MOBIlity assessment with modern TEChnology in older patients’ real-life by the General Practitioner: the MOBITEC-GP study protocol

Abstract

Background:
Mobility limitations in older adults are associated with poor clinical outcomes including highermortality and disability rates. A decline in mobility (including physical function and life-space) is detectable andshould be discovered as early as possible, as it can still be stabilized or even reversed in early stages by targetedinterventions. General practitioners (GPs) would be in the ideal position to monitor the mobility of their olderpatients. However, easy-to-use and valid instruments for GPs to conduct mobility assessment in the real-life practicesetting are missing. Modern technologies such as the global positioning system (GPS) and inertial measurementunits (IMUs) - nowadays embedded in every smartphone - could facilitate monitoring of different aspects ofmobility in the GP's practice.

Methods:
This project’s aim is to provide GPs with a novel smartphone application that allows them to quantifytheir older patients’mobility. The project consists of three parts: development of the GPS- and IMU-basedapplication, evaluation of its validity and reliability (Study 1), and evaluation of its applicability and acceptance(Study 2).In Study 1, participants (targetN= 72, aged 65+,≥2 chronic diseases) will perform a battery of walking tests(varying distances; varying levels of standardization). Besides videotaping and timing (gold standard), a high-endGPS device, a medium-accuracy GPS/IMU logger and three different smartphone models will be used to determinemobility parameters such as gait speed. Furthermore, participants will wear the medium-accuracy GPS/IMU loggerand a smartphone for a week to determine their life-space mobility. Participants will be re-assessed after 1 week. InStudy 2, participants (targetN= 60, aged 65+,≥2 chronic diseases) will be instructed on how to use the applicationby themselves. Participants will perform mobility assessments independently at their own homes. Aggregated testresults will also be presented to GPs. Acceptance of the application will be assessed among patients and GPs. Theapplication will then be finalized and publicly released.

Discussion:
If successful, the MOBITEC-GP application will offer health care providers the opportunity to follow theirpatients’mobility over time and to recognize impending needs (e.g. for targeted exercise) within pre-clinical stagesof decline.