Kwido coordinates the first tests to combat frailty in frAAgile.
The first prototype of the frAAgiLe system has been released and the end-user sites are currently recruiting participants for the field trial phase.
People aged 65+ are invited and reached via various dissemination channels and existing partners’ network to test the first version of the system in real-life environments.
The procedure that end-user sites follow during the implementation of the FrAAgiLe field trials is explained below:
Firstly, the researcher calls the eligible participants, according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria and informs them about the purpose of the project, study objectives and goals. Any question on the participants’ side is resolved and if the people express interest to participate in the study, the researcher schedules the first face to face meeting.
Secondly, during the first meeting, the researcher presents the frAAgiLe project to them and provides them with written information as well. Then, the researcher proceeds with the explanation of all their rights and obligations during their participation. After that the researcher gives them time to read the informed consent and sign it after all of their questions are answered. Each participant is provided with a copy of the signed informed consent.
In the meantime, the researcher sets up the tablet for the user. Then the Edmonton and EuroQol Group EQ-5D assessments are administered to the participant to serve as a baseline record for the data analysis.
Thirdly, participants are requested to complete the sociodemographic questionnaires. After the completion of this step, the researcher registers the participant in the frAAgiLe platform with their unique password and user name. Moreover the researcher performs the initial assessment.
As a next step, the researcher offers a training session regarding the frAAgiLe application and observes the participants while they navigate on the application. The participant’s actions are recorded in a document. That document contains a list of tasks for the participant in order to confirm that they understood how to use the frAAgiLe application.
The user is instructed to navigate through the Evaluation tests, Games & Exercises sections, play with the Squegg dynamomether and also, visit the Learning section.
After the researcher confirms that the participant has understood how to use the frAAgiLe application, they inform the user about the frequency of their contact and the researcher’s availability to support them for as long and as often as they want to.
The researcher can arrange a second meeting to further support and train the participant if needed.
Finally, the participant is thanked for their time and their willingness to take part to the study and is reminded that they are free to withdraw whenever they want to without any consequences.
First results of the FrAAgiLe test
Cyprus
Cyprus has already obtained some preliminary results from the field research. These show that participants from Cyprus found the application very useful and they are excited to use it. There was a variation in preference in terms of their favorite games and exercises.
Some of them expressed that the physical exercises were good for them as they don’t have the opportunity to go out to exercise. Some others thought that the SAPA game was quite good because it was challenging for their brain, some other preferred Sailgility game because they exercise while they are feeling that they are in the sea sailing and participants who like cooking preferred Chop it!
Switzerland
In Switzerland, at terzStriftung, the first prototype of the frAAgiLe system has been released and the end-users have tablets (with Fraagile pre-lodaded) and a Squegg with them at home.
Since the Covid-19 situation had still been ongoing at the start of the pilot, home visits were not done. Instead, a field trial handbook and diary were sent to the participants along with the tablet OR the tablet handover was handled by a physiotherapist that already has contact with end user participants.As with the other sites, participants are asked to use the app and walk through the different features of the app and report about their experiences, likes/dislikes, thoughts, etc.
There were some initial technical issues with logging on, but for the most part these seemed to be fixed and the technical partners added the feature that the password is visible during the login process so there aren’t any mistakes with that. Other than that, the start was a little slow, because some participants were on summer holidays, but is now running.
In conclusion a total of seven participants have started the field trial.
Hungary
In Hungary, the Bay Zoltán Nonprofit Ltd has tested the frAAgiLe app within their premises. Within the next few weeks, they will also involve end-users to test frAAgiLe outside of BZN, in a real end-user environment.
Bay Zoltán was also working very hard in integrating their magic carpet solution, which allows seniors to play games by standing on the scale and controlling the boat for example with their slow balancing movements on it. It will be tested in the second version of the platform.