JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs) frequently experience drug-related problems (DRPs). DRPs can have negative health consequences and should be timely solved to prevent these. A digital human, which is an embodied conversational agent, could provide medication-related information in a time- and place-independent manner to support patients to prevent and decrease DRPs.

Objective:

To identify factors that influence the intention of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases to use a digital human to retrieve medication-related information.

Methods:

A qualitative study with three in-person focus groups was conducted among adult patients diagnosed with an inflammatory rheumatic disease in the Netherlands. The prototype of a digital human is an innovative tool that provides spoken answers to medication-related questions and additionally provides information linked to the topic, such as (instructional) videos, drug leaflets and other relevant sources relevant. Prior to the focus group, participants completed a preparatory exercise at home to become familiar with the digital human. A semi-structured interview guide based on Proctor’s framework for implementation determinants was used to question participants about acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, costs, feasibility, fidelity, penetration, and sustainability of the digital human. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically.

Results:

A total of 22 patients (median age 68 years (interquartile range 52-75), 64% female) participated. In total, six themes describing factors influencing patients’ intention to use a digital human were identified: 1) the degree to which individual needs for medication information are met; 2) confidence in one’s ability to use the digital human; 3) the degree to which using the digital human resembles interacting with a human; 4) technical functioning of the digital human; 5) privacy and security; and 6) expected benefit of using the digital human.

Conclusions:

The intention of patients with IRDs to use a novel digital human to retrieve medication-related information is influenced by factors related to patients’ individual information needs and confidence in their abilities to use the digital human, features of the digital human, and patients’ expected benefit of using the digital human. These identified themes could be considered during further development of a digital human as well as during implementation to increase intention to use and future adoption. Thereafter, the effect of applying a digital human as instrument to improve patients’ self-management regarding DRPs could be researched.