NCT07161674

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a digital health literacy program using mobile phone chat-based application called WISDOM (WhatsApp Intervention for Seniors' Digital and cOgnitive Management) can help older adults in Singapore with fewer resources improve their digital health skills and support brain health. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • Is it feasible to run WISDOM in senior centres, and will participants join and stay in the program?
  • Does WISDOM help older adults find and use online health information?
  • Does WISDOM help older adults make health decisions and impact brain functions?
  • What do participants think about WISDOM, and how can it be improved? Researchers will compare two groups:
  • WISDOM group: Participants will join a 6-week program with face-to-face learning sessions and WhatsApp activities about digital health skills. Extra support will be given if needed.
  • Control group: Participants will continue with their usual activities at the senior centres. Participants in the WISDOM group will:
  • Join weekly face-to-face sessions for 6 weeks
  • Use WhatsApp to complete learning activities

Trial Health

63
Monitor

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
140

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
10mo left

Started Sep 2025

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
not yet recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress44%
Sep 2025Feb 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

September 2, 2025

Completed
7 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

September 9, 2025

Completed
6 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

September 15, 2025

Completed
10 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

June 30, 2026

Expected
8 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

February 28, 2027

Last Updated

September 9, 2025

Status Verified

August 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

10 months

First QC Date

September 2, 2025

Last Update Submit

September 2, 2025

Conditions

CognitionAgedDigital Health Literacy

Keywords

Digital health literacyCognitive healthCognitive functionOlder adultsAging populationCommunity-based interventionHealth information seekingSingaporeFeasibility studyMixed methods studyWhatsApp intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Digital health literacy competency

    Competency in digital health literacy will be measured using the 21-item Digital Health Literacy Instrument (DHLI). The DHLI includes seven domains: operational skills, navigation skills, information searching, evaluating reliability, determining relevance, adding self-generated content, and protecting privacy. Internal consistency for the tool is α=0.87. In addition to the self-reported items, seven performance-based items will also be included for objective evaluation.

    Baseline, week 7 (post-test 1), and 3 months after intervention (post-test 2).

Secondary Outcomes (8)

  • Perceived usefulness of online health information

    Baseline, week 7 (post-test 1), and 3 months after intervention (post-test 2).

  • Perceived ease of using online health information

    Baseline, week 7 (post-test 1), and 3 months after intervention (post-test 2).

  • Attitudes towards online health information

    Baseline, week 7 (post-test 1), and 3 months after intervention (post-test 2).

  • Use of online health information

    Baseline, week 7 (post-test 1), and 3 months after intervention (post-test 2).

  • Changes in health behaviour and decision-making using internet-based health information

    Baseline, week 7 (post-test 1), and 3 months after intervention (post-test 2).

  • +3 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

WISDOM Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm will take part in the WISDOM program (WhatsApp Intervention for Seniors' Digital and cOgnitive Management). The program lasts 6 weeks and includes weekly face-to-face training sessions combined with WhatsApp-based learning activities focused on digital health literacy skills. Additional support may be offered to participants who require extra assistance.

Behavioral: Digital health literacy program

Control (Usual Care)

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this arm will continue with the usual activities provided at their active ageing centres. They will not receive the structured WISDOM program during the study period.

Interventions

Digital health literacy programBEHAVIORAL

A 6-week digital health literacy program delivered through weekly face-to-face training sessions and WhatsApp activities. Additional support may be provided if needed.

WISDOM Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

Age60 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Age 60 years and above
  • Own a smartphone
  • Received up to primary school education or lesser
  • Able to converse and read English or Mandarin

You may not qualify if:

  • Diagnosed with dementia or at risk of dementia (MoCA) ≤ 23/24

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

NTUC Health Active Ageing Centre (West Cluster)

Singapore, Singapore, 408935, Singapore

Location

Related Publications (10)

  • Wang MP, Luk TT, Wu Y, Li WH, Cheung DY, Kwong AC, Lai V, Chan SS, Lam TH. Chat-based instant messaging support integrated with brief interventions for smoking cessation: a community-based, pragmatic, cluster-randomised controlled trial. Lancet Digit Health. 2019 Aug;1(4):e183-e192. doi: 10.1016/S2589-7500(19)30082-2. Epub 2019 Jul 31.

