To determine the feasibility and acceptability of mini sipIT, a context-sensitive reminder system that incorporates a connected water bottle and mobile app with text messaging, for kidney stone patients who have poor adherence to increasing fluid intake for prevention.
Patients with a history of kidney stones and urine volume < 2 liters/day participated in a 1-month single-group feasibility trial. Patients used a connected water bottle and received text message reminders when fluid intake goals weren't met. Perceptions of drinking behavior, intervention acceptability and 24-hour urine volumes were obtained at baseline and 1-month.
Patients with a history of kidney stones were enrolled (n = 26, 77% female, age = 50.4 ± 14.2 years). Over 90% of patients used the bottle or app daily. Most patients perceived that mini sipIT intervention helped them to increase their fluid intake (85%) and reach their fluid intake goals (65%). There was a significant increase in average 24-hour urine volume after the 1-month intervention compared to baseline (2006.5 ± 980.8 mL vs. 1352.7 ± 449.9 mL, t (25) = 3.66, p =.001, g = 0.78), with 73% of patients having higher 24-hour urine volumes at the end of the trial.
Mini sipIT behavioral intervention and outcome assessments are feasible for patients and may lead to significant increases in 24-hour urine volume. Digital tools in combination with behavioral science may improve adherence to fluid intake recommendations for kidney stone prevention, however rigorous efficacy trials are necessary.
Urology. 2023 Jun 29 [Epub ahead of print]
Necole M Streeper, Jason D Fairbourn, James Marks, Edison Thomaz, Nilam Ram, David E Conroy
Department of Urology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA. Electronic address: ., Department of Urology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA., Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX., Departments of Communication and Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA., Department of Kinesiology, Penn State University, University Park, PA.