Remote Patient Monitoring studies are published every day. Some scientific researchers publish more than 70 papers a year. Prolific scientific researchers are strategic in the study of telemedicine. Staying current on new remote Patient monitoring studies and research is crucial for RPM software or services, chronic care, and telehealth companies that offer remote patient monitoring solutions to healthcare providers. One easy way to stay current with new RPM research is by reviewing the weekly study roundup of Tenovi’s remote patient monitoring. The following study roundup summarizes studies published the week of February 13, 2023.

A Closer Look at the Latest Remote Patient Monitoring Studies

Remote patient monitoring studies address the application of advanced technologies to enable accurate and effective diagnosis by qualified healthcare professionals. Therefore, researchers continuously publish studies assessing remote patient monitoring devices, services, and software for at-home use. The need for RPM telehealth devices is increasing due to the rising rates of chronic conditions such as heart disease, respiratory disorders, kidney disease, and diabetes. In addition, studies have shown that in some patient care, remote patient monitoring services lower the need for lengthy hospital admissions, allowing physicians to monitor a patient’s vital signs while at home remotely. 

The following article summarizes 3 new studies and applications of remote patient monitoring in healthcare. 

• Telenursing and Telemonitoring During and Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Overdose Alert and Response Technologies: State-of-the-Art Review  
• Stakeholder Preferences for Attributes of Digital Health Technologies to Consider in Health Service Funding

1) Remote Patient Monitoring Study Reports Remote Monitoring Will Improve Patient Quality of Life

First, JMIR published this week’s remote patient monitoring study on February 15, 2023. The study focused on home monitoring and telenursing for chronic conditions in Japan. It covered practical examples of challenges experienced with home monitoring in nursing staff and older adults with chronic diseases during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. 

During COVID-19, telemonitoring helped patients find hope for the future by actively controlling and managing their disease, maintaining their health and physical function, and realizing that they could live everyday life. However, patients’ emotions ranged from hope to despair during that time. Feelings coupled with the loss of activity, a decline in physical function, and anxiety about the future during the pandemic presented some engagement challenges. 

Telenursing was found to help patients who were vacillating between feelings of hope and despair. To help combat telenursing challenges, The Japan Academy of Home Care will continue providing seminars for nursing staff to help expand their understanding of how to provide efficient support for people receiving home care.

The study showed that patients continuously changed their physical and psychological status. Telenursing during the pandemic helped patients adapt to their physical and emotional fluctuations. Therefore, the authors concluded that telemonitoring used for older adults throughout and beyond the pandemic would improve their quality of life. 

2) Remote Patient Monitoring Study on Overdose

Researchers have recently shown increased interest in developing overdose detection and alert technologies (ODART). First, however, more clarity is needed around technologies that could prevent drug overdoses. A North American-dominated study aimed to identify and classify overdose-specific digital technologies based on their characteristics, functionality, and existing studies.

Overall, data shows support by those at risk of overdose and community members for ODART. Moreover, the researchers urge the creation of piloting the different options, identifying results, and implementing devices without delay if these devices are readily available and potentially save lives.

Some vital sign monitoring devices used to detect an overdose include: 

• Smartphone-Based solutions to prevent overdose
• Wearable biosensors and wireless technology
• App and sensor alert interventions
• Smartphone apps for those who witness an overdose

Potential to Help in Rising Overdose Deaths 

Remote overdose technologies pose a potential solution to rising overdose rates in many countries, especially with the ability for faster administration of naloxone for opioid overdoses. In addition, the literature reviewed indicates that there is also a willingness to use these devices by people who use drugs and the communities affected. However, no definitive sensor or app-based technology is available for general use. The authors note that real-life effectiveness studies are needed to develop these technologies further and adapt them to the different populations that can benefit from them.

Interestingly, Washington State University conducted research using innovative home technology that showed a set of noninvasive home sensors could provide accurate information about overnight restlessness and sleep problems for people recovering from opioid use disorder.

3) Remote Patient Monitoring Study: 12 Attributes to Consider in Public Funding for Digital Health 

What are the essential areas healthcare providers can focus on when making funding decisions for digital health technologies? A study published on February 14, 2023, in the International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care addressed this topic. The goal was to identify the 12 most essential attributes in healthcare to inform decisions on public funding for telemonitoring in patients with chronic conditions. The study included participants from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Participants were:

• Chronic disease patients
• Carers of chronic disease patients
• Health professionals for chronic disease patients

The participants used digital health technologies, including remote patient monitoring for these chronic conditions: 

• Heart conditions 
• Diabetes 
• Digestive system conditions (Crohn’s, Celiac disease)
• Neurological conditions (Parkinson’sParkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis)
• Chronic pain 
• Cancer 
• Kidney disease 
• Musculoskeletal system conditions (arthritis, back concerns)
• Obesity 
• Respiratory conditions (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Asthma) 

What are the 12 Attributes to Consider?

The 12 attributes identified that most used when evaluating the use of public funding for digital health technologies in managing chronic disease were: 

• Helps health professionals respond quickly when changes in patient care are needed – 100.0 %
• Continuously records the correct information about patients – 96.7%
• It is highly reliable and stable – 87.5%
• The health advice it provides is always up-to-date and correct – 82.0%
• Ensures patient information is always kept private and safe from hacking – 81.2 %
• Benefits: patients are more confident in their managing condition, less travel and waiting, and have a more connected health team – 69.8%
• Shows patient information clearly and explains it – 64.7%
• It prevents patients from misinterpreting test results or having a false sense of security – 63.1%
• Good training and technical support to keep users safe – 62.9%
• With patient consent, health organizations can link to existing medical records for clinician review – 60.0%
• Easy to access and use for everyone – 54.9%
• It does not limit the user in their treatment options – 51.5%

The authors plan to develop a practical list of digital health technology-specific considerations over the nine domains of the European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA.) The 9 domains include health problems and current use of technology, technical characteristics, safety, clinical effectiveness, ethical analysis, organizational aspects, patient and social aspects, and legal aspects. 

Tenovi Can Help You Stay Current with the Latest in Remote Patient Monitoring Studies 

Stakeholder input can directly impact the outcome of your remote patient monitoring implementation or project. Therefore, it is essential that you effectively and continuously communicate with stakeholders to build and enhance collaborative relationships. Presenting stakeholders with information about your expertise helps generate questions and feedback and keeps all parties on the same page. 

Follow Tenovi on Social Media: LinkedIn and Twitter 

Many academics, scholars, institutions, and journals have an active social media presence on LinkedIn and Twitter, often posting newly published research. You can save time by following Tenovi on LinkedIn and Twitter. We summarize new weekly remote patient monitoring and telehealth studies for you. 

Visit Tenovi’s Blog for Relevant Remote Patient Monitoring Studies and Research

As you know, sifting through citations and conducting scientific literature reviews can be time-consuming and difficult. Tenovi cites studies and provides links to every source. The links make it easy to review research on the PRM or telehealth topic quickly. So you remember an article you are interested in reading, create a document to store links to the exciting studies. Try a reference manager to hold the citation of new research you want to read later. A reference manager allows you to store all your references in one place, allowing you to manage your references more efficiently. 

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