RESUMEN
Background: Patients with chronic respiratory diseases require oxygen supply in a considerable amount to reduce their symptoms and increase their survival. The development of abilities for the self-management of chronic diseases has been shown to be essential to decrease exacerbation of symptoms. Therefore, the design and development of health mobile applications (apps) that aid in educating and training for disease self-management are cost-effective strategies. Objective: The purpose of this research was to describe the main characteristics that, according to final users, should be included in a mobile application for monitoring patients prescribed home oxygen therapy. Methods: A participative-qualitative design was used, involving direct participation of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Focus groups were conducted to identify the needs and perspectives related to the app. A card sorting method was used to determine the contents and basic architecture of the app. Results: By means of the focus groups, we could identify nine basic functions of the app for the clinical monitoring of patients under home oxygen therapy. For both profiles, the app structure was determined by identifying the most frequent contents among participants. Conclusions: The implementation of a user-centered design allowed for the detection of the functions, contents, and basic architecture of the app by identifying healthcare professionals and patients' needs and preferences regarding the self-management and monitoring of home oxygen prescriptions. Trial Registration: The study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04820790.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Mobile technologies have become capable of changing the paradigm of healthcare services. A clear example is that, nowadays, these technologies are an important instrument for data collection processes, epidemiologic surveillance, health promotion and disease prevention. Therefore, technological tools should be exploited to optimize the monitoring of patients with chronic diseases, including patients who require home oxygen therapy. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of a mobile application in the clinical monitoring of patients under home oxygen therapy. METHODS: This is a randomized controlled trial includes subjects of 18 years or older diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) who are under home oxygen therapy. Subjects will be divided into two arms: the intervention group will include patients who will be monitored with a mobile application, and the control group will include patients monitored by conventional follow-up methods (periodic visits of a respiratory therapist). The following outcome variables will be considered to measure the effect of the intervention: identification of dyspnea self-management, number of acute exacerbations associated with oxygen therapy, and the occurrence of oxygen supply underuse. DISCUSSION: This study is expected to assess the efficacy of a mobile application in the follow up of patients under home oxygen therapy. It will also determine whether the monitoring of a six-month intervention by a team comprising a physician, a nurse and respiratory therapists can decrease acute exacerbations, determine the most appropriate oxygen dose, and identify the underuse of oxygen systems and supplies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT04820790 ; date of registration: March 29, 2021).