Designing Remote Patient Monitoring Technologies for Post-operative Home Cancer Recovery: The Role of Reassurance

Abstract

While cancer patients are recovering in hospital after major surgery, they are continually monitored by clinical teams. However, once discharged, they spend their remaining recovery isolated at home with minimal contact with the clinical team. The first 30 days upon returning home after surgery are identified to be a critical and challenging period for patients not only emotionally, practically, and mentally, but also poses a real danger of further complications, readmission, and potentially surgical related death. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) systems are extremely promising, allowing clinicians to care for and support patients remotely, however, although these technologies are mature, the level of adoption by the patients is still very low. To address this challenge, we focus on identifying and understanding the patients’ concerns and requirements when adopting a novel RPM technology. We conducted a series of iterative Patient Public Involvement workshops following a user-centred approach. We explored various scenarios based on prototypes and facilitated reflective discussions with cancer patients to identify existing barriers preventing them from adopting RPM technologies. The workshops revealed a wide range of concerns expressed by participants, categorised in five themes. However, lack of reassurance was identified as the central theme during the 30-day post-operative post-discharge period. In conclusion, reassurance proves to be central in engaging patients and making RPM technologies fit for purpose, potentially leading to elevated levels of adoption and improvement on health outcomes and quality of life.