This study aims to evaluate whether patients recognize a need for a remote monitoring care pathway during the post-operative period following major surgery at Jessa Hospital by means of a semi- structured interview. Besides this, the study explores patient perceptions and willingness to participate in digital monitoring care pathways, identifies potential barriers to adoption, and addressing concerns related to safety, data security, and privacy. Additionally, the study aims to assess patient needs regarding parameter collection, technology usage, and the overall functionality of digital monitoring systems, while evaluating the perceived usefulness of such a pathway in post-operative care.
Digital health technologies are transforming healthcare, offering new ways to improve patient outcomes and enhance efficiency. Remote clinical monitoring (RCM), which uses digital technologies such as wearable devices and mobile apps to monitor patients outside of the traditional healthcare settings such as a hospital, holds significant potential for supporting post-operative care, especially in the context of faster hospital discharge after major surgery. Major surgery involves procedures on organ systems, such as cancer resections, organ transplants, and lung or abdominal surgeries. However, despite their promise, the successful implementation of these technologies into clinical practice requires a thorough understanding of the perspectives of the end user, being the patient. Patients' comfort, engagement, and perceptions about digital health solutions, such as self-management tools and remote monitoring pathways, are essential to ensuring these technologies are both effective and widely accepted.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30
A semi-structured interview will be conducted once in-person to each patient after a follow-up consultation in the hospital after their major surgery
Need for monitoring of vital and subjective parameters after discharge
The primary outcome measurement will be assessed by asking patients if they believe that there is a need for monitoring of vital and subjective parameters after discharge.
Time frame: During a follow-up consultation within one year after major surgery
Perceptions regarding the implementation of digital monitoring care pathways
Patients' perceptions regarding the implementation of digital monitoring care pathways will be evaluated by asking questions about their experience and knowledge of remote care, their perceptions of whether digital monitoring can replace traditional face-to-face consultations, their need for digital information after discharge, and their experience with follow-up and contact with healthcare providers after discharge.
Time frame: During a follow-up consultation within one year after major surgery
Willingness to participate in digital care pathways
To examine patients' willingness to participate in digital care pathways, following items are questioned: willingness to be discharged sooner with remote monitoring available, factors that would motivate patients to use or recommend remote monitoring, and comfort and willingness to have health monitored remotely through an app or device.
Time frame: During a follow-up consultation within one year after major surgery
Potential barriers to adopt digital care
To identify potential barriers to adopt digital care, challenges in using remote care will be surveyed.
Time frame: During a follow-up consultation within one year after major surgery
Concerns about safety
Patients' concerns about safety when being discharged earlier with remote monitoring in place are assessed to understand patient concerns about their own safety.
Time frame: During a follow-up consultation within one year after major surgery
Accuracy of data
Trust in the accuracy of data collected through remote monitoring and security of personal data when using remote monitoring are evaluated to understand patient concerns regarding data security and privacy.
Time frame: During a follow-up consultation within one year after major surgery
Needs regarding parameter collection
To understand patient needs regarding parameter collection, patients are asked if they think there is a need for additional parameters to be collected beyond vital signs (e.g., blood pressure, oxygen saturation, body temperature, heart rate), or if they have specific preferences for health parameters to be collected.
Time frame: During a follow-up consultation within one year after major surgery
Skills regarding working with technology
To examine patients' skills regarding working with technology, skills in using technology, comfort using digital devices for health monitoring, and the need for training to use remote monitoring effectively will be investigated.
Time frame: During a follow-up consultation within one year after major surgery
Desire for notifications when a parameter or questionnaire needs to be entered in an app
The desire for notifications when a parameter or questionnaire needs to be entered in an app, for alerts or alarms when a parameter is abnormal, for digital feedback from healthcare providers, or to communicate directly with healthcare providers through an app is explored to understand patient needs regarding the functioning of the digital monitoring care pathway.
Time frame: During a follow-up consultation within one year after major surgery
Perceptions regarding the usefulness of a digital monitoring care pathway
To assess patient perceptions regarding the usefulness of a digital monitoring care pathway, their perception of the potential for remote monitoring to improve the recovery process, of benefits for patients/healthcare providers/society, of remote monitoring helping to reduce anxiety about recovery through continuous monitoring, and of remote monitoring helping to prevent complications, will be examined.
Time frame: During a follow-up consultation within one year after major surgery
Willingness to participate in a study with remote monitoring
The willingness to participate in a study with remote monitoring is asked to assess patient willingness to participate in a study where digital monitoring is used.
Time frame: During a follow-up consultation within one year after major surgery
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