Patients' Perceptions of Using a Digital Previsit Tool in Outpatient Settings (Part 2): Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Digital health interventions
• Stroke rehabilitation
• Patient-centered care

Background:

• Stroke patients require regular follow-ups to monitor symptoms.
• The digital tool Strokehealth aims to improve patient preparation and engagement for follow-up visits.
• Previous evaluation focused on satisfaction; further insights into patient perceptions and needs are required for optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gain in-depth understanding of patients' views and experiences using the Strokehealth digital previsit tool.
• To identify potential improvements for the Strokehealth tool based on patient feedback.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving 33 stroke patients who used Strokehealth v1.0.
• Semistructured interviews analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.
• Workshops with patients, stakeholders, and web consultants to finalize adjustments for Strokehealth v2.0.

Main Results:

• Three themes emerged: Strokehealth as a supportive tool for dialogue preparation, the impact of introduction/communication on usability, and the influence of wording/structure on responses.
• Patients found Strokehealth simple, purposeful, and well-received, contributing to a feeling of being cared for.
• Specific suggestions for improvement, such as addressing mental fatigue and pain, led to updates in version 2.0, including enhanced text and free-text options.

Conclusions:

• The digital previsit tool Strokehealth was generally well-received by stroke patients attending outpatient follow-up visits.
• Patient feedback was instrumental in refining the tool for better usability and addressing specific stroke-related concerns.