Remote Monitoring Intervention Research Articles

Effectiveness of Telemedicine and Remote Monitoring in Reducing Postpartum Hemorrhage Rates: A Meta-Analysis

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with limited access to healthcare. Telemedicine and remote monitoring technologies offer potential solutions for early detection and management of PPH. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of these technologies in reducing PPH rates. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science was conducted for studies published between 2013 and 2024 investigating the impact of telemedicine and remote monitoring interventions on PPH rates. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies with a control group were included. The primary outcome was the incidence of PPH (blood loss ≥500 ml after vaginal delivery or ≥1000 ml after cesarean delivery). Pooled risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plot asymmetry and Egger's test. Six studies involving 4200 women met the inclusion criteria. The pooled analysis demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in PPH rates in the intervention groups compared to the control groups (RR 0.56; 95% CI 0.47-0.67; p<0.00001). The funnel plot was symmetrical, and Egger's test was not statistically significant (p=0.45), suggesting no evidence of publication bias. Telemedicine and remote monitoring interventions are associated with a significant reduction in PPH rates. These findings support the integration of these technologies into postpartum care to improve maternal outcomes, particularly in resource-constrained settings.

Heart failure remote monitoring: novel approaches and management strategies

Background. Globally, heart failure is a leading health problem, with an estimated 64 million cases worldwide, including 6.7 million in the U.S., according to estimates. The U.S. economic burden is expected to see a steep rise by the year 2030. Heart failure is a cause of 8.5% of heart disease-related deaths and a central cardiovascular killer. Emergency hospitalization rates and readmission rates are high. Methods: A systematic methodology was followed to generate authentic and reliable data on remote monitoring in the setting of heart failure patients. The inclusion criteria comprise articles describing remote monitoring interventions published in peer-reviewed journals and carried out in human subjects in English. Critical analysis applies quality assessment tools to assess methodological soundness, possible bias, and relevance to the research objective. Results: This review discusses wearable devices, e.g., Zoll HFMS ReDS, and Audicor, each effectively monitoring cardiac parameters and reducing H.F. hospitalizations. Implantable cardiac monitors such as LUX-Dx and CardioMEMS H.F. RM has potential to give real-time data for timely intervention and tailored therapies. The integration of machine learning algorithms in devices, for example, VitalPatch and the SimpleSense has led to increased use of these devices to make precise and efficient health care predictions, leading to improved patient outcomes. Conclusion: From all the research, remote monitoring devices and strategies are recommendable for patients with various cardiac complications. It can improve heart function, however, R.M. has not been seen to reduce the overall mortality rate among heart patients.

Remote monitoring of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a low disease activity state: a mixed methods evaluation across six hospitals in London, UK.

This study evaluated the scale-up of a remote monitoring service, capturing monthly Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease scores and patient-generated text messages, for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA; in remission or with low disease activity) attending routine outpatient clinics across six hospitals. We explored patients and staff experiences and implementation outcomes. A pragmatic, mixed methods approach was used, with active patient involvement throughout. We undertook a rapid review, analysed service-level data, and conducted a patient survey and patient and staff interviews, informed by the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behaviour (COM-B) and Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) theoretical frameworks. The review included 37 articles, covering themes of patient and clinician acceptability, engagement, feasibility and clinical impact. Service-level data (n = 202) showed high levels of patient engagement with the service. The patient survey (n = 155) showed patients felt the service was easy to use, had confidence in it and felt it improved access to care. Patient interview (n = 22) findings mirrored those of the survey. Motivating factors included increased responsiveness and ease of contact with clinical teams. Views from staff interviews (n = 16) were more mixed. Some implementation barriers were specific to roll-out sites. Prioritization of staff needs was emphasized. Patients were positive about the service and engagement was high. Staff views and engagement were more mixed. Results suggest that equal levels of patient and staff engagement are required for sustainability. These findings further our understanding of the implementation challenges to scaling remote monitoring interventions for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in routine care settings.

Remote monitoring after hospital discharge.

