A randomized controlled trial of mobile intervention using health support bubbles to prevent social frailty
Abstract Mobile health (mHealth) is gaining interest worldwide. This randomized trial aimed to test the effects of family companionship on the prevention of social frailty among Japanese individuals aged ≥40 years using a mHealth application. We used a participant-coaching system, which included a m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | npj Digital Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-025-01873-y |
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| author | Chisato Hayashi Nanae Tanemura Maki Taniguchi Tadashi Okano Hiromitsu Toyoda Sonoe Mashino Soshiro Ogata |
| author_facet | Chisato Hayashi Nanae Tanemura Maki Taniguchi Tadashi Okano Hiromitsu Toyoda Sonoe Mashino Soshiro Ogata |
| author_sort | Chisato Hayashi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Mobile health (mHealth) is gaining interest worldwide. This randomized trial aimed to test the effects of family companionship on the prevention of social frailty among Japanese individuals aged ≥40 years using a mHealth application. We used a participant-coaching system, which included a mobile nutrition management software application and a web portal. We assessed social frailty using Bunt’s framework. We enrolled 101 participants who used the application either alone (control group) or with family members (intervention group). The intervention arm showed greater improvement in social behavior and leisure activities (p = 0.004) and the total frailty score (p = 0.037). However, the social isolation did not improve with intervention. Our results suggest that mHealth can influence behavior change, but it does not resolve social isolation. While it provides convenience and enhanced access to healthcare, there is a need to balance digital efficiency with human interaction, ensuring that mHealth solutions complement, rather than replace, personal connections. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b65c20dd313d411a9812214bebb6ce9e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2398-6352 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Digital Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-b65c20dd313d411a9812214bebb6ce9e2025-08-20T03:06:08ZengNature Portfolionpj Digital Medicine2398-63522025-07-018111110.1038/s41746-025-01873-yA randomized controlled trial of mobile intervention using health support bubbles to prevent social frailtyChisato Hayashi0Nanae Tanemura1Maki Taniguchi2Tadashi Okano3Hiromitsu Toyoda4Sonoe Mashino5Soshiro Ogata6Research Institute of Nursing Care for People and Community, University of HyogoFukushima University, Faculty of Food and Agricultural SciencesInstitute of Science Tokyo, Graduate school of Health Care SciencesCenter for Senile Degenerative Disorders (CSDD), Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan UniversityDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan UniversityResearch Institute of Nursing Care for People and Community, University of HyogoDepartment of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Fujita Health UniversityAbstract Mobile health (mHealth) is gaining interest worldwide. This randomized trial aimed to test the effects of family companionship on the prevention of social frailty among Japanese individuals aged ≥40 years using a mHealth application. We used a participant-coaching system, which included a mobile nutrition management software application and a web portal. We assessed social frailty using Bunt’s framework. We enrolled 101 participants who used the application either alone (control group) or with family members (intervention group). The intervention arm showed greater improvement in social behavior and leisure activities (p = 0.004) and the total frailty score (p = 0.037). However, the social isolation did not improve with intervention. Our results suggest that mHealth can influence behavior change, but it does not resolve social isolation. While it provides convenience and enhanced access to healthcare, there is a need to balance digital efficiency with human interaction, ensuring that mHealth solutions complement, rather than replace, personal connections.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-025-01873-y |
| spellingShingle | Chisato Hayashi Nanae Tanemura Maki Taniguchi Tadashi Okano Hiromitsu Toyoda Sonoe Mashino Soshiro Ogata A randomized controlled trial of mobile intervention using health support bubbles to prevent social frailty npj Digital Medicine |
| title | A randomized controlled trial of mobile intervention using health support bubbles to prevent social frailty |
| title_full | A randomized controlled trial of mobile intervention using health support bubbles to prevent social frailty |
| title_fullStr | A randomized controlled trial of mobile intervention using health support bubbles to prevent social frailty |
| title_full_unstemmed | A randomized controlled trial of mobile intervention using health support bubbles to prevent social frailty |
| title_short | A randomized controlled trial of mobile intervention using health support bubbles to prevent social frailty |
| title_sort | randomized controlled trial of mobile intervention using health support bubbles to prevent social frailty |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-025-01873-y |
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