ElderTree Via a Voice Activated Device for Managing Chronic Health Conditions (NHLBI)

Multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) are costly and pervasive among older adults. MCCs account for 90% of Medicare spending, and 65% of Medicare beneficiaries have 3 or more chronic conditions; 23% have 5 or more. MCCs are often addressed in primary care, where time pressures force a focus on medication and lab results rather than self-management skills. Patients often struggle with treatment adherence and the emotional and physical burdens of self-management and health tracking. Chronic conditions reduce quality of life (QOL) and increase loneliness, which exacerbate those conditions. The primary purpose of this study is to investigate whether a voice-based platform is better for delivering an electronic health intervention to older adults than a text/typing-based platform. Elder Tree (ET) is an evidence-based electronic health intervention that has been shown to improve quality of life, physical and socio-emotional health outcomes for older adults with multiple chronic conditions when delivered via a text/typing-based system. The current project would test whether such patients would benefit even more if ET were delivered via a voice-based system (vs. the text-based system) because they would use it more consistently. ET is an existing intervention providing tools, motivation, and support on a computer platform to help older adults manage their health.