Patient-Centered Development of a Digital Care Pathway for Arrhythmia Patients

Abstract

Citizens are ready and willing to use various kinds of e-health services and Web-based portals. The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of patients who underwent an arrhythmia procedure of the guidance they received as well as their needs and expectations for a future digital care path. The goal for the future is to utilize the results in other patient-centered digital service development activities. The research material was collected in a two-part thematic interview with patients who underwent an electrophysiology examination and supraventricular tachycardia catheter ablation procedure (n=7) or ablation treatment for atrial fibrillation (n=4). The preliminary digital care path was modified based on the results. The arrhythmia patient’s digital care path was tested in a workshop using a test group consisting of patients (n=3) and nursing staff (n=6). As a result, a digital care pathway for arrhythmia patients was completed.

Stakeholders barriers and facilitators for the implementation of a personalised digital care pathway: a qualitative study

“…They also wish to be empowered and involved in decision making that relates to their care, which can contribute to patient-centred care. 4–9 To achieve this, it is important that HCPs and patients share the same information. 10 11 …”

“…Both patients and HCPs have expressed their willingness to contribute to patient-centred care but often have insufficient knowledge on how to put this into practice. 4 5 7 Therefore, HCPs should be instructed on how to provide their patients with suitable information. 7 18 Providing the HCP and patient with tools to improve information provision facilitates effective communication.…”

“… 7 18 Providing the HCP and patient with tools to improve information provision facilitates effective communication. 4 11 A personalised digital care pathway is an example of a tool that facilitates HCPs and their patients in accessing adequate information. 4 16 19 This can be described as a digital tool providing personalised dosed information and an overview of appointments for the coordination of care, tailored to a certain patient group, which leads to greater information symmetry between the HCP and patient.…”

“…They also wish to be empowered and involved in decision making that relates to their care, which can contribute to patient-centred care. [4][5][6][7][8][9] To achieve this, it is important that HCPs and patients share the same information. 10 11 To achieve patient-centred care including shared decision making, health information should be tailored.…”

“…Patients no longer want to be passive recipients of care but increasingly want and need to proactively manage their own health. They also wish to be empowered and involved in decision making that relates to their care, which can contribute to patient-centred care 4–9. To achieve this, it is important that HCPs and patients share the same information 10 11…”