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Appl Clin Inform 2019; 10(05): 783-793
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1697597
Research Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

A Clinically Integrated mHealth App and Practice Model for Collecting Patient-Reported Outcomes between Visits for Asthma Patients: Implementation and Feasibility

Robert S. Rudin
1   RAND Corporation, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
Christopher H. Fanta
2   Partners Asthma Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
Nabeel Qureshi
3   RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California, United States
,
Erin Duffy
3   RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California, United States
,
Maria O. Edelen
1   RAND Corporation, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
Anuj K. Dalal
4   Division of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
David W. Bates
5   Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Health Policy and Management, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
› Author Affiliations Funding This work was supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality grant #1R21HS023960.
Further Information

Publication History

03 June 2019

07 August 2019

Publication Date:
16 October 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Objective Mobile health (mHealth) apps may prove to be useful tools for supporting chronic disease management. We assessed the feasibility of implementing a clinically integrated mHealth app and practice model to facilitate between-visit asthma symptom monitoring as per guidelines and with the help of patient-reported outcomes (PRO).

Methods We implemented the intervention at two pulmonary clinics and conducted a mixed-methods analysis of app usage data and semi-structured interview of patients and clinician participants over a 25-week study period.

Results Five physicians, 1 physician's assistant, 1 nurse, and 26 patients participated. Twenty-four patients (92%) were still participating in the intervention at the end of the 25-week study period. On average, each patient participant completed 21 of 25 questionnaires (84% completion rate). Weekly completion rates were higher for participants who were female (88 vs. 73%, p = 0.02) and obtained a bachelor's degree level or higher (94 vs. 74%, p = 0.04). On average, of all questionnaires, including both completed and not completed (25 weekly questionnaires times 26 patient participants), 25% had results severe enough to qualify for a callback from a nurse; however, patients declined this option in roughly half of the cases in which they were offered the option. We identified 6 key themes from an analysis of 21 patients and 5 clinician interviews. From the patient's perspective, these include more awareness of asthma, more connected with provider, and app simplicity. From the clinician's perspective, these include minimal additional work required, facilitating triage, and informing conversations during visits.

Conclusion Implementation of a clinically integrated mHealth app and practice model can achieve high patient retention and adherence to guideline-recommended asthma symptom monitoring, while minimally burdening clinicians. The intervention has the potential for scaling to primary care and reducing utilization of urgent and emergency care.

Keywords

mHealth - patient-reported outcomes - asthma - telehealth - feasibility study

Protection of Human and Animal Subjects

This study was approved by RAND and Partners Healthcare Institutional Review Board.


Supplementary Material

 

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