PhaseV: Input from users and clinicians is essential in the development of new digital health solutions

PhaseV: Input from users and clinicians is essential in the development of new digital health solutions

User involvement is an important phase in the development of new solutions in healthcare. A digital health solution should fit into the patient’s life, should provide value for the patient, and should be easy to use. This is why the input from both end-users and clinicians is a crucial part of the design phase in the PhaseV decentralised trials innovation project, where Monsenso and partners will develop a range of new digital health solutions for future clinical trials.

“It is important that we get the users’ perspective already while we design the solution. We need to know what their everyday life is like as patients, and when and how it creates value for the individuals to use our solution. Therefore, the phase of user involvement is important, and it is equally important that we get help from research to qualify and nuance users’ input”, says Thomas Lethenborg, CEO of Monsenso.

PhaseV is an interdisciplinary project based on citizen-generated data. The project will develop three apps for patients suffering from cost-intensive chronic diseases. The three apps are developed on top of an existing solution from Monsenso and address:

  •   obesity
  •   diabetic foot ulcers, and
  •   chronic urticaria.

The three apps will collect data in real time and show the effect of a given treatment – also between consultations.

Researchers are an important intermediary between users and the company
Monsenso is assisted by researchers from Aarhus University and the Research Unit for General Practice (FEAP) in collecting and analyzing user feedback. For the digital health solution for diabetic foot ulcers, a group of interviewers visited both the Wound Healing Center at Bispebjerg Hospital and Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus. Here, they have been in dialogue with almost 30 patients and a number of clinicians and home care employees.

The research team has also visited the section for chronic urticaria at Bispebjerg Hospital, where they have been in dialogue with several patients and clinicians, explains Christa Thomsen, Professor at the Department of Business Administration, Aarhus University.

“We need a lot of data from both patients and caregivers to get an idea of ​​what solution is needed and how it should work. Patients’ and employees’ experiences should form the basis for the information we pass on to the company so they can develop the most valuable solution“, explains Christa Thomsen.

Later this spring, the team will delve into user involvement for Monsenso’s third app aimed at citizens with obesity.

Interviews, observations, and workshops
Researchers have, among other things, developed question guides, which are used as a guideline for interviews with patients and staff. In addition, the interview team has witnessed a number of consultations, which have given them insight into patients’ daily lives with their condition (in this case, with diabetic foot ulcers) and clinicians’ daily routines.

“The solution to be developed must help ensure the best personal treatment for each patient. Therefore, it is important for us to know what information the caregivers need and how this data should be collected to provide value for both caregivers and citizens“, explains Ida Hestbjerg, research assistant at the Research Unit for General Practice.

Researchers’ data provides valuable knowledge
Emil Meyland Kortsen is responsible for developing the three apps for patients with diabetic foot ulcers, obesity, and chronic urticaria, respectively, and he describes user input as indispensable.

“We have received extremely valuable knowledge from the research team about users’ and clinicians’ needs and desires for the new solution. As a developer, I can present the possibilities that exist in the technology, but I need qualified sparring from users, healthcare professionals, and research to be able to refine the drafts. The task now is to become even more specific about the different functions and to continue to optimize the solution,” says Emil Meyland Kortsen, Product Owner at Monsenso.

This article is a translation of an original Danish version written by Lotte Overbjerg, 01st March 2023.
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About Monsenso
Monsenso is an innovative technology company offering a digital health solution used for decentralised trials, remote patient monitoring and treatment support. Our mission is to contribute to improved health for more people at lower costs by supporting treatment digitally and leveraging patient-reported outcomes data. Our solution helps optimise the treatment and gives a detailed overview of an individual’s health through the collection of outcome, adherence, and behavioural data. It connects individuals, carers, and health care providers to enable personalised treatment, remote care, and early intervention. We collaborate with health and social care, pharmaceuticals, and leading researcher worldwide in our endeavours to deliver solutions that fit into the life of patients and health care professionals. To learn more visit  www.monsenso.com.

Monsenso participates in new project to investigate what works best for patients with depression after discharge from psychiatric treatment

Monsenso participates in new project to investigate what works best for patients with depression after discharge from psychiatric treatment

Depression is more common than one might think. In Denmark, it is estimated that between 7-12% of men and 15-25% of women suffer from depression at least once in their lifetime [1], which means that approximately 150.000 Danes live with moderate to severe depression at any given time [2]. But how do patients who have received psychiatric treatment for depression experience the sector-transition into the primary sector? And what are their needs for treatment and care from different healthcare sectors? The DEPRIC research project is now trying to find answers and thereby develop a new treatment model for depression across healthcare sectors in Denmark.

