Patient and professional acceptability of telehealth to monitor COPD and diabetes

Background: Telehealth in Diabetes and COPD has been shown to improve glucose management, reduce hospital admissions and reduce costs associated with the home management of COPD. However, for telehealth to achieve its potential in encouraging self-management amongst patients, both patients and health care professionals (HCPs) must accept the technology as part of service provision. Previous findings demonstrate that failure to consider end user and stakeholder attitudes towards technology in healthcare can lead to less than optimal outcomes. The aim of this research was therefore to utilise an idiographic qualitative approach to consider patient and health care professionals’ acceptability of telehealth in the service delivery of COPD and Diabetes. Methods: Health care professionals (N=7) and patients (Diabetes N= 11 & COPD N=8) were interviewed following participation in a randomised controlled trial of telemonitoring. Interviews explored experiences of utilising the technology, barriers and facilitators to use. Data was analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Thematic results were considered for each stakeholder group separately (HCPs and Patients) and later synthesised for common themes. Key synthesised themes identified included; telehealth integration with usual care, targeting suitable patient groups for telehealth, age and cost as perceived barriers to implementation, development of patient autonomy, patient reassurance, and alleviating a pressured NHS. Discussion: The research lends support to patient and professional acceptability of telemonitoring in chronic disease intervention and demonstrates the potential for telemonitoring to support education and self-management of chronic disease. However, the potential barriers to successful implementation will also be discussed.