Pneumologie 2017; 71(04): 233-244
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1600158
Abstracts
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Digital sleep medicine Application Use in Seniors and best agers (DAUS)

, for the International Geriatric Sleep Medicine Task Force and the Geriatric and Diagnostic Assemblies of the German Sleep Society
NC Netzer
1   Hermann Buhl Institute for Hypoxia and Sleep Medicine Research., Sports Science Institute, University Innsbruck, Bad Aibling, Germany and Innsbruck, Austria
,
S Ancoli Israel
2   Dept. of Psychiatry, UCSD, San Diego, CA
,
H Frohnhofen
3   Dept. Geriatric Medicine, Krupp Hospital, Essen, Germany
,
H Danker Hopfe
4   Dept. Psychiatry, Sleep Competence Center, Charite, Free University, Berlin, Germany
,
F Raschke
5   Institute for Rehabilitation Research (retired chair), Norderney, Germany
,
R Popp
6   Psychiatric University Hospital, Sleep Disorders Center, Regensburg, Germany
,
S Pramsohler
1   Hermann Buhl Institute for Hypoxia and Sleep Medicine Research., Sports Science Institute, University Innsbruck, Bad Aibling, Germany and Innsbruck, Austria
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
13 April 2017 (online)

Also available at
 

Rationale:

There are an increasing number of mostly commercial sleep medicine apps for iOS and Android devices and also for telemedicine approaches for CPAP adherence. If elderly patients (> 65yrs.) are in comfort using them is controversially discussed. Recent data from a telemedicine project in elderly diabetes outpatients in Berlin, Germany, showed that 59% of seniors are interested in using apps and telemedicine approaches to manage their chronic illnesses. To proof such data for sleep medicine use in elderly persons and study the relations between app affinity, age and frailty as well as personal need for data safety we aimed for a questionnaire to survey these parameters.

Methods:

Within the International Geriatric Sleep Medicine Task Force a questionnaire for the digital medical application use in seniors (DAUS) with 12 items using a similar scoring system as the Berlin Questionnaire was developed on group consensus.

Results:

The questionnaire has four categories: 1. Degree of frailty is assessed based on activities of daily living (ADL) and participation in social activities. 2. By inquiring the use of computer, smart phone or tablet digital competence is determined. 3. The interest in a sleep medicine app including a telemedicine approach is surveyed. 4. The importance of data safety and data privacy is evaluated. If three and more points are scored for loss of ADL's, frailty is reached. Seniors who score three or more points in each category count as digital competent, telemedicine sleep app affine and show a high interest in data safety.

Conclusion:

DAUS assesses those seniors who are affine to the use of app based diagnostic and compliance sleep medicine tools. A validation study has started.