Patient monitoring is an integral part of the trials’ focus to actively include patients in self-care and to support concordance to their care plans. Patient monitoring is used here to facilitate the communication and sharing of data between the patient and the clinician with the aim to improve disease management. Better management of chronic diseases is associated with fewer unplanned admissions and fewer bed days. There is also evidence for improvement in quality of life from close monitoring and easy access to caregivers. The trials will demonstrate effects of close coordination.
The main principle behind monitoring in PICASO is that it must be seen as a help for patients with chronic diseases; it must be unobtrusive and user friendly, and most importantly it must comply with the current laws related to data protection and privacy.
The patients who participate in the PICASO trials will be given a set of certified health devices that can measure and monitor specified health parameters that are relevant for their condition. These parameters include weight, blood pressure, sleep quality, and activity. In addition, questionnaires to assess the patient’s quality of life in relation to their health will be available in the PICASO system. This allows patients to self-assess their health related quality of life and share the results with their physician, who can use to data to perform an overall assessment of the patient’s progress and care plan.