Improving outpatient care for heart failure through digital innovation: a feasibility study

• Published in: Pilot and Feasibility Studies
• Main Authors: Arnar, David O., Oddsson, Saemundur J., Gunnarsdottir, Thrudur, Gudlaugsdottir, Gudbjorg Jona, Gudmundsson, Elias Freyr, Ketilsdóttir, Audur, Halldorsdottir, Hulda, Hrafnkelsdottir, Thordis Jona, Hallsson, Hallur, Amundadottir, Maria L., Thorgeirsson, Tryggvi
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: BioMed Central 2022
• Subjects: Research; Iceland
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9709356/; https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-022-01206-w

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) affects over 26 million people worldwide. Multidisciplinary management strategies that include symptom monitoring and patient self-care support reduce HF hospitalization and mortality rates. Ideally, HF follow-up and self-care support includes lifestyle-change recommendations and remote monitoring of weight and HF symptoms. Providing these via a digital solution may be ideal for improving HF disease outcomes and reducing the burden on providers and healthcare systems. This study’s main objective was to assess the feasibility of a digital solution including remote monitoring, lifestyle-change, and self-care support for HF outpatients in Iceland. METHODS: Twenty HF patients (mean age 57.5 years, 80% males) participated in an 8-week study. They were provided with a digital solution (SK-141), including lifestyle-change and disease self-care support, a remote symptom monitoring system, and a secure messaging platform between healthcare providers and patients. This feasibility study aimed to assess patient acceptability of this new intervention, retention rate, and to evaluate trends in clinical outcomes. To assess the acceptability of SK-141, participants completed a questionnaire about their experience after the 8-week study. Participants performed daily assigned activities (missions), including self-reporting symptoms. Clinical outcomes were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire at the study's beginning and end with an online survey. RESULTS: Of the 24 patients invited, 20 were elected to participate. The retention rate of participants throughout the 8-week period was high (80%). At the end of the 8 weeks, thirteen participants completed a questionnaire about their experience and acceptability of the SK-141. They rated their experience positively including on questions whether they would recommend the solution to others (6.8 on a scale of 1–7), whether the solution had improved their life and well-being (5.7 on a scale ...