Digital-HF
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Digital tools in Heart failure - a survey of patient usage
IRAS ID
307636
Contact name
Martin Cowie
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Brompton hospital
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 29 days
Research summary
Heart failure is a chronic health condition associated with significant symptoms, an increased need of support from the NHS, and typically is associated with a reduction in life expectancy. The covid pandemic has made it more difficult for the NHS to deliver high quality care to the 1 million patients living with heart failure in the UK. NHS England plans that digitalisation of services will help, increasing efficiency and improving ability of patients to self-care and manage their conditions. “Digitalisation” includes the use of digital tools for health, such as Apps and online resources & support. But the typical heart failure patient does not receive a diagnosis of heart failure until their 70s or 80s, creating a significant risk of digital exclusion. We don’t have any information about which tools (if any) heart failure patients are using, or why.
Patients who attend the heart failure clinic at the Royal Brompton, either face-to-face or virtually, will be eligible for our study. They will be provided an information sheet and asked for informed consent. The study consists of a single questionnaire which only takes between 5-15 minutes to complete, this consists of 3 previously validated questionnaires and one bespoke questionnaire related to their digital tool use.
We aim to recruit 130 patients to help us better understand how many NHS patients with heart failure access digital tools, which ones are most often used, and how this relates to their health literacy, digital health literacy and overall attitude to their health condition and management. We will use this information to help inform local and national policy around digital support for people living with heart failure.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
21/WA/0392
Date of REC Opinion
1 Dec 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion