Patient Perspectives on Technological Barriers and Implementation Strategies Leveraged During a Real-World Remote...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Health Informatics
• Patient Monitoring

Background:

• Remote symptom monitoring (RSM) utilizes electronic patient-reported outcomes for real-time patient data.
• Digital technologies are integral to gathering patient experiences for effective symptom management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a formative evaluation of technology-related barriers faced by patients in RSM.
• To identify implementation strategies for overcoming these barriers in large-scale RSM initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured interviews with cancer patients undergoing RSM.
• Coding interview data to identify technology barriers using a constant comparative method.
• Mapping identified barriers to the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change list.

Main Results:

• Three key technology barrier themes emerged: accessibility concerns, digital health literacy, and user interface challenges.
• Eight implementation strategies were employed to address these barriers.
• Strategies included assessing readiness, incorporating patient feedback, and providing technical assistance.

Conclusions:

• Technology-related barriers can impede patient adoption of RSM.
• Multimodal assessment and intervention strategies are essential for successful real-world RSM implementation.