A recently carried out study by the University of Ostfinland Business School shows that older neurological patients have the willingness to accept remote monitoring (RM) in the home environment even in the phase before the implementation. Home-Based RM uses digital health technologies to pursue the health metrics of the patient and to safely send data to medical specialists at the clinical location. RM at home includes portable devices and apps for mobile health that monitor important health metrics (e.g. activity, sleep, heart rate). RM is particularly appealing older patients who age in their own home and at the same time want to maintain their independence.
According to the study, older neurological patients who lived with a family supervisor accepted RM rather than those who lived alone. In addition, patients with a higher level of education were more open for the introduction of RM. Even those who had a caregiver during their visit to the clinic accepted RM. Age, gender and place of residence showed no effect.
The study was carried out in the neurosurgery of the university hospital of neurosurgery of the University of the Kuopio University in Finland and 30 patients in which a specific neurological state was diagnosed, idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (inph). The results were published in the Home Healthcare Management & Practice Journal that contributes an insight into the introduction of digital health in older patients with chronic diseases.
The patients in this study were introduced into the prospective implementation of RM in their home and completed a structured survey to investigate the connection between RM acceptance and six socio -demographic factors, namely age, gender, level of education, life investigation, place of residence and place of residence, during the presence of family care during the outpatient clinic visits.
The doctoral researcher Melika Azim Zadegan from the University of Ostfinland emphasized the practical effects of the study results:
“Our practical recommendations include the implementation of education initiatives that are tailored to different educational backgrounds of older neurological patients. Health policy should ensure that the support of the nurse is integrated into RM programs by training the nursing staff together with patients to maintain resources to support technology management and to recognize their role at RM with adequate support and resources. For technology developers, cooperation with patient representative groups should be encouraged to ensure that RM solutions are designed by both patient and nursing personnel perspectives. This cooperation would help to assign RM solutions to the needs of specific patient populations such as older neurological patients. “
The study was carried out in the Doctoral Program Neuro innovation, which is financed by the University of Ostfinland and the Horizon 2020 research and innovation program of the European Union as part of Marie Skłodowska-Grant Agreement No. 101034307.
Source:
University of East Finland (UEF communication)
Journal Reference:
Zadegan, MA, et al. (2025). The acceptance of remote monitoring in older neurological patients: Examination of socio -demographic factors in the phase before implementation. Home Health Care Management & Practice. doi.org/10.1177/1084823251324598.