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. 2022 Oct 18:16:2799-2810.
doi: 10.2147/PPA.S366963. eCollection 2022.

Patient Perspectives on Performance of a Smartphone App for Atrial FibrillationSelf-Management

Paul Mihas  1 , Lindsey Rosman  2 , Tiffany Armbruster  2 , Jennifer Walker  2 , Zack Deyo  3   4 , Anil Gehi  2
Affiliations

Patient Perspectives on Performance of a Smartphone App for Atrial FibrillationSelf-Management

Paul Mihas et al. Patient Prefer Adherence. .

Abstract

Introduction: AF self-care requires patients to perform daily self-monitoring for symptoms, practice decision making to address symptom changes, and adhere to prescribed medication, diet, physical activity, and follow-up care. Technology can facilitate these critical self-care behaviors and ultimately improve patient outcomes. We assessed atrial fibrillation (AF) patients' experiences with a smartphone application (app) for AF self-management.

Methods: A focus group with 9 AF patients and app users was conducted and analyzed using qualitative research methods. The focus group was recorded, transcribed, and coded using a priori and inductive coding strategies. Participant responses for each code were synthesized to identify primary themes.

Results: We identified four superordinate themes from patients' experiences: (1) disconnect between tool and its intended use; (2) app as acknowledged tool for adherence; (3) knowledge as empowerment; (3) motives: self-interest vs supporting research. Results from this qualitative study underscore the need to clarify the app's intended use and to better accommodate patients with different AF experiences. The disconnect between a tool and its intended use can generate frustration for users.

Discussion: The study reinforces that participants not only see how the app is a tool for adherence; they also see knowledge they gain via the app as empowering, suggesting a correlation between app use and self-efficacy.

Keywords: app; atrial fibrillation; digital health; focus group; qualitative.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ms Tiffany Armbruster reports grants from Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, during the conduct of the study. Ms Jennifer Walker research salary support from Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, during the conduct of the study. Dr Anil Gehi reports grants from Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation; speaker’s honoraria, consulting fees from Abbott, Zoll Medical, Biotronik, and iRhythm, outside the submitted work. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Example 1 of App Screen. Image with permission from Pattern Health. Copyright @ Pattern Health, 2022.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Example 2 of App Screen. Image with permission from Pattern Health. Copyright @ Pattern Health, 2022.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Example 3 of App Screen. Image with permission from Pattern Health. Copyright @ Pattern Health, 2022.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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