Patient perspectives on the use of mobile apps to support heart failure management: A qualitative descriptive study

BACKGROUND: Adherence to diet and medical therapies are key to improving heart failure (HF) outcomes; however, nonadherence is common. While mobile apps may be a promising way to support patients with adherence via education and monitoring, HF patient perspectives regarding the use of apps for HF management in unknown. This data is critical for these tools to be successfully developed, implemented, and adopted to optimize adherence and improve HF outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To determine patients’ needs, motivations, and challenges on the use of mobile apps to support HF management. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study using focus groups (n = 4,60 minutes) was conducted among HF patients from outpatient HF clinics in Toronto, Canada. The Diffusion of Innovation theory informed a ten-question interview guide. Interview transcripts were independently coded by two researchers and analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: Nineteen HF patients (65 ± 10 yrs, 12 men) identified a total of four key themes related to the use of mobile apps. The theme ‘Factors impacting technology use by patients’ identified motivations and challenges to app use, including access to credible information, easy and accessible user-interface. Three themes described patients’ needs on the use of mobile apps to support HF management: 1) ‘Providing patient support through access to information and self-monitoring’, apps could provide education on HF-related content (e.g., diet, medication, symptoms); 2) ‘Facilitating connection and communication’, through information sharing with healthcare providers and connecting with other patients; 3) ‘Patient preferences’, app features such as reminders for medication, and visuals to show changes in HF symptoms were favoured. CONCLUSIONS: HF patients perceive several benefits and challenges to app use for HF self-management. Capitalizing on the benefits and addressing the challenges during the app development process may maximize adoption of such tools in this patient population.