561 Background: Strategies to improve transitions from the hospital to home for patients with cancer are considered an important component of quality, patient-centered care in oncology. CMS evaluates cancer hospital performance based on the 30-day unplanned hospital readmission rate, and this measure has been endorsed by the National Quality Forum. Nationally, the 30-day readmission rate for oncology patients ranges from 19%-27%. These readmissions come at high psychosocial, physical, and financial costs for patients and caregivers. A remote monitoring intervention that includes frequent contacts with the patient is likely to be effective in improving this transition. Methods: We evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and perceived value of a mobile health intervention to monitor and manage symptoms of adult medical oncology patients discharged from an NCI-designated cancer center to home. Patients were monitored for 10 days, which is the median time to readmission for an oncology patient. The technology supporting the program included: 1) a patient portal enabling daily electronic patient-reported outcomes assessments; 2) alerts for concerning symptoms; 3) an application to allow staff to review and trend symptom data; 4) a secure platform to support communications and televisits between staff and patients; 5) an advanced feedback report to provide just-in-time patient symptom education. Feasibility and acceptability were evaluated through engagement (goal: >50% response rate) and symptom alerts and perceived value was measured through a patient engagement survey that included a net promoter score (how likely the patient is to recommend the program to similar patients; goal >0.70). Results: Between January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022, the program enrolled 2,258 medical oncology patients (median age: 63 years, 55% female). Patients with gastrointestinal (25%) and thoracic (19%) malignancies were the most prevalent diagnoses. Of those enrolled, 66% of patients participated in home remote monitoring by self-reporting symptom data and 49% of patients generated a severe symptom alert. The most prevalent severe symptom alerts were pain (24%), constipation (7%), and fatigue (7%). Patients expressed a great deal of satisfaction with the intervention with a net promoter score of 0.86. In preliminary analysis, we found that 30-day readmission decreased by 3% (from 33% to 30%) representing savings of $2.3 - $5.8 MM annually. Conclusions: A remote monitoring program after discharge was feasible, acceptable, and perceived to be of value by oncology patients discharged from a cancer center. Future work will evaluate the value of a remote symptom monitoring platform in decreasing readmissions.

Remote patient monitoring for high-risk oncology patients: A feasibility implementation study.

410 Background: Electronic patient-reported symptom assessment surveys are used in remote monitoring interventions to connect care between the patient and clinical care providers through technology with mobile devices and patient portals. Patient responses to the assessments generate alerts sent to the clinicians who proactively manage the patient’s symptoms at home. This study’s purpose was to determine the feasibility of implementing a remote patient monitoring program in a community-based hospital and cancer institute. Methods: We explored the clinical care models used to assess and manage patient symptoms and the perceptions of hospital stakeholders about the barriers and facilitators of integrating the program into hospital clinical systems. This mixed method study disseminated the Readiness for Implementation survey to hospital stakeholders in September 2022 to obtain estimations of the proportion of positive agreement to hospital culture, learning, leadership, and resources for integrating a remote patient monitoring intervention. The qualitative aspect of the study used purposeful sampling to recruit 52 participants from the surveyed sample and additional administrators, clinical providers, staff nurses, and patients to focus groups. Items from the study’s survey that had the greatest proportion of disagreement were identified as the topics for the interview guide and included: 1) participant perceptions of implementing change 2) the change climate, 3) available resources, and 4) barriers and facilitators of remote patient monitoring for oncology patients. Results: All study results will be presented. Survey results from 53 of 63 hospital stakeholders [84% response rate] validated hospital readiness for implementing remote patient monitoring. Feedback from 8 interviews and 5 focus groups [8 administrators, 5 technology specialists, 14 nurse leaders and staff nurses, 13 oncologists, 5 radiation oncology staff, and 7 patients] averaging 6-20 participants per group, were conducted in January 2023. The transcripts were recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis using Thematic Analysis and found data saturation in 14 interview sessions. Transcripts were independently coded and sorted into thematic categories. Global themes were summarized across domains and consensus among the study team identified three major themes: Integrating change into hospital systems, Relevance to patient care teams, and Patient and Family Centered Care. Each theme contained several subthemes that were similarly explored. Conclusions: A remote patient monitoring intervention was perceived to be feasible and of value by surveyed hospital stakeholders. Participants reported their insight for integrating change and operationalizing hospital systems to improve a patient’s experience and access to care. Future work will evaluate the investment in technology enhancements and staffing resources.

A Multisite Electronic Health Record Integrated Remote Monitoring Intervention for Hypertension Improvement: Protocol for a Randomized Pragmatic Comparative Effectiveness Trial.

