AES Poster Showcases Feasibility of Mobile App to Track Daily Self-Reporting Epilepsy Outcomes

A newly presented poster reported on the feasibility of the mobile phone application HOBSCOTCH for collecting daily self-reported data of adult patients with epilepsy to be used in a nationally recruiting randomized controlled trial (HOBSCOTCH-3; NCT04519775). These findings, presented at the 2025 American Epilepsy Society (AES) Annual Meeting, held December 5-9, in Atlanta, Georgia, underscored the potential of mobile applications to provide more detailed insights into intervention dynamics than traditional measurement methods.¹

Researchers reported that a total of 109 participants submitted 22,276 daily self-reports using the digital app, potentially supporting the feasibility of continuous mobile data collection. Self-reporting in the daily logs showed that seizure frequency and medication adherence did not differ significantly across the intervention, booster, or follow-up phases, likely because of low baseline variability. Notably, investigators observed significant within-phase temporal trends for memory strategy use and well-being ratings, particularly during the intervention and booster periods.

“Cognitive impairment is a major contributor to reduced quality of life among individuals with epilepsy,” lead author Robert Ross-Shannon, MS, data science and statistician consultant at Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote.¹ “Integrating mobile app supports into self-management programs bring potential for enriching understanding of [experience sampling method] intervention dynamics beyond traditional measurement approaches.”

In this analysis, researchers evaluated the feasibility of using a mobile application to collect daily self-reported data during a fully virtual implementation of the HOBSCOTCH intervention. The HOBSCOTCH program is an 8-week, 1-to-1, telehealth-delivered cognitive-behavioral intervention aimed to improve disease self-management, quality of life, and cognitive function in those with epilepsy. Authors noted that the mobile application collected daily data on seizure occurrence, medication adherence, memory strategy use, emotional well-being, and app engagement.

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Investigators collected data by means of daily logs filled out by participants on the HOBSCOTCH app. Authors noted that participants received daily notifications on their mobile device that prompted them to fill out the logs and had options available to customize when they received the notifications. For the study, researchers used generalized additive models, beta-binomial regressions, and ordinal models to assess within- and between-phase changes and temporal trends.

Additional results revealed that engagement with the app peaked during the active intervention and booster phases of the intervention and showed a modest decline in each phase. Authors also observed significant correlations between seizure reporting and mood, as well as between memory strategy use and mood, potentially indicating clinically relevant associations.

“The HOBSCOTCH mobile application provided a feasible platform for high-resolution monitoring of self-reported outcomes in individuals with epilepsy. Although mean-level changes in clinical outcomes were limited, temporal trends and inter-item relationships revealed nuanced patterns of intervention effects,” Ross-Shannon et al noted.¹ “Mobile platforms offer a promising method for real-time, personalized epilepsy care and evaluation of digital health interventions like HOBSCOTCH.”

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REFERENCES
1. Ross-Shannon R, Camp E, MacKenzie T, et al. Utilizing a Mobile App for High-resolution Monitoring of Self-Reported Outcomes in Individuals with Epilepsy Participating in the HOBSCOTCH-3 Trial. Presented at: AES 2025; December 5-9; Atlanta, Georgia. Abstract 2.074.