Patients and Healthcare Providers' Needs and Values in Remote Patient Monitoring for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbation Management: Continuing Co-creation

Background: Early diagnosis and prevention of COPD exacerbations is crucial to preserve overall wellbeing and reduce healthcare costs. A non-invasive breathalyzer is being co-created to support COPD exacerbation through remote patient monitoring (RPM). To ensure compatibility with existing COPD care, it is necessary to identify the most relevant product and process values defined by stakeholders. Objective: This study aims to create an overview of product and process-related values for the breathalyzer and its associated COPD care process. Methods: Following the CeHRes roadmap, three research activities were conducted as part of the second phase of co-creation (i.e., the value specification phase): 1) interviews (n=34), 2) focus group sessions 3) expert group meetings. Results: 49 product and process values were identified. Four researchers categorized these values into ten categories, 1) Improving patient outcomes, 2) Patient-centered care, 3) User-friendly and inclusive, 4) Clear agreements on responsibility of care, 5) Improving patient empowerment, 6) Providing good information and guidance, 7) Increasing care efficiency, 8) A comprehensive implementation process, 9) Better care provided to patients by HCPs, 10) Safe and reliable. One overarching value was identified which is important to incorporate throughout the entire process for each category; being inclusive for patients with low health and digital literacy skills. Conclusion: This study highlights important values when developing an RPM product and corresponding care process. Future research will focus on translating these values into product and process requirements deemed essential to facilitate successful integration of the RPM product and process into existing COPD (exacerbation) care. Funding: This abstract is part of BreathSense project, which has received funding from the European Union’s [Horizon Europe EIC] research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101115028.