Abstract Background The increasing prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) has led to a rise in healthcare demand. With the aim to reduce healthcare burden, the field of home monitoring technologies for IBD management is expanding. Involvement of patients in the development of such technologies is essential for successful implementation. This study explores patient perspectives on receiving personal health information from home monitoring technologies. Methods A web-based questionnaire was distributed to a group of members of the research panel of the Dutch patient association for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The questionnaire, developed by the study team, consisted of 43 items covering demographics, IBD history, affinity with technology, and perspectives on receiving personal health information during remission, relapse and to predict flares from home monitoring technologies. We included patients who completed all questions on demographics, IBD history, and affinity with technology. Patient characteristics and responses were summarized using descriptive statistics. Through clustering analysis, we identified subgroups with similar perspectives on receiving personal health information. Results Out of 724 invited patients, 52% accessed the survey (n = 374), 342 participants were included after data cleaning. 75.7% considered it important to receive health information from home monitoring technologies during a period of remission, 91.2% during a flare, and 79.2% valued receiving information concerning the risk of an upcoming flare. Clustering analysis resulted in three clusters with A) mostly positive attitude, B) moderately positive attitude and C) negative attitude towards receiving personal health information from home monitoring technologies. The more positive patients (clusters A,B) placed more value on information and preferred to receive information more frequently than patients in the negative cluster C (Figure 1). The main concern reported by this cluster was a potential overload of information, which could lead to excessive confrontation with their illness. The positive clusters saw receiving health information as ways to anticipate an upcoming flare. Conclusion Dutch IBD patients have varying preferences on receiving personal health information from home monitoring technologies, which is influenced by disease impact. While some patients value frequent information to enhance self-management through anticipation, others may experience increased anxiety during a period of remission. These findings highlight the need for personalized strategies and involvement of patients in development and implementation of home monitoring technologies for IBD. Conflict of interest: Ms. Hazeleger, Lotte: No conflict of interest van Stiphout, Ruud: No conflict of interest Even, Aniek: No conflict of interest Van Der Horst, Danielle: No conflict of interest Hermsen, Sander: No conflict of interest Duijvestein, Marjolijn: Grant: Speaking fees from Bristol Meyers Squibb, Takeda, Galapagos, Janssen, Dr. Falk, Advisory board fees from Abbvie, Bristol Meyers Squibb, Celltrion, Galapagos/Alfasigma, Janssen, Takeda Grant/Research support: Pfizer, Bristol Meyers Squibb, Galapagos, Alfasigma, Janssen, Lilly
Hazeleger et al. (Thu,) studied this question.