1
|
Benmessaoud C, Pfisterer KJ, De Leon A, Saragadam A, El-Dassouki N, Young KGM, Lohani R, Xiong T, Pham Q. Design of a Dyadic Digital Health Module for Chronic Disease Shared Care: Development Study. JMIR Hum Factors 2023; 10:e45035. [PMID: 38145480 PMCID: PMC10775044 DOI: 10.2196/45035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic forced the spread of digital health tools to address limited clinical resources for chronic health management. It also illuminated a population of older patients requiring an informal caregiver (IC) to access this care due to accessibility, technological literacy, or English proficiency concerns. For patients with heart failure (HF), this rapid transition exacerbated the demand on ICs and pushed Canadians toward a dyadic care model where patients and ICs comanage care. Our previous work identified an opportunity to improve this dyadic HF experience through a shared model of dyadic digital health. We call this alternative model of care "Caretown for Medly," which empowers ICs to concurrently expand patients' self-care abilities while acknowledging ICs' eagerness to provide greater support. OBJECTIVE We present the systematic design and development of the Caretown for Medly dyadic management module. While HF is the outlined use case, we outline our design methodology and report on 6 core disease-invariant features applied to dyadic shared care for HF management. This work lays the foundation for future usability assessments of Caretown for Medly. METHODS We conducted a qualitative, human-centered design study based on 25 semistructured interviews with self-identified ICs of loved ones living with HF. Interviews underwent thematic content analysis by 2 coders independently for themes derived deductively (eg, based on the interview guide) and inductively refined. To build the Caretown for Medly model, we (1) leveraged the Knowledge to Action (KTA) framework to translate knowledge into action and (2) borrowed Google Sprint's ability to quickly "solve big problems and test new ideas," which has been effective in the medical and digital health spaces. Specifically, we blended these 2 concepts into a new framework called the "KTA Sprint." RESULTS We identified 6 core disease-invariant features to support ICs in care dyads to provide more effective care while capitalizing on dyadic care's synergistic benefits. Features were designed for customizability to suit the patient's condition, informed by stakeholder analysis, corroborated with literature, and vetted through user needs assessments. These features include (1) live reports to enhance data sharing and facilitate appropriate IC support, (2) care cards to enhance guidance on the caregiving role, (3) direct messaging to dissolve the disconnect across the circle of care, (4) medication wallet to improve guidance on managing complex medication regimens, (5) medical events timeline to improve and consolidate management and organization, and (6) caregiver resources to provide disease-specific education and support their self-care. CONCLUSIONS These disease-invariant features were designed to address ICs' needs in supporting their care partner. We anticipate that the implementation of these features will empower a shared model of care for chronic disease management through digital health and will improve outcomes for care dyads.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camila Benmessaoud
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kaylen J Pfisterer
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Systems Design Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Anjelica De Leon
- Healthcare Human Factors, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Media and Arts, Humber College, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ashish Saragadam
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- School of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Noor El-Dassouki
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Karen G M Young
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Raima Lohani
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ting Xiong
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Quynh Pham
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- School of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Young K, Xiong T, Pfisterer KJ, Ng D, Jiao T, Lohani R, Nunn C, Bryant-Lukosius D, Rendon R, Berlin A, Bender J, Brown I, Feifer A, Gotto G, Cafazzo JA, Pham Q. A qualitative study on healthcare professional and patient perspectives on nurse-led virtual prostate cancer survivorship care. Commun Med (Lond) 2023; 3:159. [PMID: 37919491 PMCID: PMC10622495 DOI: 10.1038/s43856-023-00387-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virtual nurse-led care models designed with health care professionals (HCPs) and patients may support addressing unmet prostate cancer (PCa) survivor needs. Within this context, we aimed to better understand the optimal design of a service model for a proposed nurse-led PCa follow-up care platform (Ned Nurse). METHODS A qualitative descriptive study exploring follow-up and virtual care experiences to inform a nurse-led virtual clinic (Ned Nurse) with an a priori convenience sample of 10 HCPs and 10 patients. We provide a health ecosystem readiness checklist mapping facilitators onto CFIR and Proctor's implementation outcomes. RESULTS We show that barriers within the current standard of care include: fragmented follow-up, patient uncertainty, and long, persisting wait times despite telemedicine modalities. Participants indicate that a nurse-led clinic should be scoped to coordinate care and support patient self-management, with digital literacy considerations. CONCLUSION A nurse-led follow-up care model for PCa is seen by HCPs as acceptable, feasible, and appropriate for care delivery. Patients value its potential to provide role clarity, reinforce continuity of care, enhance mental health support, and increase access to timely and targeted care. These findings inform design, development, and implementation strategies for digital health interventions within complex settings, revealing opportunities to optimally situate these interventions to improve care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karen Young
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ting Xiong
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kaylen J Pfisterer
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Denise Ng
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tina Jiao
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Raima Lohani
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Caitlin Nunn
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Ricardo Rendon
- Department of Urology, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, ON, Canada
