Digital Self-Monitoring Burdens Among Patients Living with Chronic Heart Disease: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Background: Digital self-monitoring is increasingly used in chronic heart disease care to support symptom tracking, risk recognition, and continuity between clinic visits, but its everyday burden for patients remains insufficiently understood. Objective: This study explored how patients living with chronic heart disease experienced digital self-monitoring and identified practical, emotional, technical, financial, relational, and service-related factors that shaped their acceptability and sustainability. Methods: This qualitative descriptive study analyzed 12 anonymised interview accounts from adults with chronic heart disease or related cardiac risk factors who had experience using digital self-monitoring tools. Data were examined using reflexive thematic analysis, with attention to participant engagement, support sources, dominant burdens, and theme–quote linkage. Results: Six themes were developed: measurement work and daily discipline; data anxiety and alert fatigue; digital literacy and device usability; cost and connectivity burden; clinician responsiveness and data accountability; and family involvement between support and surveillance. Participants valued monitoring when it offered reassurance, earlier response, and shared care, but they struggled when readings produced fear without interpretation, devices were difficult to use, uploads created hidden costs, clinician feedback was unclear, or family support became intrusive. Conclusion: Digital self-monitoring in chronic heart disease should be designed as minimally disruptive and accountable care, with personalised schedules, plain-language training, clear thresholds, affordable connectivity, visible clinical response, and consent-based caregiver involvement.