Evaluation of home monitoring for patients with interstitial lung disease during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

<b>Introduction:</b> During the COVID-19 pandemic we used an online home monitoring app to ensure continuity of care for patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Here we report on patient experiences with home monitoring in daily care. <b>Methods:</b> Patients with ILD across the Netherlands were given the option to use the home monitoring app ILD-online in daily care. ILD-online includes home spirometry, patient-reported outcomes, eContacts and videocontacts. We distributed a 15-item online survey to evaluate patient experiences. Outcomes were scored on visual analogue scales from 0-10. <b>Results:</b> 257 patients used ILD-online; 116 completed the survey (78% male, mean age 72). The majority of patients thought home monitoring was useful to get insights in their disease course (90%). More than half of patients (55%) felt safer during the pandemic and 45% visited the hospital less often due to home monitoring. Home spirometry was considered easy to perform (mean score 7.2, SD 2.2) and not burdensome (mean 2.6, SD 3.0). Patients stated that it was pleasant to see their own spirometry results (mean 8.6, SD 1.4). Overall satisfaction with the home monitoring app was high (mean 8.1, SD 1.3) and patients considered the app easy to use (mean 8.1, SD 1.5). 76% of patients would recommend home monitoring to others and 98% would want to continue using the app. <b>Conclusion:</b> The use of home monitoring with spirometry for ILD care is highly appreciated by patients and is not considered burdensome. In about half of patients, hospital visits were replaced by home monitoring. Home monitoring could enable frequent monitoring at a distance and replace face-to-face visits during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.