JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Wearable devices have been used extensively both inside and outside of the hospital setting. During the COVID-19 pandemic in some contexts, there was an increased need to remotely monitor pulse and saturated oxygen for patients due to the lack of staff and bedside monitors.

Objective:

A prototype of a remote monitoring system using wearable pulse oximeter devices was implemented at Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from August to December 2021. The objective of this work was to assess the use and acceptability of the system and improve its implementation.

Methods:

We used rapid pragmatic methods including informal discussions with healthcare workers and collected a feedback form designed from the Technology Acceptance Model. Based on these results, we facilitated a meeting using user-centred design principles to explore user needs and ideas about its development in more detail.

Results:

21 users filled in the feedback form. The mean Technology Acceptance Model scores ranged from 3.5 (perceived ease of use) to 4.4 (attitude) with behavioural intention (3.8) and perceived usefulness (4.2) in between. Those working as nurses scored higher on perceived usefulness, attitude, and behavioural intention than the physicians. Based on informal discussions, we realized there was a mismatch between how we (i.e. the research team) and the ward teams perceived the use and wider purpose of the technology.

Conclusions:

Designing and implementing the devices to be more nurse-centric from its introduction could have helped to increase the efficiency and its use during the complex pandemic period.