University of Florida, The Villages, and Casana Partner for The Heart Seat Adherence Study

The University of Florida (UF) Precision Health Research Center in The Villages and Casana have partnered to conduct a research study titled “A Community Based Participatory Research Approach to Improving Health and Wellness for Older Adults in The Villages Comparing Remote Monitoring Device Adherence.”

The overarching goal of this study is to measure the adherence and satisfaction of The Heart Seat compared to traditional telemonitoring devices (e.g. blood pressure cuff, weight scale) and standard of care.

This study will be conducted in 2 phases:

• Phase 1: The first phase consists of focus groups with older adults residing in the community and 1:1 interviews with healthcare professionals, such as cardiologists, primary care physicians and advanced practice providers. In the focus groups, perceptions around traditional telemonitoring devices and thoughts about the proposed Heart Seat will be explored. In the 1:1 interviews with healthcare professionals, impressions of the Heart Seat and potential applications of The Heart Seat for improving healthcare will be explored. Communication strategies (e.g. visualization for a dashboard) will also be examined.
• Phase 2: The second phase of the study uses a crossover research design to examine adherence with vital sign monitoring across traditional telehealth monitoring (e.g. blood pressure cuff and weight scale) and the Heart Seat. In this phase, 50 subjects will be initially assigned into one of the following 2 study arms for 6 weeks: (1) traditional telemonitoring or (2) The Heart Seat and there adherence in using the devices each will be recorded. After 6 weeks, the groups will exchange devices and those enrolled in the traditional telemonitoring arm will have the opportunity to transition to The Heart Seat arm, and the participants who began in the Heart Seat arm will transition to traditional telemonitoring so that adherence in both groups can be effectively compared.

This study is registered with the UF Institutional Review Board (IRB202100290) and is taking place in The Villages, FL. Recruitment for this study is now open and we are looking for interested individuals to serve as research participants.

Interested in Participating?

If you are interested in participants, and would like to learn more, please contact Dr. VandeWeerd, Principal Investigator via phone at 352-247-2493 or email: Villages-Research@ufl.edu to learn more. If you get the project’s voicemail box, someone will return your call within 2 business days.

Please note that you are under no obligation to participate and you may also withdraw your participation from the study at any time.

Inclusion criteria: To participate in the study: participants must be 55+, participant must have been diagnosed with Heart Failure, participant must have a native heart with no mechanical support device, participant must have 12 months+ life expectancy, participant’s home must have an elongated toilet seat in a primary bathroom and be willing to have The Heart Seat installed in their home, participant must be able to go to the bathroom on their own, participant must weigh between 90 and 350 pounds, all household members of the participant must weigh below 350 pounds, participant must not have mental defects that precludes following research instructions or calls into question understanding the informed consent process.

About The UF Health: Precision Health Research Center (PHRC):
The Villages is home to The UFHealth: Precision Health Research Center (PHRC). In collaboration with UF Health, The Villages Health, and The Villages community, the PHRC focuses on advancing science that facilitates our ability to predict, prevent, and cure health problems that impact health and wellness in late-life in a customized and personal way – at the individual and community levels. Research at the PHRC combines high-tech and personalized touch, individual genomics, lifestyle, and community/environmental risk factors, to tailor strategies for healthy living to the biology and life circumstances of individuals and communities. The PHRC is rooted in community-based participatory research engagement principles and conducts social-behavioral and clinical trial research across various areas ranging from brain health to smart technologies. The PHRC operates with funding from industry partners and federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health. In collaboration with scientists across the UF system, The PHRC provides an interdisciplinary hub for generating cutting-edge clinical and translational research as well as support and infrastructure to carry out large, interdisciplinary research initiatives. The 3,700 sq. ft PHRC includes 11 interview, assessment, and exam rooms, 2 phlebotomy rooms, a study drug storage room, secured areas for study documents, study coordinator offices, and office’s for the centers leadership team. Two conference rooms with teleconference capabilities are available for teaching, community education needs, or conferencing multicenter trials. The PHRC provides a large educational training space for community members, industry partners, and academic professionals. The PHRC provides an opportunity for conducting translational research with a multidisciplinary team and welcomes innovative and collaborative partners with a shared vision of improving the quality of life for Villagers and older adults across the U.S.

About The Villages
In only 30 years, The Villages has become the largest planned older-adult community in the U.S, and is home more than 140,000 residents over the age of 55. While spanning more than 50 square miles, The Villages creates a ‘small town’ culture by building homes across a collection of neighborhoods, organized around neighborhood recreation centers and 3 large town squares. The Villages encourages an active lifestyle by providing over 800 daily recreational activities, over 4,000 resident-led clubs, and 500 adult learning courses within the community. Villagers comprise a well-defined and socially cohesive population, representing older-adults from all 50 states and 14 different countries. Its neighborhood characteristics foster an environment rich with opportunity for social cohesion and social connectedness, while promoting successful aging and improved quality of life among its residents.
www.thevillages.com

About Casana:
Casana’s vision is to create an effortless, home monitoring device available to consumers in order to support proactive health. The Heart Seat™ is our first solution. By capturing long-term vital trends from sensors such as ECG, BCG, and PPG through daily monitoring, care providers can receive a holistic picture of their patients or loved ones’ health without worrying what might be missing due to compliance barriers. In volunteering to participate in this study you are supporting our vision to help those who are currently struggling with day-to-day medical monitoring.
www.casanacare.com