Mobile Health Tech is Improving Treatment and Boosting Compliance

By Admin

Market research company Berg Insight reported that the number of patients using mobile devices for medical purposes increased over 44 percent in 2016 to 7.1 million people in the U.S. alone. And in the area of sleep therapy, it grew by 70 percent. Yet, these numbers are very small compared to the future predictions of health and technology experts.. Every day there are new developments in mobile health and telemedicine technologies, and every day there are new patients and medical professionals making use of them. In addition to the use of mobile phone apps and tablets, medical devices such as the popular CPAP machine for sleep apnea have become both wireless and automated, allowing both the patient and the healthcare provider to access daily reports via web-based interfaces. This system is becoming more secure and more efficient by the day, not only improving access to quality care, but keeping personal data secure in the process. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are 50 million to 70 million adults in the U.S. who suffer from sleep disorders, and the vast majority have either sleep apnea, insomnia, or both. With the advent of mobile health apps and sleep tracking software, patients can become much more involved in their treatments, and in many cases, much more responsive to the recommendations of their doctors. For those with sleep apnea, this means a higher likelihood of long-term treatment compliance, which can ultimately lead to a reduction of the symptoms and a higher quality of life.

What is Mobile Health Technology?

The World Health Organization’s definition of mobile health technology, abbreviated as mHealth, includes any use of mobile and wireless technologies to support the achievement of health objectives." On the other hand, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines mHealth as “the use of mobile and wireless devices (cell phones, tablets, etc.) to improve health outcomes, health care services, and health research.” To make things more complicated, there are other terms used interchangeably with mHealth such as telemedicine, telehealth, and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM). Each of these terms has its own distinct meaning, but the differences between them are not always clear (See Glossary Below). In general terms, telemedicine is the clinical application of technology, while telehealth encompasses a broader scope of applications beyond the diagnosis and maintenance of patient conditions. Mobile tech, however, deals strictly with mobile applications. And since mobile technology has proliferated to the point that nine out of every 10 U.S. citizens owns a cell phone, the use of mobile health technologies has come to represent a sense of empowerment for the patient, making them an active participant through self-monitoring and easy-access data.

The Applications

For the physician or healthcare provider, the use of mobile health technologies gives them access to data that was previously unavailable to them, but it also gives them better access to records and medical history information through streamlined Health information technology (HIT) and Health information exchange (HIE) systems. The technologies allow for more collaboration among teams of professionals and the patients they serve, and this is done through text messaging, patient portals, and real-time monitoring via personal device capabilities. For the patients, the ability to track their own data through personally chosen applications can be a motivating factor in treatment compliance, and having access to their clinical records and communications portals to their providers often gives them a more positive perspective of the treatment experience. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies allow both doctors and patients to use their own technology to access data and communicate. As these systems become more user-friendly and educational, the patients become more willing to take part and learn from the experiences. Use of automated care mechanisms in medical devices like CPAP machines, combined with self-management platforms via mobile technologies, can encourage patients to keep up with their treatment regimens and seek help when there are problems. Using just a hand-held cell phone, they are able to access Web-based educational programs, treatment follow-up platforms, and peer-based support forums that give them advice from the perspective of well-experienced patients who are familiar with the treatment options and are more than willing to help.

How mHealth Increases Compliance

The benefits of using telemedicine to support CPAP therapy and CPAP therapy compliance were observed beginning in the early 2000s when the technologies were still in their early stages of development. Since then, the rapid pace of further improvements has allowed for increasingly accurate and effective sleep data reports to be accessed at any time and from any place. In the traditional setting of the sleep clinic lab, breathing data was often accurate, but sleep data could vary a great deal depending on the patient’s comfort level at the time, recent life events, or any number factors influencing sleep at the particular time of the study. But with a constant stream of data coming directly from the home environment, doctors can develop highly accurate diagnoses, especially when combining home data with patient medical records and medical histories. In addition to automated CPAP machines and mobile data applications, PAP therapy systems now include remote monitoring capabilities that allow professionals to track patient progress and at the same time check for leaks, pressure issues, possible residual apnea events, or other factors that may be affecting treatment. Doctors receive automated feedback in the form of sleep, breathing, and heart monitoring data, but they also have the option of reaching out to the patient and informing them of any issues in real time. While the devices themselves will provide notifications and alerts to the patient, physicians can check up on the results to make sure that the patient understands what to do and how to adjust the device accordingly. At this point, there have been a number of studies clearly documenting the effects of mobile support systems on CPAP therapy compliance, some of them finding rather high correlations between mobile systems and adherence. One study, published in the journal Chest, found that over 87 percent of patients using mobile systems and remote monitoring stayed with their therapy over 90 days. Given that the average adherence rate for CPAP therapy is 50 percent, these findings are highly significant. While most studies still call for further randomized trials and cost-effectiveness research, it has been repeatedly shown that patients are willing to use mHealth-supported interventions that can promote participation and improve compliance, and in the end, improve treatment outcomes.

A Mobile Future

In a very recent study on mobile health technologies, it was concluded that the range of options for monitoring, intervention, and support are effective means of patient participation, but should not replace one-on-one human contact in healthcare. Mobile applications are a great tool for improved healthcare experiences, giving patients further incentives for compliance when in many cases the issue is a major public health challenge. This can be said not only about sleep apnea treatment, but also about a wide range of health concerns in an aging population. Healthcare organisations are undergoing many changes through the implementation of telemedicine and remote-based care, and it is tempting for a taxed system to rely on remote options, but these tools have so far only shown positive results in combination with in-person assessments and consultations. Because of this, some professionals are urging for caution, concluding that, while mobile technologies are going to change the patient–physician relationship and improve care, there are future risks for over-reliance. Another challenge is the ongoing protection of private patient information shared on mobile devices. This issue, while already addressed by the application developers as well as the health industry, can always pose problems. There are always new compromises to data security online, and it will remain a risk for mobile tech services in the years to come. Of course, patients will need to balance that risk against the potential benefits of using the technology, but there will always be risks As with any tool, the use of mobile health technology can be very effective, but also needs to be used with care, especially where your future health and well being are at stake.

Terms

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare - the use of complex algorithms and software to arrive at medical conclusions without direct human input. EHealth - healthcare supported by electronic processes and communication. Health information exchange (HIE) - the mobilization of healthcare information electronically across organizations within a region, community or hospital system. Health information technology - (HIT) - information technology (IT) applied to health and health care. MHealth - an abbreviation for mobile health, the term most commonly used in reference to using mobile communication devices for health purposes. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)- use of technology to enable monitoring of patients outside of conventional clinical settings. Telecare - involves the remote care of the elderly and physically handicapped, in many cases allowing them to remain living in their own homes. Telehealth - involves the distribution of health-related services and information via electronic information and telecommunication technologies. Telemedicin (TM) - the use of information technologies to provide health care services.