Hypertension is a major contributor to various adverse health outcomes. Although previous studies have shown the benefits of home blood pressure (BP) monitoring over office-based measurements, there is limited evidence comparing the effectiveness of whether a BP monitor integrated into the electronic health record is superior to a nonintegrated BP monitor. In this paper, we describe the protocol for a pragmatic multisite implementation of a quality improvement initiative directly comparing integrated to nonintegrated BP monitors for hypertension improvement. We will conduct a randomized, comparative effectiveness trial at 3 large academic health centers across California. The 3 sites will enroll a total of 660 participants (approximately n=220 per site), with 330 in the integrated BP monitor arm and 330 in the nonintegrated BP control arm. The primary outcome of this study will be the absolute difference in systolic BP in mm Hg from enrollment to 6 months. Secondary outcome measures include binary measures of hypertension (controlled vs uncontrolled), hypertension-related health complications, hospitalizations, and death. The list of possible participants will be generated from a central data warehouse. Randomization will occur after enrollment in the study. Participants will use their assigned BP monitor and join site-specific hypertension interventions. Cross-site learning will occur at regular all-site meetings facilitated by the University of California, Los Angeles Value-Based Care Research Consortium. A pre- and poststudy questionnaire will be conducted to further evaluate participants' perspectives regarding their BP monitor. Linear mixed effects models will be used to compare the primary outcome measure between study arms. Mixed effects logistic regression models will be used to compare secondary outcome measures between study arms. The study will start enrolling participants in the second quarter of 2023 and will be completed by the first half of 2024. Results will be published by the end of 2024. This pragmatic trial will contribute to the growing field of chronic care management using remote monitoring by answering whether a hypertension intervention coupled with an electronic health record integrated home BP monitor improves patients' hypertension better than a hypertension intervention with a nonintegrated BP monitor. The outcomes of this study may help health system decision makers determine whether to invest in integrated BP monitors for vulnerable patient populations. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05390502; clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05390502. PRR1-10.2196/45915.

Qualitative analysis of a remote monitoring intervention for managing heart failure

BackgroundHeart failure (HF) is one of the most common reasons for hospital admission and is a major cause of morbidity, mortality, and increasing health care costs. The EMPOWER study was a randomized trial that used remote monitoring technology to track patients’ weight and diuretic adherence and a state-of-the-art approach derived from behavioral economics to motivate adherence to the reverse monitoring technology.ObjectiveThe goal was to explore patient and clinician perceptions of the program and its impact on perceived health outcomes and better understand why some patients or clinicians did better or worse than others in response to the intervention.ApproachThis was a retrospective qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews with 43 patients and 16 clinicians to understand the trial’s processes, reflecting on successes and areas for improvement for future iterations of behavioral economic interventions.Key resultsMany patients felt supported, and they appreciated the intervention. Many also appreciated the lottery intervention, and while it was not an incentive for enrolling for many respondents, it may have increased adherence during the study. Clinicians felt that the intervention integrated well into their workflow, but the number of alerts was burdensome. Additionally, responses to alerts varied considerably by provider, perhaps because there are no professional guidelines for alerts unaccompanied by severe symptoms.ConclusionOur qualitative analysis indicates potential areas for additional exploration and consideration to design better behavioral economic interventions to improve cardiovascular health outcomes for patients with HF. Patients appreciated lottery incentives for adhering to program requirements; however, many were too far along in their disease progression to benefit from the intervention. Clinicians found the amount and frequency of electronic alerts burdensome and felt they did not improve patient outcomes.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02708654.

Telemedicine in Patients Affected by Chronic Liver Disease: A Scoping Review of Clinical Outcomes and the Devices Evaluated.

