A Patient-Driven Mobile Health Innovation in Cystic Fibrosis Care: Comparative Cross-Case Study

Background Patient-driven innovation in health care is an emerging phenomenon with benefits for patients with chronic conditions, such as cystic fibrosis (CF). However, previous research has not examined what may facilitate or hinder the implementation of such innovations from the provider perspective. Objective The aim of this study was to explain variations in the adoption of a patient-driven innovation among CF clinics. Methods A comparative multiple-case study was conducted on the adoption of a patient-controlled app to support self-management and collaboration with health care professionals (HCPs). Data collection and analysis were guided by the nonadoption, abandonment, spread, scale-up, and sustainability and complexity assessment tool (NASSS-CAT) framework. Data included user activity levels of patients and qualitative interviews with staff at 9 clinics (n=8, 88.9%, in Sweden; n=1, 11.1%, in the United States). We calculated the maximum and mean percentage of active users at each clinic and performed statistical process control (SPC) analysis to explore how the user activity level changed over time. Qualitative data were subjected to content analysis and complexity analysis and used to generate process maps. All data were then triangulated in a cross-case analysis. Results We found no evidence of nonadoption or clear abandonment of the app. Distinct patterns of innovation adoption were discernable based on the maximum end-user activity for each clinic, which we labeled as low (16%-23%), middle (25%-47%), or high (58%-95%) adoption. SPC charts illustrated that the introduction of new app features and research-related activity had a positive influence on user activity levels. Variation in adoption was associated with providers’ perceptions of care process complexity. A higher perceived complexity of the value proposition, adopter system, and organization was associated with lower adoption. In clinics that adopted the innovation early or those that relied on champions, user activity tended to plateau or decline, suggesting a negative impact on sustainability. Conclusions For patient-driven innovations to be adopted and sustained in health care, understanding patient-provider interdependency and providers’ perspectives on what generates value is essential.