The transitional phase from inpatient wards into the primary sector can represent a vulnerable period for patients suffering from depression [3,4], with “high risks of relapse and readmission” [5] . The research project DEPRIC thus aims to establish a new treatment model for depression across the healthcare sectors in Denmark. The project is led by PhD student Anne Sofie Mosborg Aggestrup from the Mental Health Services in the Capital Region of Denmark. The DEPRIC project began in October 2021, and the project now offers patients who have completed a treatment course for severe depression at an affective disorders outpatient unit at the Mental Health Centre Copenhagen to participate in this cross-sectoral study by self-reporting data in an application (app) [6].

Throughout the research project so far, interviews, focus groups, and a group interview have been conducted with participating patients, healthcare professionals, and job consultants across sectors. In addition, the project will conduct workshops during the autumn of 2023. Currently, patients will be provided with the Monsenso digital health solution, an app that will allow them to register relevant data throughout the research project. This self-reported patient data will entail, for instance, data on the patients’ mood, sleep patterns, mental well-being, use of medication, connections to the labour market, and on why and how often they have approached specialist groups after their treatment course in the psychiatry [6]. 

It is anticipated that patients will begin their app registrations at the end of February 2023, and will then register every second week for a period of six months. The researchers behind the DEPRIC project aim to establish a more coherent patient course by involving patients, healthcare professionals, and job consultants in developing a new treatment model across healthcare sectors in Denmark. The researchers hypothesize that this will promote patients’ recovery process from depression, and reduce relapses of depression and psychiatric hospitalizations after the patients’ discharge from outpatient psychiatric treatment.

“Our aim is to help provide better health with better data. We are looking forward to contributing to this project and helping patients with mental illness transition across sectors more seamlessly for a better patient experience and higher quality of life”, says Thomas Lethenborg, CEO at Monsenso.

 “The self-registrations in the app will help us to identify factors and parameters to support patients on their pathway into the primary healthcare sector. Together with interviews, focus groups, group interviews, and workshops, the data in the app will help to develop a new treatment model that aims to prevent relapse of depression”, says Anne Sofie Mosborg Aggestrup, PhD student at the University of Copenhagen.
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About Monsenso
Monsenso is an innovative technology company offering a digital health solution used for decentralised trials, remote patient monitoring and treatment support. Our mission is to contribute to improved health for more people at lower costs by supporting treatment digitally and leveraging patient-reported outcomes data. Our solution helps optimise the treatment and gives a detailed overview of an individual’s health through the collection of outcome, adherence, and behavioural data. It connects individuals, carers, and health care providers to enable personalised treatment, remote care, and early intervention. We collaborate with health and social care, pharmaceuticals, and leading researcher worldwide in our endeavours to deliver solutions that fit into the life of patients and health care professionals. To learn more visit  www.monsenso.com.

References:
[1] Kessing, L.V. (2021). Depression, forekomst. Sundhed.dk.
https://www.sundhed.dk/borger/patienthaandbogen/psyke/sygdomme/depression/depression-forekomst/#:~:text=Depression%20er%20hyppig.,de%20lettere%20og%20moderate%20depressioner.

[2] Videbech, P., & Deleuran, A. (). The Danish Depression Database. Clinical Epidemiology, 8, 475–478.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5098510/

[3] Dunker Svendsen, S., Aggestrup, A.S., Nørregaard, L.B., Løventoft, P., Præstegaard, A., Danilenko, K.V., Frost, M., Knorr, U., Hageman, I., Vedel Kessing, L. & Martiny, K. (2019). Circadian reinforcement therapy in combination with electronic self-monitoring to facilitate a safe post-discharge period of patients with depression by stabilizing sleep: protocol of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry, 19, 124. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2101-z

[4] Tønning, M.L., Faurholt-Jepsen, M., Frost, M., Martiny, K., Tuxen, N., Rosenberg, N., Busk, J., Winther, O., Melbye, S.A., Thaysen-Petersen, D., Aamund, K.A., Tolderlund, L., Bardram, J.E. & Kessing, L.V. (2021). The effect of smartphone-based monitoring and treatment on the rate and duration of psychiatric readmission in patients with unipolar depressive disorder: The RADMIS randomized controlled trial. Journal of Affective Disorders, 282, 354-363. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33421863/

[5] Lauritsen, L., Andersen, L., Olsson, E., Søndergaard, S.R., Nørregaard, L.B., Løventoft, P.K., Svendsen, S.D., Frøkjær, E., Jensen, H.M., Hageman, I., Kessing, L.V. & Martiny, K. (2017). Usability, Acceptability, and Adherence to an Electronic Self-Monitoring System in Patients With Major Depression Discharged From Inpatient Wards. Journal of Medical Internet Research,19(4), e123. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28432040/

[6] Madsen, M.B. (2023). Forskere vil forbedre overgange i behandling til mennesker med depression gennem en brugerinddragende indsats. Region Hovestandens Psykiatri.
https://www.psykiatri-regionh.dk/presse-og-nyt/Nyheder-og-pressemeddelelser/Sider/forskningsprojektet-depric.aspx

European community-based intervention project will use Monsenso’s platform to prevent mental illness

European community-based intervention project will use Monsenso’s platform to prevent mental illness

Together with a European consortium of partners, Monsenso has received a grant letter on a new community-based intervention project that includes development and trial of a digital health intervention delivered on Monsenso’s platform to prevent mental illness among vulnerable groups.

