Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Community-Based Phygital Telemonitoring Program for Older Adults: Multisite Retrospective Pilot Study in Singapore

TL;DR

A community-based telemonitoring program for older adults in Singapore was evaluated and found to be feasible and acceptable for health screening and education.

Contribution

The study evaluates a community-based telemonitoring program's implementation and outcomes, offering insights for scaling telehealth initiatives.

Findings

The program reached over 800 older individuals and 147 health ambassadors across three community sites.

User feedback was positive, highlighting convenience and value, though challenges in referral tracking and survey complexity were noted.

Abstract

Noncommunicable diseases, particularly hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and obesity, are on the rise among older adults in Singapore, emphasizing the need for effective screening, monitoring, and educational interventions. The traditional health care model, relying on in-person visits to review patients, poses risks of underreported cases and missed opportunities for early interventions to manage complications. Community-based telemonitoring programs present promising opportunities to extend telehealth services to underserved populations, thereby mitigating the digital divide and addressing health inequalities.

This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the implementation of a community-based telemonitoring program, the Community Telehealth Service (CTS), developed to reduce digital barriers and raise awareness for regular health screening among older adults in the Singapore community. It also aimed to generate insights for scaling up similar telehealth initiatives in the community.

This retrospective study used the (1) Implementation Research Logic Model, (2) Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework, and the Implementation Outcomes Framework to guide the design and evaluation of CTS’ implementation strategies. Outcomes covered implementation outcomes (reach, adoption, feasibility, and cost), service outcomes (safety and preliminary effectiveness), and user outcomes (satisfaction). Data were collected from operational statistics and structured user feedback surveys across 3 phases of implementation at different community sites.

Over the course of the 3 phases, CTS has reached more than 800 older individuals and 147 health ambassadors, with the participation of community organizations, health care institutions, academic collaborators, corporate sponsors, and government agencies. Operational statistics indicated that CTS was delivered consistently across 3 sites, with improving show-up rates and stable service hours. User feedback was generally positive, citing convenience, perceived value, and appreciation for health ambassador support. However, challenges were noted in referral tracking due to differing workflows across partners and in collecting user feedback, particularly in later phases where the survey was perceived as lengthy and complex for older users. Several areas for improvement were identified, such as incorporating more health assessments, providing more health-related information, and improving the referral process.

This early-stage retrospective study suggests that community-based telehealth programs may be a feasible and acceptable approach to delivering preventive services in community settings. While initial findings are promising, further rigorous research is needed to evaluate long-term outcomes, integration with health systems, and potential for scale-up.

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