Barriers for recruitment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to a controlled telemedicine trial. (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Broendum, Eva; Ulrik, Charlotte Suppli; Gregersen, Thorbjorn; Hansen, Ejvind Frausing; Green, Allan; Ringbaek, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Health informatics journal. Volume 24:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 216
• Page End: 224
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: assistive technologies -- decision-support systems -- ehealth -- organizational change and information technology -- telecare; Medical informatics -- Periodicals; 610.285
• DOI: 10.1177/1460458216667166
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1460-4582

Abstract

The aim of this analysis is to investigate reasons why patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease decline to participate in a controlled trial of telemedicine. Patients with previous chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations were invited to participate in a 6-month randomized telemedicine trial. For eligible patients, reasons for refusal were registered. Of 560 eligible patients, 279 (50%) declined to participate in the trial, 257 (92%) reported a reason: 53 (20.6%) technical concerns, 164 (63.8%) personal reasons, 17 (6.6%) preferred outpatient clinic visits, and 23 (8.9%) did not want to participate in clinical research. Compared to consenting patients, subjects declining participation were significantly older, more often female, had higher lung function (%predicted), lower body mass index, higher admission-rate for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the previous year, and were more often diagnosed with osteoporosis. Many eligible patients decline participating in a controlled tele-healthcare trial and, furthermore, a tailored approach for recruiting females and elderly patients appears appropriate.