| | - Alejandro Berlin
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jacqueline Bender
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ian Brown
- Division of Urology, Niagara Health System, Saint Catharines, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew Feifer
- Institute for Better Health, Trillium Health Partners, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Geoffrey Gotto
- Division of Urology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Joseph A Cafazzo
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Quynh Pham
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pfisterer KJ, Lohani R, Janes E, Ng D, Wang D, Bryant-Lukosius D, Rendon R, Berlin A, Bender J, Brown I, Feifer A, Gotto G, Saha S, Cafazzo JA, Pham Q. An Actionable Expert-System Algorithm to Support Nurse-Led Cancer Survivorship Care: Algorithm Development Study. JMIR Cancer 2023; 9:e44332. [PMID: 37792435 PMCID: PMC10585445 DOI: 10.2196/44332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Comprehensive models of survivorship care are necessary to improve access to and coordination of care. New models of care provide the opportunity to address the complexity of physical and psychosocial problems and long-term health needs experienced by patients following cancer treatment. OBJECTIVE This paper presents our expert-informed, rules-based survivorship algorithm to build a nurse-led model of survivorship care to support men living with prostate cancer (PCa). The algorithm is called No Evidence of Disease (Ned) and supports timelier decision-making, enhanced safety, and continuity of care. METHODS An initial rule set was developed and refined through working groups with clinical experts across Canada (eg, nurse experts, physician experts, and scientists; n=20), and patient partners (n=3). Algorithm priorities were defined through a multidisciplinary consensus meeting with clinical nurse specialists, nurse scientists, nurse practitioners, urologic oncologists, urologists, and radiation oncologists (n=17). The system was refined and validated using the nominal group technique. RESULTS Four levels of alert classification were established, initiated by responses on the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite for Clinical Practice survey, and mediated by changes in minimal clinically important different alert thresholds, alert history, and clinical urgency with patient autonomy influencing clinical acuity. Patient autonomy was supported through tailored education as a first line of response, and alert escalation depending on a patient-initiated request for a nurse consultation. CONCLUSIONS The Ned algorithm is positioned to facilitate PCa nurse-led care models with a high nurse-to-patient ratio. This novel expert-informed PCa survivorship care algorithm contains a defined escalation pathway for clinically urgent symptoms while honoring patient preference. Though further validation is required through a pragmatic trial, we anticipate the Ned algorithm will support timelier decision-making and enhance continuity of care through the automation of more frequent automated checkpoints, while empowering patients to self-manage their symptoms more effectively than standard care. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045806.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaylen J Pfisterer
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, University Health Network, Techna Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Raima Lohani
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, University Health Network, Techna Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Janes
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, University Health Network, Techna Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Denise Ng
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, University Health Network, Techna Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dan Wang
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, University Health Network, Techna Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Ricardo Rendon
- Department of Urology, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, ON, Canada
| | - Alejandro Berlin
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jacqueline Bender
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ian Brown
- Niagara Health System, Thorold, ON, Canada
| | | | - Geoffrey Gotto
- Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Shumit Saha
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, University Health Network, Techna Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joseph A Cafazzo
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, University Health Network, Techna Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Quynh Pham
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, University Health Network, Techna Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Tefler School of Management, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
El-Dassouki N, Pfisterer K, Benmessaoud C, Young K, Ge K, Lohani R, Saragadam A, Pham Q. The value of technology to support dyadic caregiving for individuals living with heart failure: A qualitative descriptive study (Preprint). J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e40108. [PMID: 36069782 PMCID: PMC9494221 DOI: 10.2196/40108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The demand for health services to meet the chronic health needs of the aging population is significant and remains unmet because of the limited supply of clinical resources. Specifically, in managing heart failure (HF), digital health sought to address this gap during the COVID-19 pandemic but highlighted an access issue for those who could not use technology-mediated health care services without the support of their informal caregivers (ICs). The complexity of managing HF symptoms and recurrent exacerbations requires many patients to comanage their illness with their ICs in a care dyad, working together to optimize patient outcomes and health-related quality of life. However, most HF programs have missed the opportunity to consider the dyadic perspective despite interdependencies on HF outcomes. Objective This study aims to characterize the value of technology in supporting caregiving for individuals living with HF. Methods Motivated by an observed unique pattern of engagement in patients enrolled in our Medly HF management program at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre in Toronto, Canada, we conducted 20 semistructured interviews with a convenience sample of ICs. All interviews were analyzed using the iterative refinement of a codeveloped codebook. The team maintained reflexivity journals to reflect the impact of their