Global trends such as war, economic crisis, climate changes, migration, pandemics and ageing population place increasing stress and pressure on European societies. To be able to adapt to fast-changing situations, scalable intervention programmes targeted at building resilience and enhancing self-help competency to prevent mental illness are needed.

Upon receiving this grant letter, Monsenso is now entering into grant agreement negotiations with a consortium of leading researchers in clinical psychology, internet-based therapy, AI and community mental health providers across Europe. The aim of the project is to develop and trial an AI-enabled personalised self-care program based on Monsenso’s platform to help prevent mental illness for high-risk groups. The five-year project is anticipated to start in Q2-2023 and is expected to contribute with DKK 5.7 mio to Monsenso.

“This is the second AI-enabled personalised therapy project that we plan to start in the coming year, and it comes after finalising another European research project this year, where results showed significant effect of delivering digital cognitive behavioral therapy for prevention of mental illness. We will build on the evidence and experience of previous projects and further develop our platform to provide personalised, AI-driven digital programs for people at risk of developing mental illness, so that they can get easy and timely access to evidence-based support”, says Thomas Lethenborg, CEO of Monsenso.

Further information on the project including consortium members, funding program and population groups targeted will be communicated upon signature of a grant agreement, which is expected in Q1 of 2023.
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About Monsenso
Monsenso is an innovative technology company offering a digital health solution used for decentralised trials, remote patient monitoring and treatment support. Our mission is to contribute to improved health for more people at lower costs by supporting treatment digitally and leveraging patient-reported outcomes data. Our solution helps optimise the treatment and gives a detailed overview of an individual’s health through the collection of outcome, adherence, and behavioural data. It connects individuals, carers, and health care providers to enable personalised treatment, remote care, and early intervention. We collaborate with health and social care, pharmaceuticals, and leading researcher worldwide in our endeavours to deliver solutions that fit into the life of patients and health care professionals. To learn more visit  www.monsenso.com.

Monsenso to participate in AI-enabled personalised mental health therapy project

Monsenso to participate in AI-enabled personalised mental health therapy project

Monsenso and a consortium of partners have received a grant letter from a funding entity to develop and trial a new, AI-enabled personalised therapy concept for people with mental disorders.

Currently, digital mental health interventions are largely developed as a one-size-fits-all approach, where patients get a fixed 6-12 week intervention and where drop-out rates are relatively high.

With the grant letter received, Monsenso is entering grant agreement negotiations with a consortium of leading researchers in clinical psychology, internet-based therapy, health economics and AI to develop and trial a new AI-enabled personalised care concept based on Monsenso’s platform. The four-year project is anticipated to start in Q2-2023 and is expected to contribute with DKK 3.9 mio to Monsenso.

“With this project, we will further develop our platform’s ability to deliver personalised digital treatment programs and to ensure optimal adherence to treatment. By leveraging patients’ own data and artificial intelligence, the aim is to be able to give more engaging and personalised care based on patients’ actual state, so that patients are offered the right treatment at the right time in a scalable way”, says Thomas Lethenborg, CEO of Monsenso.

Full disclosure of the project details including consortium members, funding program, and disorder area will be possible upon signature of the grant agreement, which is expected in Q1 of 2023.
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About Monsenso
Monsenso is an innovative technology company offering a digital health solution used for decentralised trials, remote patient monitoring and treatment support. Our mission is to contribute to improved health for more people at lower costs by supporting treatment digitally and leveraging patient-reported outcomes data. Our solution helps optimise the treatment and gives a detailed overview of an individual’s health through the collection of outcome, adherence, and behavioural data. It connects individuals, carers, and health care providers to enable personalised treatment, remote care, and early intervention. We collaborate with health and social care, pharmaceuticals, and leading researcher worldwide in our endeavours to deliver solutions that fit into the life of patients and health care professionals. To learn more visit  www.monsenso.com.

Healthier together – The EU Non-Communicable Diseases Initiative

Healthier together – The EU Non-Communicable Diseases Initiative

Did you know that every year, 41 million people die from non-communicable diseases (71% of all deaths worldwide) and that over 15 million people out of those are only aged 30-69 [1]?

