Integrating avatar technology into a telemedicine application in heart failure patients A pilot study

A.J. Gingele; H. Amin; A. Vaassen; I. Schnur; C. Pearl; H.P. Brunner-La Rocca; J. Boyne

doi:10.1007/s00508-022-02150-8

Integrating avatar technology into a telemedicine application in heart failure patients A pilot study

A.J. Gingele^*, H. Amin, A. Vaassen, I. Schnur, C. Pearl, H.P. Brunner-La Rocca, J. Boyne

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

BackgroundHeart failure is a severe condition and telemedicine can improve the care of heart failure. Many patients are unable to use telemedicine applications due to visual impairment and limited health-related literacy. Avatar technology might help to overcome these limitations.MethodsA telemedicine application was combined with a nurse avatar and offered to heart failure outpatients for 3 months. System usability and patient satisfaction were evaluated monthly by the system usability score (maximum score=100) and the patient satisfaction scale (maximum score=50).ResultsIn total, 37 heart failure patients were enrolled. The mean system usability score after 1 month was 73 (standard deviation=24) and 72 (standard deviation=10) after 3 months of follow-up, which was not significantly different (p = 0.40). The mean patient satisfaction scale after 1 month was 42 (standard deviation=5) and 39 (standard deviation=8) after 3 months, which was not significantly different (p = 0.10).ConclusionA nurse look-a-like avatar integrated into a telemedicine application was positively assessed by heart failure patients. Future studies are warranted to clarify the role of avatar technology in telemedicine.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	680–684
Number of pages	5
Journal	Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift
Volume	135
Issue number	23-24
Early online date	1 Feb 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-022-02150-8
Publication status	Published - Dec 2023

Keywords

Health care
eHealth
Telemedicine
Cardiovascular nursing
Self-care
VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS
SELF-EFFICACY
MANAGEMENT
ADHERENCE
KNOWLEDGE
LITERACY
REALITY

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Cite this

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title = "Integrating avatar technology into a telemedicine application in heart failure patients A pilot study",

abstract = "BackgroundHeart failure is a severe condition and telemedicine can improve the care of heart failure. Many patients are unable to use telemedicine applications due to visual impairment and limited health-related literacy. Avatar technology might help to overcome these limitations.MethodsA telemedicine application was combined with a nurse avatar and offered to heart failure outpatients for 3 months. System usability and patient satisfaction were evaluated monthly by the system usability score (maximum score=100) and the patient satisfaction scale (maximum score=50).ResultsIn total, 37 heart failure patients were enrolled. The mean system usability score after 1 month was 73 (standard deviation=24) and 72 (standard deviation=10) after 3 months of follow-up, which was not significantly different (p = 0.40). The mean patient satisfaction scale after 1 month was 42 (standard deviation=5) and 39 (standard deviation=8) after 3 months, which was not significantly different (p = 0.10).ConclusionA nurse look-a-like avatar integrated into a telemedicine application was positively assessed by heart failure patients. Future studies are warranted to clarify the role of avatar technology in telemedicine.",

keywords = "Health care, eHealth, Telemedicine, Cardiovascular nursing, Self-care, VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS, SELF-EFFICACY, MANAGEMENT, ADHERENCE, KNOWLEDGE, LITERACY, REALITY",

author = "A.J. Gingele and H. Amin and A. Vaassen and I. Schnur and C. Pearl and {Brunner-La Rocca}, H.P. and J. Boyne",

note = "Funding Information: The study was funded by Novartis Pharma B.V. and supported in part by INTERREG-NWE Vb (NWE702) Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023, The Author(s).",

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doi = "10.1007/s00508-022-02150-8",

language = "English",

volume = "135",

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AU - Gingele, A.J.

AU - Amin, H.

AU - Vaassen, A.

AU - Schnur, I.

AU - Pearl, C.

AU - Brunner-La Rocca, H.P.

AU - Boyne, J.

PY - 2023/12

Y1 - 2023/12

N2 - BackgroundHeart failure is a severe condition and telemedicine can improve the care of heart failure. Many patients are unable to use telemedicine applications due to visual impairment and limited health-related literacy. Avatar technology might help to overcome these limitations.MethodsA telemedicine application was combined with a nurse avatar and offered to heart failure outpatients for 3 months. System usability and patient satisfaction were evaluated monthly by the system usability score (maximum score=100) and the patient satisfaction scale (maximum score=50).ResultsIn total, 37 heart failure patients were enrolled. The mean system usability score after 1 month was 73 (standard deviation=24) and 72 (standard deviation=10) after 3 months of follow-up, which was not significantly different (p = 0.40). The mean patient satisfaction scale after 1 month was 42 (standard deviation=5) and 39 (standard deviation=8) after 3 months, which was not significantly different (p = 0.10).ConclusionA nurse look-a-like avatar integrated into a telemedicine application was positively assessed by heart failure patients. Future studies are warranted to clarify the role of avatar technology in telemedicine.

AB - BackgroundHeart failure is a severe condition and telemedicine can improve the care of heart failure. Many patients are unable to use telemedicine applications due to visual impairment and limited health-related literacy. Avatar technology might help to overcome these limitations.MethodsA telemedicine application was combined with a nurse avatar and offered to heart failure outpatients for 3 months. System usability and patient satisfaction were evaluated monthly by the system usability score (maximum score=100) and the patient satisfaction scale (maximum score=50).ResultsIn total, 37 heart failure patients were enrolled. The mean system usability score after 1 month was 73 (standard deviation=24) and 72 (standard deviation=10) after 3 months of follow-up, which was not significantly different (p = 0.40). The mean patient satisfaction scale after 1 month was 42 (standard deviation=5) and 39 (standard deviation=8) after 3 months, which was not significantly different (p = 0.10).ConclusionA nurse look-a-like avatar integrated into a telemedicine application was positively assessed by heart failure patients. Future studies are warranted to clarify the role of avatar technology in telemedicine.

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KW - MANAGEMENT

KW - ADHERENCE

KW - KNOWLEDGE

KW - LITERACY

KW - REALITY

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Integrating avatar technology into a telemedicine application in heart failure patients A pilot study

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