positionality on their coding. Themes were first derived deductively using HF typologies (patient-oriented dyads, caregiver-oriented dyads, and collaboratively oriented dyads) and then inductively refined and recategorized based on concepts from the van Houtven et al framework. Results We believe that there is a need to formally and intentionally expand HF technologies to include dyadic needs and goals. We suggest defining 3 opportunities in which value can be added to technological design. First, identify how technology may be leveraged to increase psychological bandwidth by reducing uncertainty and providing peace of mind. We found that actionable feedback was highly desired by both partners. Second, develop technology that can serve as a member of the dyad’s support system. In our experience, automated prompts for patients to take measurements can mimic the support typically provided by ICs and ease their workload. Third, consider how technology can mitigate the dyad’s clinical knowledge requirements and learning curve. Our approach includes real-time actionable feedback paired with a human-in-the-loop, nurse-led model of care. Conclusions Our findings identified a need to focus on improving the dyadic experience as a whole by building IC functionality into digital health self-management interventions. Through a shared model of care that supports the role of the patient in their own HF management, includes ICs to expand and enhance the patient’s capacity to care, and acknowledges the need of ICs to care for themselves, we anticipate improved outcomes for both partners.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noor El-Dassouki
- Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, Techna Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kaylen Pfisterer
- Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, Techna Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Camila Benmessaoud
- Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, Techna Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Karen Young
- Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, Techna Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kelly Ge
- Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, Techna Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Raima Lohani
- Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, Techna Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ashish Saragadam
- Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, Techna Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Quynh Pham
- Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, Techna Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Pham Q, El-Dassouki N, Lohani R, Jebanesan A, Young K. The Future of Virtual Care for Older Ethnic Adults Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e29876. [PMID: 34994707 PMCID: PMC8783290 DOI: 10.2196/29876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed how Canadians access health care. Although it is undeniable that the rapid adoption of virtual care has played a critical role in reducing viral transmission, the gap in equitable access to virtual care remains pervasive for Canada’s aging and ethnocultural minority communities. Existing virtual care solutions are designed for the English-speaking, health-literate, and tech-savvy patient population, excluding older ethnic adults who often do not see themselves reflected in these identities. In acknowledging the permanency of virtual care brought on by the pandemic, we have a collective responsibility to co-design new models that serve our older ethnic patients who have been historically marginalized by the status quo. Building on existing foundations of caregiving within ethnocultural minority communities, one viable strategy to realize culturally equitable virtual care may be to engage the highly motivated and skilled family caregivers of older ethnic adults as partners in the technology-mediated management of their chronic disease. The time is now to build a model of shared virtual care that embraces Canada’s diverse cultures, while also providing its older ethnic adults with access to health innovations in partnership with equally invested family caregivers who have their health at heart.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Quynh Pham
- Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, Techna Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Noor El-Dassouki
- Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, Techna Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Raima Lohani
- Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, Techna Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Aravinth Jebanesan
- Global Health Office, Faculty of Health Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Karen Young
- Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, Techna Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kc M, Gurubacharya DL, Lohani R, Rauniyar A. Serum urea, creatinine and electrolyte status in patients presenting with acute gastroenteritis. JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc 2006; 45:291-4. [PMID: 17334417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to estimate the serum urea, creatinine and electrolyte status of patients presenting with acute gastroenteritis. Sixty patients who presented to Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching hospital from 15 June to 15 July 2005 with acute diarrhea with or without associated vomiting, causing dehydration severe enough to require hospital admission were investigated for serum urea, creatinine and electrolyte level. Out of 60 patients investigated, serum sodium and potassium level were available for 34 patients. Only one (2.9%) patients had sodium level below 135mEq/l, thirty two (94.11%) had sodium level between 135-146 mEq/l and one (2.9%) had sodium level above 146mEq/l. Similarly 9 (26.47%) patients had potassium level below 3.5mEq/l, 22 (64.70%) patients had potassium level between 3.5-5 mEq/l and 3 (8.82%) patients had level above 5 mEq/l. Serum urea and creatinine level were available for 47 patients. 36 (76.59%) patients had serum urea level between 15-45mg/dl and 11 (23.40%) patients had urea level above 45 mg/dl. 35 (74.46%) patients had serum creatinine level between 0.5-1.4 mg/dl and 12 (25.53%) had serum creatinine level above 1.4 mg/dl. In this study hypokalaemia was noticed more than hyponatremia and significant number of patients also showed increased level of serum urea and creatinine. Therefore, serum urea, creatinine and electrolytes should be closely monitored in patients with acute gastroenteritis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Kc
- KMC Teaching Hospital, Sinamangal, Kathmandu, Nepal.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|