Remote follow-up based on patient-reported outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease: A qualitative study of patient perspectives

Abstract

Background: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are increasingly used in outpatient follow-up. PRO-based remote follow-up offers a new healthcare delivery model, where PROs are used as the basis for outpatient follow-up in patients with chronic kidney disease. However, the patient's perspective of this novel remote care delivery remains unknown.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the patients' experiences using PROs in remote care and how this mode of follow-up may enhance patient engagement.

Design: A qualitative approach was employed, guided by Focused Ethnography and Interpretive Description.

Participants: Purposively, 15 patients with chronic kidney disease experienced with PRO-based remote follow-up in 3 renal outpatient clinics in the Central Denmark Region, were recruited.

Measures: Field studies comprising participant observation in remote PRO consultations and individual, semi-structured interviews with the patients constituted the empirical data. Thematic analysis was performed according to Braun and Clarke's six-phase process.

Results: PRO-based remote follow-up may enhance patient engagement by a) improving communication, b) increasing disease knowledge, c) inducing flexibility, d) ensuring clinician feedback on PRO data, and e) prompting clinical action. Barriers to enhanced patient engagement were identified as a) lack of feedback on PRO data, b) lower disease knowledge, c) PRO in competition with biomedical data, and d) loss of personal relation.

Conclusion: PRO-based follow-up in remote care holds several advantages for the patients. However, some barriers need clinical awareness before PROs may enhance the patients' engagement in remote follow-up. Future studies should explore the impact of involving relatives in PRO-based follow-up.