Development of a self-monitoring system for lung transplant patients using information and communication technology: a pilot study
medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)(2023)
Abstract
Background Lung transplantation is the final option for end-stage respiratory diseases. Postoperative monitoring of patients’ physical condition and performance of appropriate interventions for any abnormalities are important to improve the long-term success of lung transplantation. In Japan, patients’ handwritten self-management charts are widely used to record data for home spirometry, vital signs, and medication dosages. However, handwritten data are not suitable for assessment. We developed an internet-based real-time monitoring system (LT-FollowUp) that can easily assess patient data and detect any abnormalities that arise without delay. The aim of this pilot study was to examine the acceptability of LT-FollowUp to patients.
Methods This was a prospective single-arm pilot cohort study. Lung transplant patients were recruited consecutively at regular outpatient visits from October 2020. Patients were instructed to enter their self-measurements (pulmonary functions and vital signs) and immunosuppressant dosages twice a day.
Acceptability was assessed by the data filling rate. The changes in filling rate over time were evaluated using a linear mixed-effects model for repeated measurements.
Results A total of 19 patients were included in the study. There were no significant differences in the filling rates between the handwritten charts and LT-FollowUp.
Conclusion LT-FollowUp is an acceptable system for patients. Further development of the LT-FollowUp system may lead to better long-term clinical outcomes of lung transplantation.
### Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
### Funding Statement
This study was funded by grants-in-aid for scientific research from KAKENHI (21K16508)
### Author Declarations
I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.
Yes
The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:
This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of The University of Tokyo (2020156NI).
I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals.
Yes
I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).
Yes
I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable.
Yes
All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors.
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Key words
lung transplant patients,communication technology,self-monitoring
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