Stimulation of usage of self-management platforms through integration in disease management

Introduction: COPD self-management through eHealth is effective to improve the quality of integrated disease management (IDM). However, adoption of eHealth stays behind and implementation is difficult. Aim: To analyze the factors that successfully promote the use of self-management platforms for COPD patients. Methods: The e-Vita COPD study compared 3 levels of integration (high, medium, non) of web-based self-management platforms for COPD patients in IDM in primary care Participants were randomized to two levels of personal assistance (high and low assistance). The usage of self-management platforms was tracked by log data. Multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate the integration in IDM and personal assistance for the participants as determinants for the usage. Results: Of the 702 invited COPD patients, 215 registered to a platform. 82 participated in group 1 (high integration); 36 with high, 46 with low assistance. 96 participated in group 2 (medium integration); 44 with high, 52 with low assistance. 37 participated in group 3 (no integration, no assitance). The mean (SD) number of sessions on a platform differed between the three groups 1, 2 and 3 (10.5 (1.3); 8.8 (1.4) and 3.7 (1.8) respectively, p=0.011). The mean (SD) number of sessions was higher in the high assistance group than in the low assistance group (11.8 (1.3); 6.7 (1.4), p=0.012). Conclusion: Use of a self-management platform is higher when the platform is an integrated part of IDM, with adequate personal assistance about how to use the platform. A setup with blended care, will likely lead to increased use of online programs.