Samenvatting

Original PaperExploring Determinants of Patient Adherence to aPortal-Supported Oncology Rehabilitation Program:Interview andData Log AnalysesHendrik P Buimer1,2, MSc; Monique Tabak1,3, PhD; Lex van Velsen1,3, PhD; Thea van der Geest4, PhD; HermieHermens1,3, PhD1Department of Biomedical Signals & Systems, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Twente, Enschede,Netherlands2Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands3Telemedicine Group, Roessingh Research & Development, Enschede, Netherlands4Research Center IT + Media, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Arnhem, NetherlandsCorresponding Author:Hendrik P Buimer, MScDepartment of BiophysicsFaculty of ScienceRadboud UniversityHeijendaalseweg 135Nijmegen, 6525 AJ NijmegenNetherlandsPhone: 31 24 3652428Email: h.buimer@donders.ru.nlAbstractBackground: Telemedicine applications often do not live up to their expectations and often fail once they have reached theoperational phase.Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the determinants of patient adherence to a blended care rehabilitationprogram, which includes a Web portal, from a patient’s perspective.Methods: Patients were enrolled in a 12-week oncology rehabilitation treatment supported by a Web portal that was developedin cooperation with patients and care professionals. Semistructured interviews were used to analyze thought processes and behaviorconcerning patient adherence and portal use. Interviews were conducted with patients close to the start and the end of the treatment.Besides, usage data from the portal were analyzed to gain insights into actual usage of the portal.Results: A total of 12 patients participated in the first interview, whereas 10 participated in the second round of interviews.Furthermore, portal usage of 31 patients was monitored. On average, 11 persons used the portal each week, with a maximum of20 in the seventh week and a drop toward just one person in the weeks in the follow-up period of the treatment. From the interviews,it was derived that patients’ behavior in the treatment and use of the portal was primarily determined by extrinsic motivation cues(eg, stimulation by care professionals and patient group), perceived severity of the disease (eg, physical and mental condition),perceived ease of use (eg, accessibility of the portal and the ease with which information is found), and perceived usefulness (eg,fit with the treatment).Conclusions: The results emphasized the impact that care professionals and fellow patients have on patient adherence and portalusage. For this reason, the success of blended care telemedicine interventions seems highly dependent on the willingness of careprofessionals to include the technology in their treatment and stimulate usage among patients.(JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol 2017;4(2):e12) doi:10.2196/rehab.6294KEYWORDStelemedicine; rehabilitation; patient portals; treatment adherence; complianceJMIR Rehabil Assist Technol 2017 | vol. 4 | iss. 2 | e12 | p.1http://rehab.jmir.org/2017/2/e12/(page number not for citation purposes)Buimer et alJMIR REHABILITATION AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIESXSL•FORenderX