For patients with chronic liver disease (CLD), telemedicine is emerging as a useful tool to prevent liver decompensation or hospitalization, allowing access to and the decentralization of care, even for patients with limited resources. However, research and attendant evidence are still lacking; thus, this review aims to systematically explore the topic of telemonitoring for CLD to describe the currently used tools and clinical outcomes. The review was conducted by using key terms on PubMed/EMBASE and searching for observational studies or clinical trials (according to PRISMA recommendations) that were published between 6 April 2013 and 6 April 2023 to keep the technological framework limited to the last 10 years. The studies were described and grouped according to the aim of telemonitoring, the underlying disease, and the tools adopted to achieve remote monitoring. A total of 32 articles met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 11 articles report the successful use of a telehealth program to support and improve access to care in the management of HCV-related cirrhosis, eight articles examine the efficacy of telemedicine for remote monitoring interventions to prevent or decrease the risk of decompensation in high-risk patients, and five articles examine improvements in the physical performance and quality of life of cirrhotic patients through telehealth rehabilitation programs. Four studies were completed during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Telehealth has the potential to provide and expand treatment access and reduce barriers to care for the most disadvantaged patients and might be able to reduce the need for hospital readmission for CLD, though most practice to test feasibility is still in the pilot stage.

Remote monitoring titration clinic to implement guideline-directed therapy for heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction: a pilot quality-improvement intervention.

Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) is the recommended treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, the implementation remains limited, with suboptimal use and dosing. The study aimed to assess the feasibility and effect of a remote monitoring titration program on GDMT implementation. HFrEF patients were randomly assigned to receive either usual care or a quality-improvement remote titration with remote monitoring intervention. The intervention group used wireless devices to transmit heart rate, blood pressure, and weight data daily, which were reviewed by physicians and nurses every 2-4 weeks. Medication tolerance was assessed via phone, and dosage instructions were given. This workflow was repeated until target doses were reached or further adjustments were not tolerated. A 4-GDMT score measured use and target dosage, with the primary endpoint being the score at 6 months follow-up. Baseline characteristics were similar (n = 55). A median of 85% of patients complied with transmitting device data every week. At the 6-month follow-up, the intervention group had a 4-GDMT score of 64.6% compared to 56.5% in the usual care group (p = 0.01), with a difference of 8.1% (95% CI: 1.7%-14.5%). Similar results were seen at the 12-month follow-up [difference 12.8% (CI: 5.0%-20.6%)]. The intervention group showed a positive trend in ejection fraction and natriuretic peptides, with no significant difference between groups. The study suggests that a full-scale trial is feasible and that utilizing a remote titration clinic with remote monitoring has the potential to enhance the implementation of guideline-directed therapy for HFrEF.

P040 The clinical impact of electronic patient-reported outcome measures in remotely monitoring inflammatory arthritis: a systematic review

Abstract Background/Aims The inflammatory arthritides make up a majority of conditions requiring follow-up in rheumatology clinics; a treat-to-target management approach is advocated in patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA), requiring regular monitoring. With rising patient numbers and increasing demand on clinics, integration of digital healthcare has been advocated as a means to improving this, potentially allowing for fewer outpatient visits. The objective of this review is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) as a digital remote monitoring intervention on disease activity and treatment decisions in patients with inflammatory arthritis. Methods Five databases including MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched from inception to 29 August 2022. Randomised controlled trials (RCT) and (non-randomised) controlled clinical trials considering remote monitoring with ePROMS in IA samples that assessed disease activity scores, disease flare, treatment escalation and healthcare use were included, with meta-analysis and forest plots conducted for each outcome. Data regarding between-group differences in outcomes were extracted and a risk of bias assessment was completed by two assessors on all included studies using Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB)-2 tool for RCTs and Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies - of Interventions (ROBINS-I) for non-randomised cohorts. Results The literature search identified 4230 abstracts, of which 8 relevant studies were included in the analysis after de-duplication and screening. Seven studies assessed patients with rheumatoid arthritis and one involved patients with axial spondyloarthritis. Most included studies were at high risk of bias. Compared with control, the disease activity in the ePROM group was lower (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.15; 95% CI -0.27 to -0.03). A second analysis using a stricter definition of ePROM use limiting to studies without other combined interventions (eg. disease education) showed the same direction of effect but was not significant (SMD -0.13; 95% CI -0.31 to 0.04). There were no significant differences between groups in terms of disease flare (OR 2.32; 95% CI 0.21 to 25.28), escalation of immunosuppression (OR 1.12; 95% CI 0.70 to 1.80) or face-to-face clinic visits (OR -0.93; 95% CI -2.14 to 0.28). Conclusion This review suggests there is an advantage in using ePROMs to remotely monitor patients with IA in terms of disease outcomes. Importantly there was no detrimental impact in terms of clinic attendance frequency with ePROMs. There are limitations including heterogeneity in study design and substantial risk of bias in the studies included. ePROMs are likely here to stay, but we need better quality data to fully understand their role in clinical practice. Disclosure N. Arumalla: None. M. Adas: None. C.K.D. Chan: None. M. Gibson: None. Y.L. Man: None. S. Norton: None. J. Galloway: Honoraria; from AbbVie, Celgene, Chugai, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Roche and UCB. T. Garrood: None.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Remote Monitoring to Establish a Community Health Intervention During COVID-19: A Community Intervention Trial.

