[Acceptance of a telemonitoring device in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]

The aim of this trial was to assess the acceptance of a telemonitoring device (Health Buddy®) by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The device makes it possible to monitor vital parameters and to ask questions about symptoms, behavior and disease-specific knowledge.

A single-arm non-randomized clinical study was performed for three months in 43 patients with severe/very severe COPD. The primary intent was to determine the patients' compliance with the device. In addition the patients were questioned about their general acceptance of the telemonitoring intervention, their quality of life and the overall use of resources.

36 patients (25 men, 11 women, mean age 67,9 ± 6,9; range 54 - 81 years) completed the protocol. All 43 patients were using the device (Health Buddy®) on two thirds of all possible working days (this had been predefined as full compliance). Especially the questions on technical functioning of the device, trust in the technique and data security, as well as the confidentiality of communication with the physician via telemedicine were very positively answered. Health-related quality of life did not change and no rise of autonomy was noted. However, the objective of early detecting of acute exacerbations by daily measurements of vital parameters and assessment of symptoms was difficult to achieve because of inadequate definition of the parameters.

This cohort of patients with advanced COPD was highly compliant in the use of the telemonitoring device. But clinical efficacy and economic effectiveness remain to be investigated.