Which challenges does the project SMART4MD target?
This project builds on an innovative patient support tool to develop a mHealth application that is specifically targeted to patients with mild dementia. The content and layout of mHealth SMART4MD application, which will be accessible via tablets given to patients during the experimental pilot treatment, will be based on findings from the first stage of the project focused on user-centric design (focus groups, interviews, tests), but generally will be based on simplicity, memory helpers, reminders, photos, information sharing with carers and doctors and easiness of use for the patients.
The SMART4MD tool will help patients to adhere to their treatment, reduce the progression of their illness and share data with their carers and doctors. This will slow the patients’ cognitive and functional decline, avoid carers getting exhausted and reduce costs of emergency care.
Which objectives has the project SMART4MD?
There are four general objectives of SMART4MD project. The first one is to DESIGN A NEW VERSION OF THE POW HEALTH PLATFORM (called SMART4MD platform) that can be comfortably and reliably used by patients with MD, validated by at least 80% approval rate in focus groups and small-scale patient trials.
The second objective is to SHOW THE MEDICAL BENEFITS OF USING THE NEW SMART4MD PLATFORM:
a) Increase treatment compliance by MD patients from 50% to 60%,
b) reduce functional decline of patients during the first 24 months from diagnosis by 10%,
c) monitor and improve the quality of life for MD patients,
d) monitor the mental well-being of carers.
The third objective is to SHOW THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL BENEFITS of using the SMART4MD platform:
a) Reduce costs wasted on unused medicine by 50%,
b) reduce costs associated with patients failing to attend appointments by 75%,
c) reduce costs associated with readmission of patients to hospital (for resurgent conditions due to lack of treatment adherence) by 30%,
d) provide overall efficiency savings to the healthcare system of 10% of dementia budget.
The last objective is to DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODELS FOR LARGE-SCALE COMMERCIAL ROLL-OUT OF THE SMART4MD PLATFORM in different scenarios and regions. Include financial models for investment, based on risk-sharing between relevant stakeholders and provide projections for each stakeholder’s return on investment to complete the economic argument.
What is the duration of the project?
1. 4. 2015 – 30. 11. 2019
Which partners cooperate on SMART4MD project?
UNITED KINGDOM: Anglia Ruskin University Higher Education Corporation
LUXEMBOURG: Alzheimer Europe
ISRAEL: Athena I.C.T. Ltd
UNITED KINGDOM: Handle My Health Limited
SPAIN: Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
UNITED KINGDOM: South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
SPAIN: Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa
CZECH REPUBLIC: DEX Innovation Centre
SPAIN: Servicio Andaluz de Salud
SWEDEN: Blekinge Tekniska Hogskola
BELGIUM: UC Limburg
UNITED KINGDOM: POW Health Limited
Where to find more information about the project?
Project SMART4MD is co-financed by the European Union under an EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020 - Grant Agreement number 643399.
