About the Project

Telecommunication technologies can be an effective way of enabling the management of diabetes and other chronic diseases. Although these illnesses cannot be cured, they can be effectively treated and managed by various lifestyle and drug therapies. Controlling parameters such as blood pressure and hyperglycemia in type II diabetics has been shown to reduce mortality and complications. Unfortunately, current management of parameters such as blood pressure is well below accepted guidelines, in Canada and internationally. Healthcare Human Factors, in collaboration with the Medical Device Informatics Group at the Centre for eHealth Innovation discovered shortcomings with existing remote patient monitoring systems and initiated a project to design a new system that would meet the needs of both patients and providers.

The team tackled the redesign challenge through an iterative, user-centred design approach. Human factors experts facilitated focus groups with target users to better understand their needs. The team then developed prototypes that were evaluated through usability testing.  After several rounds of usability studies to validate and refine all prototype iterations the team developed an end-to-end system based on their findings. The new design focused on solving issues around workflow, comfort with technology, liability, and compensation.


Information regarding a patient’s severe readings or alerts is not apparent on the patient’s main page.

Recommended to include the number and type of severe readings or alerts.

Impact

The pilot study of the tele-monitoring technology showed a high acceptance rate of the system by users. A website interface was also developed to help manage diabetes and other chronic diseases and received positive feedback from stakeholders. The website will undergo further testing with representative users to inform future design prototypes. Results from the first round of randomized clinical trials are being analyzed for publication.