scholarly journals mHealth Tools for the Self-Management of Patients With Multimorbidity in Primary Care Settings: Pilot Study to Explore User Experience (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anum Irfan Khan ◽  
Ashlinder Gill ◽  
Cheryl Cott ◽  
Parminder Kaur Hans ◽  
Carolyn Steele Gray

BACKGROUND Given the complex and evolving needs of individuals with multimorbidity, the adoption of mHealth tools to support self-management efforts is increasingly being explored, particularly in primary care settings. The electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) tool was codeveloped with patients and providers in an interdisciplinary primary care team in Toronto, Canada, to help facilitate self-management in community-dwelling adults with multiple chronic conditions. OBJECTIVE The objective of study is to explore the experience and expectations of patients with multimorbidity and their providers around the use of the ePRO tool in supporting self-management efforts. METHODS We conducted a 4-week pilot study of the ePRO tool. Patients’ and providers’ experiences and expectations were explored through focus groups that were conducted at the end of the study. In addition, thematic analyses were used to assess the shared and contrasting perspectives of patients and providers on the role of the ePRO tool in facilitating self-management. Coded data were then mapped onto the Individual and Family Self-Management Theory using the framework method. RESULTS In this pilot study, 12 patients and 6 providers participated. Both patients and providers emphasized the need for a more explicit recognition of self-management context, including greater customizability of content to better adapt to the complexity and fluidity of self-management in this particular patient population. Patients and providers highlighted gaps in the extent to which the tool enables self-management processes, including how limited progress toward self-management goals and the absence of direct provider engagement through the ePRO tool inhibited patients from meeting their self-management goals. Providers highlighted proximal outcomes based on their experience of the tool and specifically, they indicated that the tool offered valuable insights into the broader patient context, which helps to inform the self-management approach and activities they recommend to patients, whereas patients recognized the tool’s potential in helping to improve access to different providers in a team-based primary care setting. CONCLUSIONS This study identifies a more explicit recognition of the contextual factors that influence patients’ ability to self-manage and greater adaptability to accommodate patient complexity and provider workflow as next steps in refining the ePRO tool to better support self-management efforts in primary care ahead of its application in a full-scale randomized pragmatic trial.

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. e171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anum Irfan Khan ◽  
Ashlinder Gill ◽  
Cheryl Cott ◽  
Parminder Kaur Hans ◽  
Carolyn Steele Gray

Author(s):  
Noah A. Schuster ◽  
Sascha de Breij ◽  
Laura A. Schaap ◽  
Natasja M. van Schoor ◽  
Mike J. L. Peters ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Delay of routine medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic may have serious consequences for the health and functioning of older adults. The aim of this study was to investigate whether older adults reported cancellation or avoidance of medical care during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore associations with health and socio-demographic characteristics. Methods Cross-sectional data of 880 older adults aged ≥ 62 years (mean age 73.4 years, 50.3% female) were used from the COVID-19 questionnaire of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, a cohort study among community-dwelling older adults in the Netherlands. Cancellation and avoidance of care were assessed by self-report, and covered questions on cancellation of primary care (general practitioner), cancellation of hospital outpatient care, and postponed help-seeking. Respondent characteristics included age, sex, educational level, loneliness, depression, anxiety, frailty, multimorbidity and information on quarantine. Results 35% of the sample reported cancellations due to the COVID-19 situation, either initiated by the respondent (12%) or by healthcare professionals (29%). Postponed help-seeking was reported by 8% of the sample. Multimorbidity was associated with healthcare-initiated cancellations (primary care OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.09–3.50; hospital OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.28–2.74) and respondent-initiated hospital outpatient cancellations (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.04–4.12). Depressive symptoms were associated with postponed help-seeking (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.06–1.24). Conclusion About one third of the study sample reported cancellation or avoidance of medical care during the first months of the pandemic, and this was more common among those with multiple chronic conditions. How this impacts outcomes in the long term should be investigated in future research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i12-i42
Author(s):  
C Yang ◽  
Z Hui ◽  
S Zhu ◽  
X Wang ◽  
G Tang ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Medication self-management support has been recognised as an essential element in primary health care to promote medication adherence and health outcomes for older people with chronic conditions. A patient-centred intervention empowering patients and supporting medication self-management activities could benefit older people. This pilot study tested a newly developed medication self-management intervention for improving medication adherence among older people with multimorbidity. Method This was a two-arm randomised controlled trial. Older people with multimorbidity were recruited from a community healthcare centre in Changsha, China. Participants were randomly allocated to either a control group receiving usual care (n = 14), or to an intervention group receiving three face-to-face medication self-management sessions and two follow-up phone calls over six weeks, targeting behavioural determinants of adherence from the Information-Motivation-Behavioural skills model (n = 14). Feasibility was assessed through recruitment and retention rates, outcome measures collection, and intervention implementation. Follow-up data were measured at six weeks after baseline using patient-reported outcomes including medication adherence, medication self-management capabilities, treatment experiences, and quality of life. Preliminary effectiveness of the intervention was explored using generalised estimating equations. Results Of the 72 approached participants, 28 (38.89%) were eligible for study participation. In the intervention group, 13 participants (92.86%) completed follow-up and 10 (71.42%) completed all intervention sessions. Ten participants (71.42%) in the control group completed follow-up. The intervention was found to be acceptable by participants and the intervention nurse. Comparing with the control group, participants in the intervention group showed significant improvements in medication adherence (β = 0.26, 95%CI 0.12, 0.40, P < 0.001), medication knowledge (β = 4.43, 95%CI 1.11, 7.75, P = 0.009), and perceived necessity of medications (β = −2.84, 95%CI -5.67, −0.01, P = 0.049) at follow-up. Conclusions The nurse-led medication self-management intervention is feasible and acceptable among older people with multimorbidity. Preliminary results showed that the intervention may improve patients’ medication knowledge and beliefs and thus lead to improved adherence.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. TPS1587-TPS1587
Author(s):  
Emily R. Mackler ◽  
Karen B. Farris ◽  
Katie S. Gatwood ◽  
Amna Rizvi-Toner ◽  
Alex Wallace ◽  
...  

