アプリ対ログブックによる心不全患者の体重モニタリングと支援希求行動：単群準実験的研究：単群準実験的研究

Weight monitoring as part of heart failure (HF) self-care enables timely intervention to prevent hospitalizations. Apps with prompts may improve adherence to monitoring and earlier help-seeking behavior compared with paper logbooks.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Fluid Heart Tracker App compared with a paper logbook for weight monitoring in patients with HF, focusing on monitoring adherence, help-seeking behavior, and hospitalization.

A quasi-experimental, multicenter study was conducted in 2 consecutive 12-month phases, guided by the Situation-Specific Theory of HF Self-Care. A logbook was used initially (phase 1), followed by the Fluid Heart Tracker App (phase 2). Of 184 participants, 136 completed both phases. Analyses compared adherence, help-seeking behavior, and hospitalization outcomes between both phases.

App adherence was higher (median: 346.5 days, interquartile range [IQR] = 299-360) than logbook use (median: 315 days, IQR = 36-365; P < .001). Help-seeking behavior increased from 43.4% in phase 1 to 73.5% in phase 2 (P = .031), while the longest delay reduced from 14 to 2 days (P < .001). Males were more likely to initiate app use (P = .046); age was not a barrier (P = .668). Hospitalization rates according to app use frequency did not differ (P = .384). Declines were observed in the number of participants hospitalized (P = .0066) and the number of episodes (P = .0035).

These results support integrating simple, alert-enabled apps such as the Fluid Heart Tracker into HF programs to strengthen self-care and reduce preventable admissions.