Construction of a frailty medical checkup system using IoT/ICT tools: Utility and evaluation in the local community

Abstract

Objective: The goal of the study was to develop and evaluate a frailty medical checkup system using IoT/ICT tools for local elderly people.

Subjects and Methods: A screening application was developed, after input of data from a tablet or IoT device. Analysis is conducted in the cloud and results are output after reconfiguration for each diagnostic tool. Checkups were performed twice for elderly people in the community from December 2019 to March 2020. Questionnaires were used before and after the checkup. Regression analysis was performed for factors with a possible influence on evaluation of the medical checkup system and behavioral changes after the medical checkup.

Results: A total of 173 people (41 men, 132 women, mean age 72.3 years) received the checkup, and all evaluated the frailty medical checkup system as generally favorable. In the post-checkup questionnaire, the simplicity of the application was significantly associated with the evaluation of the interview method (OR 0.238, p = 0.001), and the comprehensive advice provided by the checkup report significantly affected post-checkup behavioral changes (OR 0.104, p = 0.013).

Conclusion: Our frailty medical checkup system using IoT/ICT tools was found to be effective for elderly people. Provision of comprehensive frailty support is important in this system.