151. Providing 'the bigger picture': benefits and feasibility of integrating remote monitoring from smartphones into the electronic health record: Findings from the Remote Monitoring of Rheumatoid Arthritis (REMORA) study
- Author
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Austin, Lynn, Sharp, Charlotte, Van Der Veer, Sabine, Machin, Matthew, Humphreys, John, Mellor, Peter, Mccarthy, Jillian, Ainsworth, John, Sanders, Caroline, and Dixon, William
- Subjects
Rheumatology ,Data Collection ,Electronic Health Records ,Feasibility Studies ,Humans ,Smartphone ,Focus Groups ,Mobile Applications - Abstract
ObjectivesTo establish the acceptability and feasibility of collecting daily patient-generated health data (PGHD) using smartphones and integrating PGHD into the electronic health record (EHR), using the example of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MethodsThe Remote Monitoring in RA (REMORA) smartphone app was co-designed with patients, clinicians and researchers using qualitative semi-structured interviews and focus groups, including selection of question sets for symptoms and disease impact. PGHD were integrated into the EHR of one hospital and available in graphical form during consultations. Acceptability and feasibility were assessed with 20 RA patients and two clinicians over three months. A qualitative evaluation included semi-structured interviews with patients and clinicians before and after using the app, and audio-recordings of consultations to explore impact on the consultation. PGHD completeness was summarised descriptively, and qualitative data were analysed thematically. ResultsPatients submitted data on a median of 91% days over three months. Qualitative analysis generated three themes: RA as an invisible disease; providing the bigger picture of RA; and enabling person-centred consultations. Themes demonstrated the system helped render patients’ RA more visible by providing the “bigger picture”, identifying real-time changes in disease activity and capturing symptoms that would otherwise have been missed. Graphical summaries during consultations enabled a more person-centred approach whereby patients felt better able to participate in consultations and treatment plans.ConclusionREMORA has uniquely integrated daily PGHD from smartphones into the EHR. It has delivered proof-of-concept that such integrated remote monitoring systems are feasible and can transform consultations for clinician and patient benefit.
- Published
- 2019