PROJECT INFORMATION

Call: Health Research Projects of the 2021 call of the Strategic Action in Health 2017-2020.
Project Title: SMARTCLOTH. Design, implementation and study of the effectiveness and usability of a digital tablecloth for self-management of diet in people with diabetes.
Reference: PI21/01602
Principal Investigator (PI): Dr. Guillermo Molina, IMIBIC (GA-16) – Universidad de Córdoba
Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI): Dr. Rafael Molina Luque, IMIBIC (GA-16) – Universidad de Córdoba
Dates: January 1st, 2021 – December 31st, 2024


OVERVIEW
The project consists of the development and study of usability and effectiveness of SMARTCLOTH (smart tablecloth) for better control and adherence to dietary patterns recommended to people with diabetes, both the portion diet system (more common in cases of diabetes Mellitus type 1 -DM1-), as well as the plate method (more recommended in cases of DM2). It will be designed following a user-centered methodology and by prototyping models, with special attention to its usability, considering that it can be used by patients or caregivers of any age range and degree of technological literacy.
SMARTCLOTH will allow, on the plate where the food is served, to follow the method of the plate, to calculate the portions of food consumed, as well as the proportion of kilocalories and macronutrients (especially carbohydrates, but also proteins, fats and fiber) ingested. In addition, it will allow the recording of intake data and its consultation (as a dietary diary) in other electronic devices (web and mobile application), facilitating the control of intake and increasing adherence to the recommended dietary pattern in each case. After its elaboration, 65 units of the definitive design will be produced, whose efficacy and usability study in real environments will be carried out through a quasi-experimental study of uninterrupted time series with a control group in a Primary Health Care center of the Cordoba Health Area. A consecutive sampling of users with diabetes who will be offered the use of SMARTCLOTH will be carried out. Systems have been designed to assess the degree of adherence to the dietary patterns and the improvement of the cardiometabolic profile of the participants. the control of dietary intake in people with diabetes (Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes), which will increase adherence to the dietary pattern recommended in each case. It is important to emphasize that diet constitutes one of the fundamental pillars of the treatment of these patients. Given the breadth of the target population, the simplicity, usability and acceptability of the device will be the cornerstones of its development.

TEAM
The SMARTCLOTH development team is clearly interdisciplinary, including professionals from the engineering world (IT, agri-food) and the health field (nurses, nutritionists and physicians).

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
SMARTCLOTH will be developed over 3 years in two phases.
1. End-user focused design and technology development phase (2022)
The final objective of this phase will be the development of the final version of SMARTCLOTH and is divided into 3 sub-stages:

  • Requirements identification
  • IT Development
  • Mechanics and Electronics (production)


Summary of stages Phase 1 (2022)

Phase 2: Study of effectiveness, usability and acceptability in real settings. (2023-2024)
The final objective of this phase will be to evaluate the degree of acceptance of SMARTCLOTH , its efficacy in increasing adherence to the recommended dietary patterns and, consequently, the improvement in diabetes control in patients. It encompasses the following tasks:

  • Target population selection and sampling.
  • Intervention for 12 months (use or not of SMARTCLOTH)
  • Follow-up and anthropometric and biochemical data collection
  • Statistical analysis and evaluation of results
  • Dissemination Plan (scientific papers, presentation at scientific meetings, dissemination at medical fairs, etc.)


Summary of stages Phase 2 (2023-2024)