Adaptation of TECCU App Based on Patients´ Perceptions for the Telemonitoring of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Qualitative Study Using Focus Groups

Abstract

Background: Despite the continuous adaptation of eHealth systems for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a significant disconnection persists between users and developers. Since non-adherence remains high, it is necessary to better understand the patients’ perspective on telemonitoring for IBD. Accordingly, this study aimed to adapt the TECCU telemonitoring app to the preferences and needs of IBD patients. Methods: A qualitative study was carried out using successive focus groups of IBD patients. Meetings were audio-recorded and a thematic analysis was employed until data saturation was achieved. The first group included patients who had used the TECCU App in a pilot clinical trial, and subsequent meetings included patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis recruited from the Spanish Confederation of patient associations. The information collected at each meeting guided consecutive changes to the platform. Results: Data saturation was reached after three focus groups involving a total of 18 patients. Three main themes emerged: (1) platform usability, (2) the communication process, and (3) platform content. All participants indicated that TECCU is easy to use, permitting continuous and personalized feedback. According to patients´ perspectives, the platform was adapted to foster a flexible follow-up and shared decision-making using open and safe communication networks. Many participants appreciated the educational elements and, consequently, the app was connected to reliable and continuously updated webpages. Conclusions: IBD patients valued the usability and personalized monitoring offered by the TECCU App. Improvements in the messaging system and continuously updated educational content were introduced to address patients´ needs and favor their engagement.

Identification of the informational and supportive needs of patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease: a scoping review

“…General information about IBD (n = 16, 21.33%) (Molnár et al, 2010;Subasinghe et al, 2010;Conrad et al, 2012;Mukewar et al, 2013;Yoo et al, 2015;Khan et al, 2016;Pittet et al, 2016;Sephton et al, 2016;Wheat et al, 2016;Larsson et al, 2017;Niv et al, 2017;Cho et al, 2018;Wu and Zhong, 2018;Yu et al, 2019;Del Hoyo et al, 2020;Graffigna et al, 2021) Etiology/Cause of IBD information (n = 20, 26.67%) (O'Sullivan et al, 2000;Rezailashkajani et al, 2006;Molnár et al, 2010;Bernstein et al, 2011;Conrad et al, 2012;Wong et al, 2012;Mukewar et al, 2013;Viazis et al, 2013;Lesnovska et al, 2014;Becker et al, 2015;Pittet et al, 2016;Wheat et al, 2016;López-Sanromán et al, 2017;Restall et al, 2017;Martin-Fernandez et al, 2018;McDermott et al, 2018;Wu and Zhong, 2018;Daher et al, 2019;Casellas et al, 2020;Karadag et al, 2020) Epidemiological and pathogenesis results in information (n = 4, 5.33%) (Rezailashkajani et al, 2006;Berding et al, 2016;Pittet et al, 2016;…”