Healthc Inform Res.  2018 Oct;24(4):283-291. 10.4258/hir.2018.24.4.283.

Need Assessment for Smartphone-Based Cardiac Telerehabilitation

• Kim JS
• Yun D
• Kim HJ
• Ryu HY
• Oh J
• Kang SM

• KMID: 2434543
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4258/hir.2018.24.4.283

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To identify the current status of smartphone usage and to describe the needs for smartphone-based cardiac telerehabilitation of cardiac patients.
METHODS
In 2016, a questionnaire survey was conducted in a supervised ambulatory cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program in a university affiliated hospital with the participation of heart failure or heart transplantation patients who were smartphone users. The questionnaire included questions regarding smartphone usage, demands for smartphone-based disease education, and home health monitoring systems. Results were described and analyzed according to principal diagnosis.
RESULTS
Ninety-six patients (66% male; mean age, 53 ± 11 years), including 56 heart failure and 40 heart transplantation patients, completed the survey (completion rate, 95%). The median daily smartphone usage time was 120 minutes (interquartile range, 60-300), and the most frequently used smartphone function was text messaging (61.5%). Of the patients, 26% stated that they searched for health-related information using their smartphones more than 1 time per week. The major source of health-related information was Internet browsing (50.0%), and the least sought source was the hospital's website (3.1%). Patients with heart failure expressed significantly higher needs for disease education on treatment plan, home health monitoring of blood pressure, and body weight (χ2 = 5.79, 6.27, 4.50, p < 0.05). Heart transplantation patients expressed a significant need for home health monitoring of body temperature (χ2 = 5.25, p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Heart failure and heart transplantation patients show high usage of and interest in mobile health technology. A smartphone-based cardiac telerehabilitation program should be developed based on high demand areas and modified to suit to each principal diagnosis.

Keyword

Telerehabilitation; Cardiac Rehabilitation; Needs Assessment; Smartphone; Mobile Applications

MeSH Terms

Blood Pressure
Body Temperature
Body Weight
Diagnosis
Education
Heart Failure
Heart Transplantation
Humans
Internet
Male
Mobile Applications
Needs Assessment
Rehabilitation
Smartphone
Telemedicine
Telerehabilitation*
Text Messaging

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Needs for disease education through smartphone applications. The needs assessment of disease education through smartphone was conducted. HF patients expressed significantly higher needs for smartphone-based disease education for treatment plans (χ2 = 5.79, p < 0.05). HF: heart failure, HT: heart transplantation.

• 

  Figure 2 Needs for home health monitoring systems through smartphone applications. We identified the areas for which a home health monitoring system is needed through smartphone applications. Participants expressed significantly higher needs for home health monitoring of blood pressure and body weight in the HF group (χ2 = 6.27, 4.50, p < 0.05) and body temperature in the HT group (χ2 = 5.25, p < 0.05). HF: heart failure, HT: heart transplantation.

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