ESPE Abstracts

Background: Digital health is becoming increasingly important worldwide. However, there is a lack of research on barriers to the implementation of digital health solutions for growth disorders in the Gulf Region. Participatory research can help to understand barriers faced by different stakeholders, design effective solutions and evaluate their implementation, whilst taking cultural aspects into consideration. Involving clinicians in understanding barriers to and opportunities for the implementation of digital health solutions in disorders requiring recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) therapy has already been reported.¹

Aim: Our participatory research aimed to identify factors that could facilitate the use of digital health solutions by healthcare professionals (HCPs) and support the proper implementation of r-hGH therapy by paediatric patients and their families.

Methods: Workshop participants were asked to categorise different features of digital health solutions as either barriers or facilitators of use. Initially, the approach considered the broad population of patients with growth failure and more specific cases were addressed in a second step. In both instances, workshop participants were asked to consider their own patient population and professional experience. Participants were then asked to decide whether they would activate or deactivate different features within a hypothetical app to support r-hGH therapy.

Results: Overall, the workshop participants considered several features to be of high clinical relevance. Material content was seen as an important component that should be accessible at any time through multiple routes. Participants also suggested that calendar scheduling with reminders could help organise visits and improve adherence, including at therapy initiation, by establishing routines after which their frequency could be reduced. It was also suggested that adherence calendars may enhance communication between HCPs and patients, thus enabling dialogue on outcomes. Feedback on growth and motivational elements were also considered to be useful. Participants stated that they would be less likely to activate direct communication with HCPs due to liability issues when utilising the content. Similarly, patient support networks were considered unlikely to be activated unless they could be moderated very carefully.

Conclusion: This project identifies important facilitators and barriers for digital health tools in the context of the cultural and geographical needs within the Gulf region. Considering the identified factors when developing new digital solutions will increase the likelihood of their adoption and, thus, provide an opportunity to further improve the level of care for patients requiring r-hGH therapy.

Reference:

1. Koledova E, et al. Stud Health Technol Inform 2021;281:926-930.