Participant satisfaction with remote self-monitoring technology for chronic disease prevention

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to determine the satisfaction level with remote self-monitoring technologies among patients with metabolic syndrome. Methods: Participants (n = 15, mean age = 56.5) in rural southwestern Ontario attended four visits over the course of a year (0, 12, 24, and 52 weeks), and were provided with a Blackberry (BB), Bluetooth blood pressure (BP) monitor, Bluetooth glucometer, and pedometer to self-monitor their health. All measures were sent automatically to an online database, monitored by the research team. Using a self-report questionnaire, participants described their experiences with the technology. Results: Comfort using the devices varied, with 78.6% being immediately comfortable with the BP monitor, 57.1% with the glucometer, 100% with the pedometer, and 40% with the BB. For all devices, the remaining participants were comfortable with their use by two weeks into the study. Using a likert scale from 1-5 (strongly disagree - strongly agree) participants noted that the technology motivated them to exercise (mean = 4.0 ±1.6), increased personal self awareness (mean = 4.5 ±0.8), made them feel secure (mean = 4.1 ±1.1), was not time consuming (mean=2.1 ±1.3), and did not lose its novelty (mean = 2.1 ±1.0). As a result of the study, 26.7% planned on purchasing a BP monitor, 25.0% a glucometer, 50% a pedometer, 0.0% a BB, and 83.3% a self-monitoring health program. Conclusion: Based on the results, remote self-monitoring appears to provide a satisfactory means for patients that may decrease the burden of chronic disease.