Wearable smart technology for monitoring COPD with co-morbidities – Patients' perceptions

Background: WELCOME is an innovative EU project for developing a wearable vest to monitor physiological signals and manage COPD with co-morbidities. Accessories include a variety of additional vital signs meters/inhaler monitoring devices, accompanied by a patient support system addressing lifestyle and quality of life. The system will be validated in Greece, UK, Ireland and Netherlands. Objectives: To gauge patients9 perceptions and requirements for WELCOME and highlight current challenges. Method: Focus groups consisting of 32 patients with COPD plus co-morbidities were conducted, exploring current care, medication adherence, the WELCOME system, vital signs monitoring and views on disease management applications. Results: Patients were generally satisfied with current care but complained of delays in accessing healthcare and fragmented treatment of co-morbidities. All admitted a degree of non-adherence caused by forgetfulness, inhalation technique and generic/brand drug substitution. Despite little daily interaction with technology, the majority described WELCOME as brilliant and creative. Potential benefits included: Support for decision making, reducing visits to healthcare facilities and sense of safety. All patients were willing to wear the vest, as long as it was light, breathable and non-irritant. Patients were happy to receive alerts and take appropriate actions. They expressed a desire for functions to provide medication reminders, advice on stress management, diet, exercise and ability to transmit queries. Conclusion: Patients were receptive to WELCOME and happy to engage constructively with it, perceiving this as a form of assurance in decision making about their own healthcare.