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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC 4.0Digital Health

Feasibility and engagement of a multidomain mobile intervention for mild cognitive impairment: A pilot randomised controlled trial with app-log analysis

  • Hayeong Choi1
  • JaeKyoung Shin2
  • Ji Hye Kim3
  • Byoung-Kwon Lee4
  • Sang-Kyu Lee3
  • Moo-Eob Ahn5
  • Yeo Jin Kim6,7
7 affiliations
  1. 1Hallym University College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
  2. 2Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation of Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
  3. 3Department of Psychiatry, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
  4. 4UBIPLUS Co., Ltd., Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
  5. 5Department of Emergency Medicine, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
  6. 6Department of Neurology, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  7. 7Ezcog.lab Inc., Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
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Abstract

Objective: Digital health interventions offer scalable non-pharmacological treatments for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, their effectiveness relies on sustained user engagement, a major challenge in real-world settings. This assessor-blinded pilot randomised controlled trial aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a mobile app-based multidomain intervention combining physical activity and cognitive training, compared with a physical activity-only intervention, in patients with MCI.

Methods: Patients with MCI were randomised into multidomain intervention or active control groups. Both interventions were delivered via a mobile application over 12 weeks. Engagement was quantified using app log metrics, and clinical outcomes were assessed at baseline and at week 12. Post-intervention interviews explored barriers to engagement.

Results: Twenty-three participants were randomised, of whom 20 completed the baseline assessment and 18 provided week-12 outcome data. Engagement was consistently low across both groups, and no participant met the predefined adherence target of ≥5 days per week. Median use time was approximately 20 minutes for the physical activity component across both groups, with similarly low use of the cognitive training component in the multidomain group. No significant between-group differences were observed in clinical outcomes. Qualitative feedback identified usability issues, task difficulties, and challenges in establishing routine app use.

Conclusion: Engagement with the mobile intervention was low, resulting in limited intervention exposure and no meaningful differences in clinical outcomes. Optimising engagement through a user-centred design and structured support is essential before evaluating its effectiveness in this population.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{choi2026feasibility,
  title = {{Feasibility and engagement of a multidomain mobile intervention for mild cognitive impairment: A pilot randomised controlled trial with app-log analysis}},
  author = {Hayeong Choi and JaeKyoung Shin and Ji Hye Kim and Byoung-Kwon Lee and Sang-Kyu Lee and Moo-Eob Ahn and Yeo Jin Kim},
  journal = {Digital Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1177/20552076261480623},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076261480623},
  note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Feasibility and engagement of a multidomain mobile intervention for mild cognitive impairment: A pilot randomised controlled trial with app-log analysis
AU  - Hayeong Choi
AU  - JaeKyoung Shin
AU  - Ji Hye Kim
AU  - Byoung-Kwon Lee
AU  - Sang-Kyu Lee
AU  - Moo-Eob Ahn
AU  - Yeo Jin Kim
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/18
JO  - Digital Health
DO  - 10.1177/20552076261480623
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076261480623
AB  - Objective: Digital health interventions offer scalable non-pharmacological treatments for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, their effectiveness relies on sustained user engagement, a major challenge in real-world settings. This assessor-blinded pilot randomised controlled trial aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a mobile app-based multidomain intervention combining physical activity and cognitive training, compared with a physical activity-only intervention, in patients with MCI.  Methods: Patients with MCI were randomised into multidomain intervention or active control groups. Both interventions were delivered via a mobile application over 12 weeks. Engagement was quantified using app log metrics, and clinical outcomes were assessed at baseline and at week 12. Post-intervention interviews explored barriers to engagement.  Results: Twenty-three participants were randomised, of whom 20 completed the baseline assessment and 18 provided week-12 outcome data. Engagement was consistently low across both groups, and no participant met the predefined adherence target of ≥5 days per week. Median use time was approximately 20 minutes for the physical activity component across both groups, with similarly low use of the cognitive training component in the multidomain group. No significant between-group differences were observed in clinical outcomes. Qualitative feedback identified usability issues, task difficulties, and challenges in establishing routine app use.  Conclusion: Engagement with the mobile intervention was low, resulting in limited intervention exposure and no meaningful differences in clinical outcomes. Optimising engagement through a user-centred design and structured support is essential before evaluating its effectiveness in this population.
SN  - 2055-2076
ER  -