Developing modular training components to support home hospital digital solutions: Results of a Delphi panel

• Published in: International journal of medical informatics (Shannon, Ireland) Ireland), 2022-02, Vol.158, p.104655-104655, Article 104655
• Main Authors: Abril-Jiménez, Patricia, Merino-Barbancho, Beatriz, Vera-Muñoz, Cecilia, Mallo de la Calle, Irene, Villanueva-Mascato, Samanta, Bibiano Guillen, Carlos, Pinuaga Orrasco, Raquel, Mallaina-García, Raúl, Teresa Arredondo Waldmeyer, María, Fico, Giuseppe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Delphi panel; Home hospitalization; Patients’ training; Remote monitoring
• ISSN: 1386-5056; 1872-8243
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2021.104655

[Display omitted] •Digital technologies such as remote monitoring systems have the potential to support and expand the benefits of Home Hospitalization programs.•Patients hospitalized at home, specially, senior patients, require from a tailored, but simple training to proactive participate in this digitalization health process.•A modular set of informatics, treatment and support competencies, materials and methods specific to build personalized training content to HH patients in Spain have been identified.•These initial findings are being used as a starting point for new HH protocols in other hospitals and countries. Home hospitalization (HH) has demonstrated to be a cost-effective alternative with respect ti traditional hospitalization. Digital technologies, such as remote monitoring, have the potential to contribute to its expansion. Tailored educational content is a need to ensure patient safety during the whole admission. The objective of this study was to systematically obtain consensus on patients with HH using training in the digital monitoring system. The goal of this work was to develop an adaptable modular and personalized training program for patients to support quality and safety care for HH. The methodological approach for developing the proposed training content followed a modified Delphi technique with a multidisciplinary group of experts with significant knowledge of health informatics and HH protocols in Spain. The study comprised two rounds of training material description and gathering were completed. In Round 1, the experts received 58 predefined items obtained from the literature review and protocol selection. 20 items were rejected for different reasons and 25 new items were proposed. In Round 2, the experts selected the final items to build on the training content for every type of user and illness. A total of 21 experts completed rounds 1 and 2. The consensus was reached at the end of Round 2 with the inclusion of 53 items to build the training material. This included 17 treatment procedures, 4 diagnosis procedures, 22 additional support content, and 10 content features that describe how to build and deliver customized training content. Participants agreed on the type of content, its structure, and delivery methods to build modular training materials that support patients when they are hospitalized at home with the help of digital monitoring tools. This information can be used to create HH training programs that support new HH proto