VAD Patients’ Perception of Potential Telemedicine Support

Abstract

Technical possibilities for patient support must be user-friendly. This includes acceptance on the part of the patients, and safe function that must not lead to the user being overtaxed. In a study of Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) patients at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the University Hospital RWTH Aachen, a questionnaire was used to investigate the current situation in dealing with the VAD system. This was followed by a query about ideas, wishes, and fears regarding the increased use of telemedical applications. An adapted Service User Technology Acceptability Questionnaire (SUTAQ) was used and the evaluation was carried out with the help of Office-based applications. As a result, it can be stated that the patients do not want to see personal contacts and care be completely replaced by telemedical remote support. If the application is stable and functioning, the majority is very much open to such support.