%)
|
0.999
|
Do you have internet service in your home? Yes n (%) b
|
56 (98%)
|
44 (98%)
|
0.999
|
Do you have difficulties with your cell service, whereby you experience dropped calls or poor reception? Yes n (%) b
|
2 (4%)
|
2 (4%)
|
0.999
|
How many hours per day do you use the computer? Mean (SD) a
|
3.57 (2.90)
|
4.95 (5.25)
|
0.154
|
|
|
|
|
Telehealth
|
|
|
|
How enthusiastic are you about the Telehealth program, Median c
|
8 (0 ,10)
|
9 (1 ,10)
|
0.124
|
How confident are you that Telehealth may help your healthcare, Median c
|
9 (0 ,10)
|
8 (3 ,10)
|
0.970
|
a based on t-tests comparing difference in means. The data shows mean (SD) in each randomized group.
b based on Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test comparing difference in %. The data shows n (%) in each randomized group.
c based on Wilcoxon rank sum tests comparing medians. The data shows median (min, max) in each randomized group.
d Risk scores are calculated by using a proprietary algorithm by Cerner© that includes about 40 + data points from groups, based on the patient history and admitting physical exam, diagnosis related group codes, patient demographics, procedures, utilization, lab tests, medications, and exploratory variables. The score uses a scale (0–100 scale) that it easier for clinicians to understand.
Patients had a statistically significant improvement in enthusiasm and confidence that Telehealth helped patients (p = 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in the perception of difficulty in participating in the trial (p> 0.072).
Table 2. Patient Experience at 30 Days Post-Hospitalization
|
|
Standard of Care
n = 43
|
Treatment 30 day
n= 31
|
P Value
|
How Difficult was participation in the Study for you? a n (%)
( 0 = Very Easy 4 =Very Difficult)
|
0 (0,2)
|
0 (0,2)
|
0.072
|
How enthusiastic are you about the Telehealth program? a
Median (Range)
|
7 (0,10)
|
10 (5,10)
|
<0.0001*
|
How confident are you that Telehealth may help your healthcare? a
Median (Range)
|
7.5 (0,10)
|
9 (5,10)
|
<0.0001*
|
How confident are you with managing your own healthcare? a
Median (Range)
|
9 (1,10)
|
9 (5,10)
|
0.914
|
a. based on Wilcoxon rank sum tests comparing medians
Statistical Methods
Frequencies and percentages were calculated for categorical variables, e.g. Re-admission and ED visit for each randomized group. Means and standard deviations (SD) were calculated for continuous variables if the data followed a normal distribution (e.g. age). If the data did not follow the normal distribution, medians and ranges were calculated instead. Chi-square tests or Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare the percentages of categorical variables between the Telehealth and control groups. T tests or Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to compared means and medians between the two randomized groups. To evaluate the associations between Readmission, ED visit and adhere with Telehealth and other factors, multivariable logistic regression models were performed and odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were estimated.
There was no statistically significant difference in follow up with the PCP (p> 0.096). However, 94% of patients in the Telehealth arm felt that the remote patient monitoring technology was helpful in managing their healthcare needs. 98% if given the opportunity would continue to use the technology to manage their health needs. 100% of the Telehealth patients found the intervention to be valuable. Also, Patients in the Telehealth arm, were about 7 times more likely to adhere to their medications (OR = 6.925, 95% CI: 1.2-39.9, p =0.03).
Table 3: Clinical Endpoints for Telehealth
|
Effect
|
Point Estimate
|
95% Wald Confidence Limits
|
P value
|
ED Utilization a
|
0.749
|
0.180
|
3.115
|
0.691
|
Readmission a
|
2.645
|
0.404
|
17.328
|
0.311
|
Medication Adherence a
|
6.925
|
1.203
|
39.856
|
0.030*
|
|
Standard of Care
n = 57
|
Treatment
n =45
|
P value
|
Medicine Reconciliation b
|
47 (82%)
|
31 (100%)
|
0.013*
|
PCP Follow-up Visit, Yes n(%) b
|
31 (60%)
|
34 (76%)
|
0.096
|
Death b
|
1 (2%)
|
0 (0%)
|
0.372
|
a. based on logistic regression controlling for age, gender, number of diagnoses
b. based on Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test comparing difference in %. The data shows n (%) in each randomized group.
*Logistic regression models failed to converge for Medicine Reconciliation and PCP F/u due to data sparsity, therefore, no odds ratio was estimated for the two outcomes.
There were no statistically significance regarding ED utilization or Hospital readmissions. Patients with a greater number of diagnoses were more likely to go to the ED (controlling for age, gender and Telehealth).