    PMID: 33323188BACKGROUND

  • Tian Y, Zhang S, Huang F, Ma L. Comparing the Efficacies of Telemedicine and Standard Prenatal Care on Blood Glucose Control in Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2021 May 25;9(5):e22881. doi: 10.2196/22881.

    PMID: 33783365BACKGROUND

  • Small GW, Lee J, Kaufman A, Jalil J, Siddarth P, Gaddipati H, Moody TD, Bookheimer SY. Brain health consequences of digital technology use . Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2020 Jun;22(2):179-187. doi: 10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.2/gsmall.

    PMID: 32699518BACKGROUND

  • Scazufca M, Nakamura CA, Seward N, Didone TVN, Moretti FA, Oliveira da Costa M, Queiroz de Souza CH, Macias de Oliveira G, Souza Dos Santos M, Pereira LA, Mendes de Sa Martins M, van de Ven P, Hollingworth W, Peters TJ, Araya R. Self-help mobile messaging intervention for depression among older adults in resource-limited settings: a randomized controlled trial. Nat Med. 2024 Apr;30(4):1127-1133. doi: 10.1038/s41591-024-02864-4. Epub 2024 Mar 14.

    PMID: 38486075BACKGROUND

  • Ngiam NHW, Yee WQ, Teo N, Yow KS, Soundararajan A, Lim JX, Lim HA, Tey A, Tang KWA, Tham CYX, Tan JPY, Lu SY, Yoon S, Ng KYY, Low LL. Building Digital Literacy in Older Adults of Low Socioeconomic Status in Singapore (Project Wire Up): Nonrandomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2022 Dec 2;24(12):e40341. doi: 10.2196/40341.

    PMID: 36459398BACKGROUND

  • Mohamad Pilus F, Ahmad N, Mohd Zulkefli NA, Mohd Shukri NH. Effect of Face-to-Face and WhatsApp Communication of a Theory-Based Health Education Intervention on Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy (SeBF Intervention): Cluster Randomized Controlled Field Trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2022 Sep 14;10(9):e31996. doi: 10.2196/31996.

    PMID: 36103244BACKGROUND

  • Li Y, Shi H, Yuan Y, Zeng R, Bai B, Sun L. The impact of learning engagement on the subjective well-being of disadvantaged older adults in China. Front Public Health. 2023 Jul 18;11:1196692. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1196692. eCollection 2023.

    PMID: 37533528BACKGROUND

  • Lee H, Lim JA, Nam HK. Effect of a Digital Literacy Program on Older Adults' Digital Social Behavior: A Quasi-Experimental Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 29;19(19):12404. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191912404.

    PMID: 36231707BACKGROUND

  • Chan MY, Haber S, Drew LM, Park DC. Training Older Adults to Use Tablet Computers: Does It Enhance Cognitive Function? Gerontologist. 2016 Jun;56(3):475-84. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnu057. Epub 2014 Jun 13.

    PMID: 24928557BACKGROUND

  • Andre L, Giulioli C, Piau A, Bongard V, Richard E, Moll van Charante EP, Coley N, Andrieu S; PRODEMOS consortium. Telephone and Smartphone-Based Interventions for Cognitive and Cardio-Metabolic Health in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Systematic Review. Clin Interv Aging. 2022 Nov 10;17:1599-1624. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S352137. eCollection 2022.

    PMID: 36393902BACKGROUND

Related Links

Study Officials

  • Betsy Seah, PhD, BSc (Nursing)(Hons), RN

    National University of Singapore, Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Betsy Seah, PhD, BSc (Nursing)(Hons), RN

CONTACT

6566013213nurseah@nus.edu.sg

XinMing Deng, BSc (Nursing)(Hons), RN

CONTACT

6590505570e1069960@u.nus.edu

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
PREVENTION
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: This study uses a pilot cluster randomization design, with four active ageing centres randomized into two intervention and two control groups.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Research Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

September 2, 2025

First Posted

September 9, 2025

Study Start

September 15, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

February 28, 2027

Last Updated

September 9, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared because this is a small pilot feasibility study involving socially disadvantaged older adults in Singapore. Sharing of IPD is not planned due to privacy, ethical, and institutional data protection requirements under Singapore's Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). Only aggregate results will be reported in publications and presentations.

Locations

SG(1)