TPS1587 Background: Non-adherence to oral anticancer agents (OAA) has been reported among 30% of individuals. Often, individuals with cancer are not just managing their new OAA but also medications to treat multiple chronic conditions (MCC). Multiple factors contribute to the extent patients on OAAs and MCC medications adhere to therapy. The objective of this study is to improve medication, symptom, and disease management of patients with hematological malignancies and MCC through care coordination between pharmacists. Methods: Design. This is a multi-center prospective single arm pilot study at two academic medical centers in Michigan and Tennessee. Subjects. Ninety participants will be recruited, 60 from site 1 and 30 from site 2. Inclusion criteria are: adults > 18 years, diagnosed with and initiating oral treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or multiple myeloma, diagnoses of at least 2 chronic conditions, where one is type 2 diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, depression/anxiety, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hyperlipidemia, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, taking at least two chronic medications, and able to provide electronic consent. Exclusion criteria are: inability to speak English, and diagnosis of type 1 diabetes or HIV. Intervention. Participants will complete two Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) for their OAA that will be reviewed by the oncology pharmacist, with follow-up to the care team if needed. Participants will be scheduled for a Comprehensive Medication Review with a primary care pharmacist for up to two visits for their chronic medications. The intervention over 2 months, and the oncology and primary care pharmacists communicate via electronic health record about medications, symptoms, and disease control. Outcomes. The primary endpoints are (a) dose-adjusted adherence by proportion days covered (PDC) for the OAA and (b) PDC for chronic condition medications, assessed using 6 months of prescription claims. Data will be collected from patients using REDCap surveys and abstracted data will be entered into REDCap. Implementation by pharmacists and patient acceptability will be examined. Analysis. The association of OAA and chronic medication adherence (PDC) will be examined via correlation. Participant demographics,clinical characteristics, and the symptom experience from the PROM will be described. Using CMR results, medication problems, recommendations, and changes will be provided. Program implementation will be assessed and patient perceptions obtained from post-CMR interviews. A joint display for the quantitative and qualitative data for feasibility, appropriateness, and acceptability from pharmacists will be completed. Results: Screening and recruitment has begun. Clinical trial information: NCT04595851 and NCT04663100.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. e035087
Author(s):  
Karen Cardwell ◽  
Susan M Smith ◽  
Barbara Clyne ◽  
Laura McCullagh ◽  
Emma Wallace ◽  
...  

ObjectiveLimited evidence suggests integration of pharmacists into the general practice team could improve medicines management for patients, particularly those with multimorbidity and polypharmacy. This study aimed to develop and assess the feasibility of an intervention involving pharmacists, working within general practices, to optimise prescribing in Ireland.DesignNon-randomised pilot study.SettingPrimary care in Ireland.ParticipantsFour general practices, purposively sampled and recruited to reflect a range of practice sizes and demographic profiles.InterventionA pharmacist joined the practice team for 6 months (10 hours/week) and undertook medication reviews (face to face or chart based) for adult patients, provided prescribing advice, supported clinical audits and facilitated practice-based education.Outcome measuresAnonymised practice-level medication (eg, medication changes) and cost data were collected. Patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) data were collected on a subset of older adults (aged ≥65 years) with polypharmacy using patient questionnaires, before and 6 weeks after medication review by the pharmacist.ResultsAcross four practices, 786 patients were identified as having 1521 prescribing issues by the pharmacists. Issues relating to deprescribing medications were addressed most often by the prescriber (59.8%), compared with cost-related issues (5.8%). Medication changes made during the study equated to approximately €57 000 in cost savings assuming they persisted for 12 months. Ninety-six patients aged ≥65 years with polypharmacy were recruited from the four practices for PROM data collection and 64 (66.7%) were followed up. There were no changes in patients’ treatment burden or attitudes to deprescribing following medication review, and there were conflicting changes in patients’ self-reported quality of life.ConclusionsThis non-randomised pilot study demonstrated that an intervention involving pharmacists, working within general practices is feasible to implement and has potential to improve prescribing quality. This study provides rationale to conduct a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of this intervention.


