Abstract 221: The Impact of Using Mobile-enabled Devices on Patient Engagement in a Blood Pressure Remote Monitoring Program

Abstract

Objectives: Home monitoring of blood pressure has been shown to improve care as opposed to only the traditional office BP monitoring. The blood pressure connect program is a remote blood pressure monitoring program on a secured web-based platform where patients upload their blood pressure readings which are automatically shared with their providers, thereby facilitating timely feedback and intervention, like medications changes. Different data transfer technologies enable the uploading of the blood pressure readings from the blood pressure meters to the secure website: modem connection through a home phone line (iMetrikus) and more recently, wireless blood pressure devices (MedApps). Patients exhibit different engagement patterns with these linking technologies. This study aimed to compare how patients in the program engage using the 2 types of linking technologies, and its potential impact program design and outcomes. Methods: Thirty patients, aged 23-84 years (62 ± 14years), currently enrolled in the blood pressure connect program, who had completed at least 2 months in the program and not participating in any other clinical trial were included in the analysis. Half of these patients used MedApps while the other half used iMetrikus. The patients were matched by practice and age. Indices used to assess how device type affects engagement include number of days to first BP reading (measurement) and upload, total number of measurements and uploads/day. These indices were compared in both groups using the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney two-sample rank-sum test. Results: Measurements/day and uploads/day were significantly higher in the MedApps group vs. iMetrikus group (Median = 0.66 vs. 0.2 measurements/day; p-value= 0.0136 and 0.46 vs. 0.01 uploads/day; p-value = 0.0001 respectively). Number of days to first upload was significantly lower in the MedApps group (median = 4 vs.7days; p-value= 0.017). Number of days to first measurement did not differ between the groups (median= 2 vs. 1day p-value=0.9827). Conclusions: Wireless transmission made possible by the MedApps devices ensures that readings taken are transmitted to the web instantaneously, as seen from the significantly lower time to first upload. As a program design measure, this is extremely critical, as it provides clinicians timely data to intervene on. We hypothesize that the increased feedback resulting from this instantaneous upload leads to better engagement in the program, as demonstrated by the significantly higher number of measurements in the MedApps group. There is now overwhelming evidence that more frequent testing results in better clinical outcomes. The study is extremely significant in demonstrating the impact of mobile enabled wireless technologies on patient engagement and outcomes in remote patient monitoring programs.