Using digital interventions for self-management of chronic physical health conditions: A meta-ethnography review of published studies

- Self-management DIs can promote both clinical control and patient self-management.
- Patients feel less responsibility when HCPs give feedback on out-of-range readings.
- Patients like to perceive meaning in their physiological data.
- Tele-monitoring DIs can promote complex self-management behaviours.

ObjectivesTo understand the experiences of patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) using self-management digital interventions (DIs) for chronic physical health conditions.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in 6 electronic databases. Qualitative studies describing users' experiences of self-management DIs were included, and authors' interpretations were synthesised using meta-ethnography.Results30 papers met the inclusion criteria, covering a range of DIs and chronic conditions, including hypertension, asthma and heart disease. The review found that patients monitoring their health felt reassured by the insight this provided, and perceived they had more meaningful consultations with the HCP. These benefits were elicited by simple tele-monitoring systems as well as multifaceted DIs. Patients appeared to feel more reliant on HCPs if they received regular feedback from the HCP. HCPs focused mainly on their improved clinical control, and some also appreciated patients' increased understanding of their condition.ConclusionsPatients using self-management DIs tend to feel well cared for and perceive that they adopt a more active role in consultations, whilst HCPs focus on the clinical benefits provided by DIs.Practice implicationsDIs can simultaneously support patient condition management, and HCPs' control of patient health. Tele-monitoring physiological data can promote complex behaviour change amongst patients.