Introducing telemonitoring for diabetic patients: Development of a telemonitoring ‘Health Effect and Readiness’ Questionnaire

Buysse, Heidi E.C.; Coorevits, Pascal; Van Maele, Georges; Hutse, Annemie; Kaufman, Jean; Ruige, Johannes; De Moor, Georges J.E.

doi:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2010.05.005

« Previous Next »International Journal of Medical Informatics
Volume 79, Issue 8 , Pages 576-584, August 2010

Introducing telemonitoring for diabetic patients: Development of a telemonitoring ‘Health Effect and Readiness’ Questionnaire

Heidi E.C. Buysse
- Dept. of Medical Informatics and Statistics, Ghent University, 5K3-De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +32 9 3325463; fax: +32 9 3323439.
Pascal Coorevits
- Dept. of Medical Informatics and Statistics, Ghent University, 5K3-De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
Georges Van Maele
- Dept. of Medical Informatics and Statistics, Ghent University, 5K3-De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
Annemie Hutse
- Dept. of Endocrinology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
Jean Kaufman
- Dept. of Endocrinology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
Johannes Ruige
- Dept. of Endocrinology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
Georges J.E. De Moor
- Dept. of Medical Informatics and Statistics, Ghent University, 5K3-De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

Received 17 February 2010; received in revised form 21 May 2010; accepted 23 May 2010. published online 21 June 2010.

Abstract

Purpose

Till now no validated instrument exists to measure the readiness and attitude of diabetic patients towards the use of telemonitoring. The purpose of the described study was to develop a Telemonitoring Attitude and Readiness Questionnaire and to check its validity and reliability.

Methods

After performing in-depth interviews in two separate sessions, the Telemonitoring Attitude and Readiness Questionnaire was completed by a convenience sample of 138 patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes to determine internal consistency. Test–retest reliability was further evaluated with a subsample of 21 patients.

Results

Analysis supports the validity and reliability of the 13-item Telemonitoring Health Effect and Readiness Questionnaire (THERQ) with three subscales: Communication with peers or during holidays with a professional (Cronbach's α=0.84), telemonitoring health effect (Cronbach's α=0.87), and communication with a professional from home (Cronbach's α=0.88). Test–retest reliability is satisfactory (intraclass correlation coefficients between 0.58 and 0.92).

Conclusions

The results of this study provide preliminary evidence that the Telemonitoring Health Effect and Readiness Questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument to measure the readiness and subjective feelings of health effect towards the use of telemonitoring. The THERQ could be used before the implementation of telemonitoring to check if diabetic patients are interested in the use of it but it could also be used in (randomized) controlled trials as the questions are put in such a way that also patients not (yet) using telemonitoring can answer the questions.

Keywords: Telemedicine, Validation, Questionnaires, Attitude, Utilisation, Diabetes mellitus