Background: The widespread use of telemedicine systems and medical information networks has made telemedicine one of the current trends in health care. The purpose of this article is to propose a community health intervention with remote monitoring and teleconsultation during COVID-19 for the prevention and control of COVID-19 at the rural level. Methods: In this intervention study, a randomized group of 1,500 community residents was selected. A questionnaire with acceptable validity and reliability was used to collect data. The study was conducted with the test group itself as a control, and the questionnaire was completed again 6 months after the health intervention through remote monitoring. The extent of the effect of the remote monitoring intervention on community health during COVID-19 was measured. The data were entered into SPSS 26, and the data were analyzed using the K-S normality test, t-test, and chi-square test. Results: After 6 months of the intervention, the differences in mean scores of the test group were statistically significant (p < 0.05) in cognition, perceived benefits, self-efficacy, and behavioral outcomes, with a substantial increase in mean scores for all variables. Conclusions: The application of remote monitoring during COVID-19 in rural communities can influence the health perception, benefit perception, self-efficacy, and behavior of community residents, thus effectively preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19 in rural communities. It reduces medical barriers for rural areas while meeting.

Remote symptom monitoring after hospital discharge.

1517 Background: Strategies to improve transitions from the hospital to home for patients with cancer are considered an important component of quality, patient-centered care in oncology. CMS evaluates cancer hospital performance based on the 30-day unplanned hospital readmission rate, and this measure has been endorsed by the National Quality Forum. Nationally, the 30-day readmission rate for oncology patients ranges from 19%-27%. These readmissions come at high psychosocial, physical, and financial costs for patients and caregivers. A remote monitoring intervention that includes frequent contacts with the patient is likely to be effective in improving this transition. Methods: We evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and perceived value of a mobile health intervention to monitor and manage symptoms of adult medical and surgical oncology patients discharged from an NCI-designated cancer center to home. Patients were monitored for 10 days, which is the median time to readmission for an oncology patient. The technology supporting the program included: 1) a patient portal enabling daily electronic patient-reported outcomes assessments; 2) a pulse oximeter to provide data on blood oxygen level and heart rate; 3) alerts for concerning symptoms; 4) an application to allow staff to review and trend symptom data; 5) a secure platform to support communications and televisits between staff and patients; 6) an advanced feedback report to provide just-in-time patient symptom education. Feasibility and acceptability were evaluated through engagement (goal: &gt; 50% response rate) and symptom alerts and perceived value was measured through a patient engagement survey that included a net promoter score (how likely the patient is to recommend the program to similar patients; goal &gt; 0.7). Results: Between September 27, 2020 to December 31, 2021, the program enrolled 1,091 medical oncology (median age: 63 years, 55% female) and 4,222 surgical oncology patients (median age: 63 years,55% female). Of those enrolled, 65% of medical and 74% of surgical oncology patients participated in home remote monitoring by self-reporting symptom data. This resulted in 2,869 completed symptom assessment from medical and 16,009 completed assessments from surgical patients. Sixty-three percent of medical oncology assessments resulted in a yellow (moderate) or red (severe) symptom alert compared with 26% for surgical oncology patients. Pain was the predominant symptom generating red alerts for medical oncology patients (17%). Fifty-two percent of patients completed the engagement survey, and the net promoter score was 0.82. Conclusions: A remote monitoring program after discharge was feasible, acceptable, and perceived to be of value by oncology patients discharged from a cancer center. Surgical and medical patients have similar response rates but differ in symptom burden. Future work will evaluate the value of a remote symptom monitoring platform in decreasing readmissions.

