JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

People with one or longer-term health conditions are becoming more prevalent, and the emphasis on patient-centred healthcare is changing and includes more self-management. However, since the introduction of self-management, it has been difficult to engage the will to self-manage one’s own condition, and with education programmes in own health based on scholastic education, more people with low health literacies and low socioeconomics are lost.

Objective:

In this project, we seek to understand the needs, values and preferences of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), who are provided with a 24/7 digital healthcare service, to better understand how they can be supported in handling their own condition through a digital context, and to increase empowerment and health literacy.

Methods:

Seven informants were included in the study, and all received 24/7 digital health support from a regional project in Region Zealand, Denmark and were diagnosed with COPD. The seven informants were visited four times over a period of two months. The informants completed the semi-structured interview based on James P. Spradley ethnographic interview. The content of the semi-structured interviews was analysed using an inductive methodology, resulting in three main categories and 10 subcategories.

Results:

During the semi-structured interview, we found nine categories: (1) condition and barriers, (2) measurements, (3) medicine, (4) behaviour, (5) motivation, (6) hobbies, (7) social network, (8) health professionals and (9) technology. These nine categories were categorized into three main categories: (1) health, (2) value creation and (3) resources. These categories were found to present the values, needs and preferences of people with COPD who are supported digitally.

Conclusions:

Individuals with COPD want to be seen as a whole person and still feel like having someone who can support them in their daily lives.