- Correspondence: Mr Anton Venter, Level 8, Crombie Lockwood Building, 15–21 Dixon Street, Wellington 6142, New Zealand (Fax: +64 4 802 0955; Email: anton.venter{at}healthcarenz.co.nz)
Abstract
Both congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are more common among Māori than non-Māori people,
and the cultural acceptability of home-based remote monitoring technology has not been tested. We conducted a 12-month pilot
trial of home telemonitoring. Patients were randomly assigned to the control and intervention groups. Patients in the control
group showed no clear differences in quality of life at the end of the trial. The telehealth group showed a consistent trend
towards improved quality of life on several instruments, including the SF-36, the St George Respiratory Questionnaire and
the K10 questionnaire; the improvement in the latter was significant. Hospitalizations were reduced in both the control (−19%)
and telehealth group (−25%). Patient interviews indicated that the technology was acceptable to most patients and their families,
including the Māori. The results from the pilot trial suggest that wider implementation with a cost benefit evaluation could
be worthwhile.
- Accepted January 11, 2012.
- © 2012 Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited
