Smart Rings in Remote Monitoring at Home: Older Patients' Perceptions and Expectations

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BACKGROUND: There is a limited understanding of how older patients perceive the potential of using wearables for remote monitoring (RM) at home. Exploring patients' perspectives prior to the implementation of wearables in healthcare can offer valuable insights into what may enhance the effectiveness and outcomes of RM. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to explore the expectations of older patients with a susceptible chronic illness towards prospective use of the Oura Ring for health monitoring at home. Unlike previous research, which primarily addresses patients' experiences during or after RM has taken place, we explored their perspective before the use. METHODS: Healthcare professionals identified the 10 study participants among those who were undergoing a diagnostic procedure for the chronic neurological disease iNPH at the Kuopio University Hospital in Finland. All invited patients consented to participate. Qualitative interview data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke. FINDINGS: Patients expected Oura to support both health and broader well-being through self-tracking and proactive health management, presenting themselves as active contributors to their care. Being monitored by healthcare professionals or caregivers was viewed as reassuring, mirroring the increasing digitalisation of healthcare and a reduction in in-person contact. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the relevance of approaching older patients with chronic conditions to gauge interest in home-based RM. This emphasises involving the patient perspective early on in RM processes, including decisions about the specific solutions to be used. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The second author is a trained patient expert by experience who ensured that the analysis and the findings were grounded in authentic patient perspectives. The findings were shared with the study participants in the form of an information leaflet, the quality of which was ensured by the expert by experience.

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