Multicomponent Supportive-Educative mHealth Intervention for Self-Care Among Individuals With Osteoporosis in Thailand: Exploratory Pretest-Posttest Pilot Study

Abstract Background Poor self-care impairs osteoporosis management. Disease-related knowledge and family support have influenced self-care; however, the combined association of these factors with self-care remains insufficiently understood. Objective This study aimed to compare self-care among individuals with osteoporosis who received a multicomponent supportive-educative mobile health intervention with that of individuals who received usual care. Methods This exploratory pilot study using a pretest-posttest design with a nonequivalent control group included 46 individuals aged 50 years and older who had been diagnosed with osteoporosis and were receiving care at the orthopedic outpatient department of a university hospital in Bangkok. Participants were matched by sex, age, and back pain scores and then sequentially allocated to an intervention group (n=23, 50%) and a comparison group (n=23, 50%). The intervention group received a 4-week multicomponent supportive-educative intervention based on Orem’s self-care theory, delivered partly through a closed Facebook group. The intervention included educational guidance, video-based teaching, psychological support, family involvement, and remote nurse interaction. The comparison group received usual care. Self-care was measured using the Self-Care of Osteoporosis Scale. Chi-square tests, Fisher exact tests, independent-sample 2-tailed t tests, analysis of covariance, and multivariate analysis of covariance were used to examine differences between groups. Results After controlling for baseline self-care scores, participants in the intervention group had significantly higher postintervention self-care scores than those in the comparison group ( F 1,43 =459.29; P <.001). Significant group differences were also observed across all 3 domains of self-care after controlling for baseline scores. Compared with the control group, the intervention group demonstrated significantly higher postintervention scores in diet and physical activity ( F 1,41 =245.04; P <.001), safety performance ( F 1,41 =171.20; P <.001), and medication adherence ( F 1,41 =144.54; P <.001). Conclusions The multicomponent supportive-educative intervention delivered partly through Facebook was associated with improvements in self-care among individuals with osteoporosis. Future rigorous trials are needed to confirm its efficacy.