Cloud-based multi-media systems for patient education and adherence: a pilot study to explore patient compliance with colonoscopy procedure preparation

ABSTRACT

Technology based patient education and adherence approaches are increasingly utilized to instruct and remind patients to prepare correctly for medical procedures. This study examines the interaction between two primary factors: patterns of patient adherence to challenging medical preparation procedures; and the demonstrated, measurable potential for cloud-based multi-media information technology (IT) interventions to improve patient adherence. An IT artifact was developed through prior design science research to serve information, reminders, and online video instruction modules to patients. The application was tested with 297 patients who were assessed clinically by physicians. Results indicate modest potential (43.4% relative improvement) for the IT-based approach for improving patient adherence to endoscopy preparations. Purposively designed cloud-based applications hold promise for aiding patients with complex medical procedure preparation. Health care provider involvement in the design and evaluation of a patient application may be an effective strategy to produce medical evidence and encourage the adoption of adherence apps.

KEYWORDS:

• Mobile computing
• endoscopy
• colonoscopy
• medical procedure preparation
• instruction
• patient adherence

CLASSIFICATIONS:

• Consumer health informatics
• ehealth
• internal medicine
• mobile applications
• oncology
• quality and patient safety
• surgery

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Incendant, Inc. for their technical assistance in developing this research. This research is covered by Parkview Medical Centre IRB Number PIRB34.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.