Subgroup analysis showed that telemonitoring reduced exacerbation rates when the intervention continued for longer than six months or pulmonary function was monitored .
Conclusions Telemonitoring for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was unlikely to result in statistically significant improvements in health outcomes .
However , our novel finding was that at least six months of intervention duration and monitoring of pulmonary function play roles in activating the effects of telemonitoring
Aims The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of telemonitoring for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease .
Home telemonitoring and quality of life in stable, optimised chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
We conducted a six-month r and omised controlled trial of home telemonitoring for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) . A total of 40 stable patients with moderate to severe COPD who had completed pulmonary rehabilitation took part . They were r and omised to receive st and ard care ( controls ) or st and ard care plus home telemonitoring ( intervention ) . During the monitoring period , patients in the telemonitoring group recorded their symptoms and physical observations twice daily . The data were transmitted automatically at night via the home telephone line . Nurses could access the data through a website and receive alerting email messages if certain conditions were detected . The patients completed the St George 's Respiratory Question naire , Hospital Anxiety and Depression and the EuroQoL EQ-5D quality of life scores before and after pulmonary rehabilitation , and then periodically during the trial . There were significant and clinical ly important improvements in the scores immediately following pulmonary rehabilitation , but thereafter there were no differences in quality of life scores between the groups at any time , or consistently within either group over time . The study showed that telemonitoring was safe but , despite being well used , it was not associated with changes in quality of life in patients who had stable COPD
Subgroup analysis showed that telemonitoring reduced exacerbation rates when the intervention continued for longer than six months or pulmonary function was monitored .
Conclusions Telemonitoring for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was unlikely to result in statistically significant improvements in health outcomes .
However , our novel finding was that at least six months of intervention duration and monitoring of pulmonary function play roles in activating the effects of telemonitoring
Aims The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of telemonitoring for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease .