Analysis of the compliance with the measurement protocols scheduled in a telemonitoring system

Abstract

This paper presents findings on patient compliance in the recently completed Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) trial of home monitoring for chronic disease management carried out at several locations along the east coast of Australia. Subjects in this project had a principal diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), Hypertensive Diseases (HD), Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Diabetes or Asthma. All had been admitted to hospital at least once in the previous year. A number of vital signs, determined by the patient's condition, were monitored on average for 302 days. No statistically significant reduction in compliance was found over time. However, the compliance rates of patients monitored in hospital settings relative to those monitored in community settings were significantly higher for spirometry, body weight and body temperature, and the compliance rates for blood pressure, ECG and pulse oximetry were significantly higher in male relative to female subjects. No statistical differences were observed between rates of compliance for younger patients group (≤ 70 years old) and older patient group (> 70).