10.2196/15758 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. e15758
Author(s):  
Enying Gong ◽  
Wanbing Gu ◽  
Erdan Luo ◽  
Liwei Tan ◽  
Julian Donovan ◽  
...  

Background Rural China has experienced an increasing health burden because of stroke. Stroke patients in rural communities have relatively poor awareness of and adherence to evidence-based secondary prevention and self-management of stroke. Mobile technology represents an innovative way to influence patient behaviors and improve their self-management. Objective This study is part of the System-Integrated Technology-Enabled Model of Care (the SINEMA trial) to improve the health of stroke patients in resource-poor settings in China. This study aimed to develop and pilot-test a mobile phone message–based package, as a component of the SINEMA intervention. Methods The SINEMA trial was conducted in Nanhe County, Hebei Province, China. A total of 4 villages were selected for pretrial contextual research and pilot study. The 5 stages for developing the mobile phone messages were as follows: (1) conducting literature review on existing message banks and analyzing the characteristics of these banks; (2) interviewing stroke patients and caregivers to identify their needs; (3) drafting message contents and designing dispatching algorithms for a 3-month pilot testing; (4) collecting feedback from pilot participants through questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews on facilitators and barriers related to their acceptance and understanding of messages; and (5) finalizing the message-based intervention based on participants’ feedback for the SINEMA trial. Results On the basis of 5 existing message banks screened out of 120 papers and patients’ needs identified from 32 in-depth interviews among stroke patients and caregivers, we developed a message bank containing 224 messages for a pilot study among 54 community-dwelling stroke patients from 4 villages. Of 54 participants, 51 (response rate: 94.4%) completed the feedback survey after receiving daily messages for 3 months. Participants’ mean age was 68 years (SD 9.2), and about half had never been to school. We observed a higher proportion of participants who were in favor of voice messages (23/42, 54%) than text messages (14/40, 35%). Among participants who received voice messages (n=43) and text messages (n=40), 41 and 30, respectively, self-reported a full or partial understanding of the contents, and 39 (39/43, 91%) and 32 (32/40, 80%), respectively, rated the messages as helpful. Analyses of the 32 interviews further revealed that voice messages containing simple and single-theme content, in plain language, with a repeated structure, a slow playback speed, and recorded in local dialect, were preferred by rural stroke patients. In addition, the dispatching algorithm and tools may also influence the acceptance of message-based interventions. Conclusions By applying multiple methodologies and conducting a pilot study, we designed and fine-tuned a voice message–based intervention package for promoting secondary prevention among community-dwelling stroke patients in rural China. Design of the content and dispatching algorithm should engage both experts and end users and adequately consider the needs and preferences of recipients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David T. Eton ◽  
Mark Linzer ◽  
Deborah H. Boehm ◽  
Catherine E. Vanderboom ◽  
Elizabeth A. Rogers ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In primary care there is a need for more quality measures of person-centered outcomes, especially ones applicable to patients with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs). The aim of this study was to derive and validate a short-form version of the Patient Experience with Treatment and Self-management (PETS), an established measure of treatment burden, to help fill the gap in quality measurement. Methods Patient interviews (30) and provider surveys (30) were used to winnow items from the PETS (60 items) to a subset targeting person-centered care quality. Results were reviewed by a panel of healthcare providers and health-services researchers who finalized a pilot version. The Brief PETS was tested in surveys of 200 clinic and 200 community-dwelling MCC patients. Surveys containing the Brief PETS and additional measures (e.g., health status, medication adherence, quality of care, demographics) were administered at baseline and follow-up. Correlations and t-tests were used to assess validity, including responsiveness to change of the Brief PETS. Effect sizes (ES) were calculated on mean differences. Results Winnowing and panel review resulted in a 34-item Brief PETS pilot measure that was tested in the combined sample of 400 (mean age = 57.9 years, 50% female, 48% white, median number of conditions = 5). Reliability of most scales was acceptable (alpha > 0.70). Brief PETS scores were associated with age, income, health status, and quality of chronic illness care at baseline (P < .05; rho magnitude range: 0.16–0.66). Furthermore, Brief PETS scores differentiated groups based on marital and education status, presence/absence of a self-management routine, and optimal/suboptimal medication adherence (P < .05; ES range: 0.25–1.00). Declines in patient-reported physical or mental health status over time were associated with worsening PETS burden scores, while improvements were associated with improving PETS burden scores (P < .05; ES range: 0.04–0.44). Among clinic patients, 91% were willing to complete the Brief PETS as part of their clinic visits. Conclusions The Brief PETS (final version: 32 items) is a reliable and valid tool for assessing person-centered care quality related to treatment burden. It holds promise as a means of giving voice to patient concerns about the complexity of disease management.


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