Effectiveness of Intensive Tutoring vs. Flexible Self-Learning on Digital Health Literacy and Self-Efficacy for "My Health Bank" App Use Among Adults Over 50

NCT07515495 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: C202605032
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 235
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of two different educational models in improving the use of the "My Health Bank" App (a Personal Health Record system in Taiwan) among adults aged 50 and older. As Taiwan's population ages, digital health management has become essential, yet older adults often face a "digital divide." Participants will be randomly assigned to either a "Intensive Guided Learning group" (receiving one-on-one human instruction) or a "Flexible Self-study group" (using self-learning materials co-created with Generative AI). The study aims to compare the outcomes of these two groups in terms of enhancing digital health literacy, self-efficacy, and actual App usage behavior to identify more effective and scalable digital health education strategies.

Conditions

Digital Health Literacy; Healthy Aging

Keywords

eHealth Literacy; Health Self-Efficacy; My Health Bank; Randomized Controlled Trial

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) Score

  The eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) is used to measure participants' combined knowledge, comfort, and perceived skills at finding, evaluating, and applying electronic health information to health problems. The scale contains 8 items, each scored on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Total scores range from 8 to 40, with higher scores indicating higher perceived eHealth literacy.

  Baseline (T0), 1-week post-intervention (T1), and 4-weeks post-intervention (T2)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change in General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) Score

  Baseline (T0), 1-week post-intervention (T1), and 4-weeks post-intervention (T2)

• Post-Intervention Digital Health Management Behavior

  4-weeks post-intervention (T2)

Study Arms (2)

Intensive Guided Learning Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive AI-collaborative educational materials with intensive guidance from instructors.

Behavioral: AI-Collaborative eHealth Education

Flexible Self-study Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants receive the same AI-collaborative educational materials as the experimental group but engage in self-paced learning without intensive instructor-led guidance. This group serves to evaluate the baseline effectiveness of the digital materials when used independently.

Behavioral: AI-Collaborative eHealth Education

Interventions

AI-Collaborative eHealth Education BEHAVIORAL

This behavioral intervention consists of a structured eHealth literacy curriculum using AI-collaborative educational materials. The program focuses on teaching participants how to utilize the "My Health Bank" platform for personal health management. The intervention is delivered in two formats depending on group assignment: The experimental group receives intensive instructor-led guidance and hands-on practice. The control group engages in flexible self-study using the same AI-generated materials. The curriculum aims to enhance digital health literacy, self-efficacy, and active engagement (measured by frequency of use) with digital health tools among older adults.

Flexible Self-study Group; Intensive Guided Learning Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Participants aged 50 years and older.
• Possession of a smartphone with basic operational skills (e.g., unlocking the phone, making calls, and using LINE).
• Self-reported lack of familiarity with the "My Health Bank" App (used less than 3 times or never used in the past year).
• Proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and understanding Mandarin Chinese.

You may not qualify if:

• Regular users of the "My Health Bank" App (used 3 times or more in the past year).
• Severe cognitive impairment identified through brief cognitive screening, the participant unable to follow instructions or complete questionnaires.
• Smartphone operating system is too outdated to support the installation of the "NHI App" (National Health Insurance App).
• Inability to complete the App download and installation process independently or with family assistance (e.g., lost App Store/Google Play password, insufficient storage space).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Tri-Service General Hospital: lead

Study Sites (2)

Anle District Health Center and Affiliated Community Centers

Keelung, Anle District, 204, Taiwan

RECRUITING

Tri-Service General Hospital, Department of Orthopaedics

Taipei, Neihu District, 114, Taiwan

RECRUITING

Study Officials

• Kun-Yi Lin, MD, PhD

  Department of Orthopaedics, Tri-Service General Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Yu-Wen Chen, PhD Student

CONTACT

+886-922-419-022; viven0824@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: This is a single-blind study where the outcomes assessors are kept masked to the group assignments during data collection and statistical analysis to minimize bias.
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Chief, Division of General Orthopaedics

Model Details: This study is conducted in sequential phases. Following a pre-test (n=15) for tool validation and a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (n=60) to evaluate feasibility, the Full-scale RCT (n=160) employs a single-blind, two-arm parallel design. Participants in the full-scale trial are randomly assigned to either the "Intensive Guided Learning Group" or the "Flexible Self-study Group." Data collection occurs at three time points: baseline (T0), 1-week post-intervention (T1), and 4-weeks post-intervention (T2). To ensure data independence, participants from the pre-test and pilot stages will be excluded from the final full-scale RCT analysis.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 31, 2026
• First Posted: April 7, 2026
• Study Start: April 2, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 9, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 9, 2027
• Last Updated: April 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TW (2)