Longitudinal Effectiveness of HEART Smartphone- Based Videoconferencing Program in Enhancing Residents and Family'Health

This study intends to understand the longitudinal effectiveness of the smartphone- based Helper of Emotional Assessment ＆Relationship Teaching (HEART) videoconferencing program in enhancing residents and family health through the employment of a sequential-methods, triangulation research design. In the phase I lasing 18 months, it will employ: (a) a web-based RT/communication education programs which is develop based on understanding the experience of videoconferencing visit from family in nursing home, and (b) a HEA system which is for real-time face emotion recognition system used in videoconferencing will be developed and tested. In the phase II occupying the second 18 months it will evaluate the longitudinal effects of the HEART program on residents' and family's health change over time (baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months). Nursing homes in Taiwan will be automated computerized blocked randomly assigned to three groups: (a) An RT group, which receives the RT program and uses 3 months' smartphone-based videoconferencing without the HEA system, (b) A HEART group, which receives the RT program and uses 3 months smartphone-based videoconferencing along with the HEA system, and(c) A control group, which has only smartphone-based videoconferencing visits.