DIALOR (DIgitAL cOaching for fRailty): a feasibility and acceptability study of a digital health coaching intervention for older people with frailty in primary care
Authors: Board, M., Murphy, J., Light, K., Christie, R., Sait, M., Allen-Pick, M., Bradbury, K., Cox, C., Sadler, E., Vassallo, M., Walker, D.-M.
Journal: Aging clinical and experimental research
Publication Date: 01/10/2026
Publisher: Springer Nature
eISSN: 1720-8319
ISSN: 1594-0667
Abstract:Purpose: To assess the acceptability and feasibility of a digital health platform for long-term disease management combined with health coaching for people living with mild-moderate frailty in Southwest England.
Methods: Older adults (65 years+) with frailty (using electronic Frailty Index) and one or more co morbidities were recruited from four primary care networks in a pre-post mixed methods study. They engaged with a digital health coaching programme with access to a digital platform between June 2023 and February 2024. Feasibility was assessed from participant recruitment, retention and adherence to the intervention. Eleven older adults with frailty, 5 health and wellbeing coaches and 2 health care professionals were interviewed to assess acceptability. Outcome measures included frailty, function, quality of life, social engagement, diet quality, self-reported indicators.
Results: Of 38 eligible participants, 34 accessed the online platform (mean age 77 years). Of these 34 participants, 24 (70.6%) started health coaching and 22 (64.7%) completed the intervention. No adverse events were reported. The intervention was acceptable to older adults with frailty and health and wellbeing coaches. Facilitating factors included trained health and wellbeing coaches, digital competence, access to digital support, perceived benefits. Barriers were low digital literacy, limited capacity among staff, lack of interest in the intervention, challenges related to use of appropriate language for recruitment and engagement. Conclusion: It was feasible to deliver a digital health coaching intervention safely for older people with mild-moderate frailty. A future RCT is needed over a longer study period to determine intervention clinical effectiveness and healthcare costs.
Keywords: older people, frailty, primary care, feasibility, digital health, health coaching Key summary points: • It was feasible to deliver the DIALOR intervention in older adults with mild-moderate frailty with good participant adherence rates and retention. • The intervention was safe and acceptable to older people with mild-moderate frailty, health care professionals and health and wellbeing coaches.
- Key facilitating factors included trained health and wellbeing coaches, digital competence, perceived benefits.
- Barriers identified were low digital literacy, limited capacity of staff, challenges related to the use of appropriate language for recruitment and engagement.
Source: Manual