ESPE Abstracts

Background: Advancements in healthcare digitalisation are facilitating the management of long-term recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) therapies. Understanding the benefits and risks associated with digital healthcare solutions is crucial to assess their effectiveness in improving treatment adherence and ultimately achieving optimal growth outcomes.

Aim: To explore healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) perspective on the potential acceptance and key recommendations associated with the integration of digital health solutions for growth hormone (GH) therapy and examine the associated benefits and risks.

Method: A participatory workshop was conducted in Hong Kong to discuss digitalisation in GH therapy. The workshop discussions were mainly focused on four key themes. Aluetta® with SmartdotTM was used as a study case during the discussions. The workshop commenced with an understanding of the context, focusing on the current factors associated with GH therapy and the obstacles faced by HCPs, patients, and caregivers during the management of growth hormone deficiency. This was followed by discussions on relevant health considerations, perceived usefulness, and ease of use of Aluetta® with SmartdotTM. Finally, the discussions covered the potential risks and benefits associated with utilisation of a digital device to support GH therapy.

Results: HCPs identified adherence data collection as the primary parameter related to treatment efficacy, that allows improvement and personalisation of the motivational strategies implemented within digital solutions. Cost was identified as a key consideration while choosing a pharmacological or digital solution in GH therapy. Acceptance of such solutions in Hong Kong is largely dependent on usage of mobile phone and the age of patients and caregivers. Experts agreed some key factors affecting the technology acceptance, such as the appropriateness of the digital health solution, its ease-of-use, and the availability of adherence data. In this regard, Aluetta® with Smartdot™ garnered positive feedback for its convenience, ease-of-use, and real-time secure automatic transmission of injection data. Digital health ecosystem empowers HCPs by facilitating improved decision-making, resource optimisation, and treatment adherence monitoring. Visualisations in the Growzen™ Buddy app were considered useful. Additionally, they recommended collecting weight and height data along with automated growth rate calculations to streamline analysis and expedite decision-making.

Conclusion: Aluetta® with Smartdot™ facilitates the creation of customised GH treatment plans, leading to a positive impact on patients’ enthusiasm for r-hGH therapy. The outcomes from these workshops can help generate new insights that support HCPs in effectively integrating and recommending digital health solutions during GH therapy.