6th Annual BMRP Investigator Meeting - Abstract

Home Telemanagement for Patients with Ulcerative Colitis (UC HAT)

Raymond K. Cross^1,2,a, Nadia Cheevers², Kathryn Lambert², Allison Steele², Paul Stozhkov³, Joseph Finkelstein^1,3

¹Veterans Affairs, Maryland Heath Care System (Baltimore, U.S.A.); ²Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and ³Departments Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine (Baltimore, U.S.A.)

Effective therapies exist to treat ulcerative colitis (UC). However, nonadherence, inadequate monitoring, and side effects result in suboptimal outcomes. Novel methods for monitoring patients with UC are needed. Our objectives were to assess acceptance of Home Automated Telemanagement in ulcerative colitis (UC HAT). The UC HAT system consists of a laptop connected to a scale, a decision support server and a web-based clinician portal. The UC HAT system facilitates self-care in UC patients by monitoring patient symptoms, side effects, and adherence, and helping the patients in following their individualized treatment plans. Ten adult patients with UC were trained to use UC HAT. Attitudinal surveys and qualitative interviews were performed. All patients reported that use of the computer was not complicated. 90% reported the symptom diary and side effect questions were not difficult. All patients reported the training was adequate and 70% reported that testing took little time. 70% would feel safer using the system. 90% would agree to use UC HAT in the future. Our results show that patients with UC can be easily trained to use HAT, and patient acceptance of the UC HAT system is high. Therefore, UC HAT has potential in improving clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction in UC.

^aPrincipal Investigator