eHealth and mHealth to manage distress in patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

Abstract

One of the main benefits of the eHealth and mHealth approach is that it overcomes those limitations associated with the traditional, restricted and highly expensive in-patient treatment of many chronic pathologies, by reducing complications from a clinical, organizational and economic prospective. Mobile communication devices, therefore, may be an effective way to ensure long-term maintenance and improvement of health outcomes among patients with an implantable cardioverter- defibrillator (ICD). Employment of eHealth and mHealth usually increases participation, compliance, and engagement toward treatment and helps clinicians by motivating patients in remote settings to withstand medical treatments and to cope with chronic conditions, also in a stepped-care approach. Clinical experiences and best practices regarding mHealth based strategies used to tele-monitor patients with an ICD are reported/highlighted in this chapter which discusses methodological, clinical and technological issues. At the end of the chapter future trends of eHealth- mHealth applications for ICDs are discussed.