Introduction This study investigated how patients with COVID‐19, telemonitoring (TM) teams, general practitioners (GPs) and primary care nurses in Belgium experienced remote patient monitoring (RPM) in 12 healthcare organizations, in relation to the patients' illness, health, and care needs, perceived quality of care, patient and health system outcomes, and implementation challenges. Design A qualitative research approach was adopted, including focus group discussions and semi‐structured interviews. Methods Four different groups of participants were interviewed, that is, patients ( n = 17), TM teams ( n = 27), GPs ( n = 16), and primary care nurses ( n = 12). An interview guide was drafted based on a literature review. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and NVivo was used for managing and analyzing the data. The QUAGOL method was used to guide the data analysis process and was adapted for the purpose of a thematic content analysis. Results All participants agreed that RPM‐reassured patients. The overall perceived value of RPM for individual patients depended on how well the intervention matched with their needs. Patients who did not have the necessary language (Dutch/French speaking) and digital skills, who did not have the right equipment (smartphone or tablet), or who missed the necessary infrastructure (no internet coverage in their region) were often excluded. Remote patient monitoring also reassured healthcare professionals as it gave them information on a disease they had little knowledge about. Professionals involved in RPM experienced a high workload. All TM teams agreed that quality of data was a key factor to ensure an adequate follow‐up, but they differed in what they found important. The logistic management of RPM was a challenge because of the contagious character of COVID‐19, and the need for an effective information flow between the hospital team and primary care providers. Participants missed clarification about who was accountable for the care for patients in the projects. Primary care nurses and GPs missed access to RPM data. All agreed that the funding they received was not sufficient to cover all the costs associated with RPM. Conclusion Healthcare professionals and patients perceive RPM as valuable and believe that the concept will have its place in the Belgium health system. However, current RPM practice is challenged by many barriers, and the sustainability of RPM implementation is low. Clinical relevance Remote patient monitoring (RPM) was perceived as a valuable intervention for patients with COVID‐19, but there were important concerns about unequal access to care. While the technology for RPM is available, the sustainability of implementation is low because of concerns with data quality, challenging l...

Background Chronic conditions can be defined as permanent disorders, usually that have a slow progression and that are 'expected to require a long period of supervision, observation or care' [1]. Chronic diseases are the leading cause of mortality and are associated with 68% of all deaths worldwide [2]. Moreover, nearly 40% of people aged 65 and older present with multi-morbidity, i.e., are affected by 2 or more chronic conditions [3]. The ageing, often multi-morbid population and the associated rising costs

The capacity of self-assessment, to learn from experience, to make information-based decisions, and to adapt over time are essential drivers of success for any project aiming at healthcare system change. Yet, many of those projects are managed by healthcare providers' teams with little evaluation capacity. In this article, we describe the support mission delivered by an interdisciplinary scientific team to 12 integrated care pilot projects in Belgium, mobilizing a set of tools and methods: a dashboard gathering population health indicators, a significant event reporting method, an annual report, and the development of a sustainable “learning community.” The article provides a reflexive return on the design and implementation of such interventions aimed at building organizational evaluation capacity. Some lessons were drawn from our experience, in comparison with the broader evaluation literature: The provided support should be adapted to the various needs and contexts of the beneficiary organizations, and it has to foster experience-based learning and requires all stakeholders to adopt a learning posture. A long-time, secure perspective should be provided for organizations, and the availability of data and other resources is an essential precondition for successful work.

No abstract

Alvarez Irusta; The co-creation in the design and use of a dashboard to develop a population health approach: initial experience from Integreo program in Belgium