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are defined as chronic health conditions that have “genetic, lifestyle, or environmental causes rather than viral or bacterial” ones [2]. NCDs are not contagious, but they do result in long-term health issues and often require long-term treatment and care [2]. Apart from diseases such as cancer or diabetes, mental disorders also fall into the category of non-communicable diseases [1]. 

In a previous blog post, we explored approaches taken to improve mental health in Denmark. But what are we actually doing on an EU level to ease the burden of mental illness on our international societies?

The  EU Non-Communicable Diseases Initiative
In order to fight non-communicable diseases and support the people suffering from them, the European Commission has launched the Healthier together – EU Non-Communicable Diseases Initiative (EU NCD Initiative), aimed at covering the period from 2022 to 2027. The main objective of this initiative is “to support EU countries in identifying and implementing effective policies and actions to reduce the burden of major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and improve citizens’ health and well-being.” [3].

One of the five strands covered by the initiative is mental health and neurological disorders.
The EU NCD Initiative aims at mental health and well-being promotion, improved prevention and treatment of mental disorders, and better support for individuals suffering from mental health problems. In order to accomplish this, a need for setting up improved “supportive structures, mechanisms and processes for integrated policies and actions to support mental health” has been defined [3].

Collaborative action on mental health and neurological disorders
The European Commission has suggested several “work packages” on mental health and neurological disorders, with the goal to reduce the burden of mental illness on our international society. Possible priority areas defined include:

  • Adopting a mental health-in-all-policies approach: Overall creation of favourable conditions addressing environmental and social determinants for better mental health 
  • Focusing on mental health promotion and mental illness prevention, e.g. by supporting “the development of social and emotional skills in childhood” [3] and by preventing burnout and stress at the workplace
  • Improving the provision of access to high-quality mental health services, e.g. by increasing the capacity in order to meet the growing need for mental health support
  • Tackling stigma against mental health conditions and enhancing the social inclusion of individuals suffering from poor mental health

Digitalization needs to become a priority
According to Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, “personnel shortages [and] insufficient recruitment and retention […] are blighting health systems” [4].

While the need to hire more trained professionals is undoubtedly critical to improve mental health services, this may also be an opportunity for scalable technologies to improve the reach of the current workforce to serve the needs of patients waiting to receive care.

Surprisingly, when being asked to indicate overall priority areas across the different strands covered by the NCD initiative, only two EU countries (specify which) endorsed “digital tools to support health promotion, disease prevention and management” as a priority area [3].

In contrast, a large study by Elsevier Health (2022) shows that 77% of international clinicians expect tech companies to become “key stakeholders in managing healthcare systems in 10 years”, and that the majority of clinicians (70%) believe an increased use of digital technologies will transform healthcare positively [5].

The use of digital technology offers the potential to address challenges in European mental health services. In particular, the use of digital platforms for remote patient monitoring and health assessment could improve access and speed to care, and real-time patient analytics could enable personalised treatment and improved quality of care [5]. 

In summary, the EU Non-Communicable Diseases Initiative has ambitious goals to provide better mental health services to more people. However, with the majority of EU countries not endorsing “digital tools to support health promotion, disease prevention and management” [3] as a priority area, raising awareness about the potential of digital health is highly important if these goals are to be achieved.
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About Monsenso
Monsenso is an innovative technology company offering a digital health solution used for decentralised trials, remote patient monitoring and treatment support. Our mission is to contribute to improved health for more people at lower costs by supporting treatment digitally and leveraging patient-reported outcomes data. Our solution helps optimise the treatment and gives a detailed overview of an individual’s health through the collection of outcome, adherence, and behavioural data. It connects individuals, carers, and health care providers to enable personalised treatment, remote care, and early intervention. We collaborate with health and social care, pharmaceuticals, and leading researcher worldwide in our endeavours to deliver solutions that fit into the life of patients and health care professionals. To learn more visit  www.monsenso.com.

References:
[1] World Health Organization (2021). Noncommunicable diseases. 
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases

[2] WebMD (n.d.). What Is Non-Communicable Disease?
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-non-communicable-disease

[3] European Commission (2022). Healthier Together – EU non-Communicable Disease Initiative.
https://health.ec.europa.eu/non-communicable-diseases/healthier-together-eu-non-communicable-diseases-initiative_en

[4] World Health Organization (2022). Ticking timebomb: Without immediate action, health and care workforce gaps in the European Region could spell disaster.
https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/14-09-2022-ticking-timebomb–without-immediate-action–health-and-care-workforce-gaps-in-the-european-region-could-spell-disaster

[5] Elsevier Health (2022). Clinician of the Future Report 2022.
https://www.elsevier.com/connect/clinician-of-the-future