Validation of a Mobile App as an Adjuvant Treatment for Thermal Context Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol

Health tourism is one of the most important touristic activities. It can generate economic and social value. Thermalism/balneotherapy is one of the options concerning healthcare and well-being. Although this fact lacks information concerning effectiveness of thermal water treatments. Digital technologies are being implemented and developed in healthcare systems, stimulated also by WHO, in order to facilitate and improve patients' treatment and assessment. Traditional approach does not allow a follow-up due to the fact the patient leaves the thermal complex after treatment and does no longer get in touch with the clinical department. Due to this lack of information social security avoids financing this kind of treatment. It is important to fulfill this gap and for that digital technologies seem to be the answer. This study aims to investigate effectiveness in self-management and clinical assessment and monitorization between a smartphone app (HealthSmArt_ISAVE) and a standard approach. This will be a single-blinded, parallel two-arm group randomized, controlled, superiority trial with a nine months of intervention period in real thermal treatment conditions, in Caldelas-Amares, Portugal. Outcome measures such as: balance, functionality, pain, cognitive, and respiratory effects will be collected at baseline (t0), 1 week (t1), 2 weeks (t2), 1 month (t3), 3 months (t4), 6 months (t5) and 9 months (t6) after baseline. The HealthSmArt_ISAVE is a new way to assess, monitor and treat thermal practitioners', with constant feedback until nine months after the beginning of the treatment enhancing evidence which may fulfill the gap between clinical practice and clinical evidence.