The Box—eHealth in the Outpatient Clinic Follow-up of Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: Cost-Utility Analysis

BackgroundSmartphone compatible wearables have been released on the consumers market, enabling remote monitoring. Remote monitoring is often named as a tool to reduce the cost of care.ObjectiveThe primary purpose of this paper is to describe a cost-utility analysis of an eHealth intervention compared to regular follow-up in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).MethodsIn this trial, of which clinical results have been published previously, patients with an AMI were randomized in a 1:1 fashion between an eHealth intervention and regular follow-up. The remote monitoring intervention consisted of a blood pressure monitor, weight scale, electrocardiogram device, and step counter. Furthermore, two in-office outpatient clinic visits were replaced by e-visits. The control group received regular care. The differences in mean costs and quality of life per patient between both groups during one-year follow-up were calculated.ResultsMean costs per patient were €2417±2043 (US $2657±2246) for the intervention and €2888±2961 (US $3175±3255) for the control group. This yielded a cost reduction of €471 (US $518) per patient. This difference was not statistically significant (95% CI –€275 to €1217; P=.22, US $–302 to $1338). The average quality-adjusted life years in the first year of follow-up was 0.74 for the intervention group and 0.69 for the control (difference –0.05, 95% CI –0.09 to –0.01; P=.01).ConclusionseHealth in the outpatient clinic setting for patients who suffered from AMI is likely to be cost-effective compared to regular follow-up. Further research should be done to corroborate these findings in other patient populations and different care settings.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02976376; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02976376International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.2196/resprot.8038

The Use of Mobile Apps for Heart Failure Self-management: Systematic Review of Experimental and Qualitative Studies.

BackgroundHeart failure self-management is essential to avoid decompensation and readmissions. Mobile apps seem promising in supporting heart failure self-management, and there has been a rapid growth in publications in this area. However, to date, systematic reviews have mostly focused on remote monitoring interventions using nonapp types of mobile technologies to transmit data to health care providers, rarely focusing on supporting patient self-management of heart failure.ObjectiveThis study aims to systematically review the evidence on the effect of heart failure self-management apps on health outcomes, patient-reported outcomes, and patient experience.MethodsFour databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO) were searched for studies examining interventions that comprised a mobile app targeting heart failure self-management and reported any health-related outcomes or patient-reported outcomes or perspectives published from 2008 to December 2021. The studies were independently screened. The risk of bias was appraised using Cochrane tools. We performed a narrative synthesis of the results. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews; CRD42020158041).ResultsA total of 28 articles (randomized controlled trials [RCTs]: n=10, 36%), assessing 23 apps, and a total of 1397 participants were included. The most common app features were weight monitoring (19/23, 83%), symptom monitoring (18/23, 78%), and vital sign monitoring (15/23, 65%). Only 26% (6/23) of the apps provided all guideline-defined core components of heart failure self-management programs: education, symptom monitoring, medication support, and physical activity support. RCTs were small, involving altogether 717 participants, had ≤6 months of follow-up, and outcomes were predominantly self-reported. Approximately 20% (2/10) of RCTs reported a significant improvement in their primary outcomes: heart failure knowledge (P=.002) and self-care (P=.004). One of the RCTs found a significant reduction in readmissions (P=.02), and 20% (2/10) of RCTs reported higher unplanned clinic visits. Other experimental studies also found significant improvements in knowledge, self-care, and readmissions, among others. Less than half of the studies involved patients and clinicians in the design of apps. Engagement with the intervention was poorly reported, with only 11% (3/28) of studies quantifying app engagement metrics such as frequency of use over the study duration. The most desirable app features were automated self-monitoring and feedback, personalization, communication with clinicians, and data sharing and integration.ConclusionsMobile apps may improve heart failure self-management; however, more robust evaluation studies are needed to analyze key end points for heart failure. On the basis of the results of this review, we provide a road map for future studies in this area.

