Chronic Disease Mobile Educational Experience

Chronic Disease Mobile Educational Experience for Hospitalized Patients

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a mobile health education module, in increasing hospitalized patients' understanding of their chronic illness, and in reducing 30-day hospital readmission rates. Half of the participants will receive the educational module intervention in addition to standard education, the other half will receive hospital standard practice education only.

Chronic disease is the leading cause of death and disability, costing the US healthcare system 1 trillion dollars annually. Successful management of these conditions critically requires patient understanding and engagement. Patients are advised to adhere to medications, redesign lifestyles, and navigate the health care system. Most of these care plan items require careful instruction and confirmation of shared understanding.

Mobile health technology has the potential to assist greatly with patient education, especially for hospitalized patients. This prospective study evaluates a specific mobile technology intervention, an educational and emotionally-engaging video patients watch while admitted for a complication related to one of these chronic diseases: Heart Failure, Diabetes, COPD, Asthma, Cirrhosis, Atrial Fibrillation, Hypertension.

Inclusion Criteria:

• admission to medical service primary team for decompensation or complication of chronic disease.(e.g. heart failure)

Exclusion Criteria:

• cognitive disability or visual/auditory limitation that prevents self-interaction with educational module