Preliminary Qualitative Evaluation of Patient-Related Perspectives Related to the Implementation of a Predictive Algorithm in a Telehealth System for COPD

The aim of the present study was to evaluate patient-related perspectives from a five-week test of the implementation of a COPD prediction algorithm. The test intended to discover and avoid potential errors prior to testing the COPD prediction algorithm in a two-armed randomized controlled trial (RCT). The COPD prediction algorithm aims to predict exacerbations in COPD based on home measurements. In the present study, the algorithm was implemented in a currently deployed telehealth system. Five weeks after implementation, six interviews were conducted, including five interviews with patients with COPD and one interview with a specialized COPD nurse. The participants were overall satisfied with the telehealth system including the COPD prediction algorithm. However, technical issues must be addressed before the COPD prediction algorithm is ready to be tested in the RCT. Moreover, communication with the monitoring nurses should be clearer based on the COPD nurse's experiences. In conclusion, the participants were satisfied with the integration of the COPD prediction algorithm in the telehealth system. The identification of technical issues shows the importance of including a technical test period in a similar trial setup.