A Platform for Self-Management Supported by Assistive, Rehabilitation and Telecare Technologies

Abstract

Long-term chronic conditions pose a significant challenge in modern healthcare systems in terms of a reduction in quality of life and the increased costs associated with their management. The concept of self-management can help address these issues supported through the introduction of home based assistive and rehabilitation telecare technologies. The proposed solution aims to produce a home-based platform that supports a number of chronic diseases such as Chronic Pain, Congestive Heart Failure and Stroke. The long-term vision of this work is to take into consideration supporting further conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. The system aims to promote behavior change by monitoring activity metrics, performing analysis, which ultimately leads to providing feedback to the user in a meaningful and engaging manner.

A qualitative study exploring community pharmacists' awareness of, and contribution to, self-care support in the management of long-term conditions in the United Kingdom

“…These technologies include information technologies, 64 mobile applications ('apps'), 65 web-based tools, 66 and assistive, 'smart' home technologies. 67,68 These self-care support technologies are now being incorporated into many self-care support interventions that support people with LTCs at home. 67 …”

Computer technology for self‐management: a scoping review

“…This included monitoring physical parameters of disease and medication adherence. Few studies included socialisation (Brennan et al 2010, Davies et al 2011, Fioravanti et al 2011, McCusker et al 2012, Farmer et al 2014, Tabak et al 2014 or activity monitoring (Burns et al 2010, Fioravanti et al 2011, Tabak et al 2014 in the intervention.…”

“…Two systems designed to improve self-management of COPD were rated as 'substitution' (Austin et al 2012) and 'augmentation' (Tabak et al 2014). Of the two handheld mobile devices systems designed to improve self-management of CHF, one was rated as 'modification' (Rosser 2009, Burns et al 2010, Davies et al 2011) and one 'augmentation' (Gabrielian et al 2013).…”

“…As an extension to the work by Burns and colleagues described above, a group led by Davies added smart insoles for gait-monitoring to the list of peripheral devices connected to the SMART2 system (Davies et al 2011). This self-management system can be used for rehabilitation therapies as well as health monitoring and feedback.…”

The New Digital Natives

“…• [70] suggest a solution aspiring to create a home-based tele-care system supporting several chronic illnesses, for example; congestive heart failure, chronic pain and stroke, by utilising a variety of personal computers and healthcare technologies. They explain that the system is intended to endorse behaviour change through monitoring activity metrics and performing analysis, which in the end would produce feedback to the user in a significant and attractive way.…”