Association between behavioral phenotypes and sustained use of smartphones and wearable devices to remotely monitor physical activity

Smartphones and wearable devices can be used to remotely monitor health behaviors, but little is known about how individual characteristics influence sustained use of these devices. Leveraging data on baseline activity levels and demographic, behavioral, and psychosocial traits, we used latent class analysis to identify behavioral phenotypes among participants randomized to track physical activity using a smartphone or wearable device for 6 months following hospital discharge. Four phenotypes were identified: (1) more agreeable and conscientious; (2) more active, social, and motivated; (3) more risk-taking and less supported; and (4) less active, social, and risk-taking. We found that duration and consistency of device use differed by phenotype for wearables, but not smartphones. Additionally, “at-risk” phenotypes 3 and 4 were more likely to discontinue use of a wearable device than a smartphone, while activity monitoring in phenotypes 1 and 2 did not differ by device type. These findings could help to better target remote-monitoring interventions for hospitalized patients.

Telehealth interventions: remote monitoring and consultations for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Telehealth interventions: remote monitoring and consultations for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Toward an asthma patient-reported outcome measure for use in digital remote monitoring

Objective To develop and test a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for suitability in digital remote asthma symptom monitoring to identify uncontrolled asthma. Methods We modified a 5-item PROM that does not require a license, the asthma control measure (ACM), from a one-month to one-week lookback period, and evaluated it using the 5-item asthma control questionnaire (ACQ-5). We recruited subjects with asthma through MTurk, an online platform. Results In a sample of 498 subjects, the ACM identified uncontrolled asthma with sensitivity 0.99 and specificity 0.65. The two measures correlated with r = 0.81. Conclusion The ACM modified to a weekly lookback period can differentiate patients with well-controlled asthma from those with uncontrolled asthma. This PROM does not require a license and can be used in digital remote monitoring interventions.

Participation Rates With Opt-out Enrollment in a Remote Monitoring Intervention for Patients With Myocardial Infarction.

Many research studies are limited by low participation rates, threatening the generalizability of findings because participants likely differ greatly from non-participants.1 Low participation rates could be a function of the opt-in approach to enrollment in which the default is to not participate. Behavioral economics research has shown that an opt-out approach can increase participation in retirement savings and organ donation while maintaining informed choice.2,3 We evaluated whether an opt-out approach will increase participation in a remote monitoring intervention among heart attack patients.

Overcoming Clinical Inertia: A Randomized Clinical Trial of a Telehealth Remote Monitoring Intervention Using Paired Glucose Testing in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes.

BackgroundType 2 diabetes mellitus is a worldwide challenge. Practice guidelines promote structured self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) for informing health care providers about glycemic control and providing patient feedback to increase knowledge, self-efficacy, and behavior change. Paired glucose testing—pairs of glucose results obtained before and after a meal or physical activity—is a method of structured SMBG. However, frequent access to glucose data to interpret values and recommend actions is challenging. A complete feedback loop—data collection and interpretation combined with feedback to modify treatment—has been associated with improved outcomes, yet there remains limited integration of SMBG feedback in diabetes management. Incorporating telehealth remote monitoring and asynchronous electronic health record (EHR) feedback from certified diabetes educators (CDEs)—specialists in glucose pattern management—employ the complete feedback loop to improve outcomes.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate a telehealth remote monitoring intervention using paired glucose testing and asynchronous data analysis in adults with type 2 diabetes. The primary aim was change in glycated hemoglobin (A1c)—a measure of overall glucose management—between groups after 6 months. The secondary aims were change in self-reported Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA), Diabetes Empowerment Scale, and Diabetes Knowledge Test.MethodsA 2-group randomized clinical trial was conducted comparing usual care to telehealth remote monitoring with paired glucose testing and asynchronous virtual visits. Participants were aged 30-70 years, not using insulin with A1c levels between 7.5% and 10.9% (58-96 mmol/mol). The telehealth remote monitoring tablet computer transmitted glucose data and facilitated a complete feedback loop to educate participants, analyze actionable glucose data, and provide feedback. Data from paired glucose testing were analyzed asynchronously using computer-assisted pattern analysis and were shared with patients via the EHR weekly. CDEs called participants monthly to discuss paired glucose testing trends and treatment changes. Separate mixed-effects models were used to analyze data.ResultsParticipants (N=90) were primarily white (64%, 56/87), mean age 58 (SD 11) years, mean body mass index 34.1 (SD 6.7) kg/m2, with diabetes for mean 8.2 (SD 5.4) years, and a mean A1c of 8.3% (SD 1.1; 67 mmol/mol). Both groups lowered A1c with an estimated average decrease of 0.70 percentage points in usual care group and 1.11 percentage points in the treatment group with a significant difference of 0.41 percentage points at 6 months (SE 0.08, t159=–2.87, P=.005). Change in medication (SE 0.21, t157=–3.37, P=.009) was significantly associated with lower A1c level. The treatment group significantly improved on the SDSCA subscales carbohydrate spacing (P=.04), monitoring glucose (P=.001), and foot care (P=.02).ConclusionsAn eHealth model incorporating a complete feedback loop with telehealth remote monitoring and paired glucose testing with asynchronous data analysis significantly improved A1c levels compared to usual care.Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT01715649; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01715649 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6ZinLl8D0).

