Development of a telematic pharmaceutical care app (Haemoassist) for multidisciplinary follow-up of patients with congenital coagulopathies

ABSTRACT

Background

Guidelines for congenital coagulopathies recommend that patients record treatment administrations and bleeding episodes to help healthcare professionals monitor the disease.

Research design and methods

We studied over two years which patient profiles (age, treatment regimen, treatment compliance) were most likely to accept the use of an app to collect this information. We validated the quality of patient-reported data by comparing it with data obtained from hospital electronic records, pharmacy dispensing records and patient interview, collected in an access database used as a reference. Patient and professional opinions were solicited through open-ended interviews.

Results

The app was used by 52% of 315 patients studied. Younger patients were the most frequent users. Patients with better treatment compliance used the app more, although data collection was incomplete for most patients. The best rated by patients were the reminders of days of administration and the minimum stock alerts at home. Healthcare professionals rated the app positively.

Conclusions

Healthcare professionals valued the app as useful for managing treatment of congenital coagulopathies. Patients need support and time to use the app and improve the quality of the data entered. Patients who used the app rated it positively. The treatment compliance improved.

KEYWORDS:

• Congenital coagulopathies
• hemophilia
• app
• bleeding reports
• adherence
• compliance

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.