Home telemonitoring or structured telephone support programmes after recent discharge in patients with heart failure: systematic review and economic evaluation

Remote monitoring (RM) strategies have the potential to deliver specialised care and management to patients with heart failure (HF). To determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of home telemonitoring (TM) or structured telephone support (STS) strategies compared with usual care for adult patients who have been recently discharged (within 28 days) from acute care after a recent exacerbation of HF. Fourteen electronic databases (including MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and The Cochrane Library) and research registers were searched to January 2012, supplemented by hand-searching relevant articles and contact with experts. The review included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or observational cohort studies with a contemporaneous control group that included the following RM interventions: (1) TM (including cardiovascular implanted monitoring devices) with medical support provided during office hours or 24/7; (2) STS programmes delivered by human-to-human contact (HH) or human-to-machine interface (HM). A systematic review and network meta-analysis (where appropriate) of the clinical evidence was carried out using standard methods. A Markov model was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different RM packages compared with usual care for recently discharged HF patients. TM 24/7 or using cardiovascular monitoring devices was not considered in the economic model because of the lack of data and/or unsuitability for the UK setting. Given the heterogeneity in the components of usual care and RM interventions, the cost-effectiveness analysis was performed using a set of costing scenarios designed to reflect the different configurations of usual care and RM in the UK. The literature searches identified 3060 citations. Six RCTs met the inclusion criteria and were added to the 15 trials identified from the previous systematic reviews giving a total of 21 RCTs included in the systematic review. No trials of cardiovascular implanted monitoring devices or observational studies met the inclusion criteria. The methodological quality of the studies varied widely and reporting was generally poor. Compared with usual care, RM was beneficial in reducing all-cause mortality for STS HH [hazard ratio (HR) 0.77, 95% credible interval (CrI) 0.55 to 1.08], TM during office hours (HR 0.76, 95% CrI 0.49 to 1.18) and TM 24/7 (HR 0.49, 95% CrI 0.20 to 1.18); however, these results were statistically inconclusive. The results for TM 24/7 should be treated with caution because of the poor methodological quality of the only included study in this network. No favourable effect on mortality was observed with STS HM. Similar reductions were observed in all-cause hospitalisations for TM interventions, whereas STS interventions had no major effect. A sensitivity analysis, in which a study was excluded because it provided better-than-usual support to the control group, showed larger beneficial effects for most outcomes, particularly for TM during office hours. In the cost-effectiveness analyses, TM during office hours was the most cost-effective strategy with an estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of £11,873 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) compared with usual care, whereas STS HH had an ICER of £228,035 per QALY compared with TM during office hours. STS HM was dominated by usual care. Similar results were observed in scenario analyses performed using higher costs of usual care, higher costs of STS HH and lower costs of TM during office hours. The RM interventions included in the review were heterogeneous in terms of monitored parameters and HF selection criteria and lacked detail in the components of the RM care packages and usual care (e.g. communication protocols, routine staff visits and resources used). As a result, the economic model developed scenarios for different RM classifications and their costs were estimated using bottom-up costing methods. Although the users can decide which of these scenarios is most representative of their setting, uncertainties still remain about the assumptions made in the estimation of these costs. In addition, the model assumed that the effectiveness of the interventions was constant over time, irrespective of the duration of deployment, and that the intervention was equally effective in different age/severity groups. Despite wide variation in usual care and RM strategies, cost-effectiveness analyses suggest that TM during office hours was an optimal strategy (in most costing scenarios). However, clarity was lacking among descriptions of the components of RM packages and usual care and there was a lack of robust estimation of costs. Further research is needed in these areas. PROSPERO registration no. CRD42011001368. The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.