Readiness for Voice Technology in Patients With Cardiovascular Diseases: Cross-Sectional Study

Readiness for Telemedical Services in Patients With Cardiovascular Diseases: Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Telemedicine solutions, especially in the face of epidemiological emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, played an important role in the remote communication between patients and medical providers. However, the implementation of modern technologies should rely on patients' readiness toward new services to enable effective cooperation with the physician. Thus, successful application of patient-centric telehealth services requires an in-depth analysis of users' expectations.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate factors determining readiness for using telehealth solutions among patients with cardiovascular diseases.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study based on an investigator-designed, validated questionnaire that included 19 items (demographics, health status, medical history, previous health care experience, expected telehealth functionalities, and preferred remote communication methods). Multivariate logistic regression was applied to assess the relationship between readiness and their determinants.

RESULTS

Of the 249 respondents, 83.9% (n=209) consented to the use of telemedicine to contact a cardiologist. The nonacceptance of using telemedicine was 2 times more frequent in rural dwellers (odds ratio [OR] 2.411, 95% CI 1.003-5.796) and patients without access to the internet (OR 2.432, 95% CI 1.022-5.786). In comparison to participants living in rural areas, city dwellers demonstrated a higher willingness to use telemedicine, including following solutions: issuing e-prescriptions (19/31, 61.3% vs 141/177, 79.7%; P=.02); alarming at the deterioration of health (18/31, 58.1% vs 135/177, 76.3%; P=.03); and arranging or canceling medical visits (16/31, 51.6% vs 126/176, 71.6%; P=.03). Contact by mobile phone was preferred by younger patients (OR 2.256, 95% CI 1.058-4.814), whereas older patients and individuals who had no previous difficulties in accessing physicians preferred landline phone communication.

CONCLUSIONS

During a nonpandemic state, 83.9% of patients with cardiovascular diseases declared readiness to use telemedicine solutions.

Artificial Intelligence Can Improve Patient Management at the Time of a Pandemic: The Role of Voice Technology

Artificial intelligence–driven voice technology deployed on mobile phones and smart speakers has the potential to improve patient management and organizational workflow. Voice chatbots have been already implemented in health care–leveraging innovative telehealth solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. They allow for automatic acute care triaging and chronic disease management, including remote monitoring, preventive care, patient intake, and referral assistance. This paper focuses on the current clinical needs and applications of artificial intelligence–driven voice chatbots to drive operational effectiveness and improve patient experience and outcomes.

Feasibility of Incorporating Voice Technology and Virtual Assistants in Cardiovascular Care and Clinical Trials

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

With the rising cost of cardiovascular clinical trials, there is interest in determining whether new technologies can increase cost effectiveness. This review focuses on current and potential uses of voice-based technologies, including virtual assistants, in cardiovascular clinical trials.

RECENT FINDINGS

Numerous potential uses for voice-based technologies have begun to emerge within cardiovascular medicine. Voice biomarkers, subtle changes in speech parameters, have emerged as a potential tool to diagnose and monitor many cardiovascular conditions, including heart failure, coronary artery disease, and pulmonary hypertension. With the increasing use of virtual assistants, numerous pilot studies have examined whether these devices can supplement initiatives to promote transitional care, physical activity, smoking cessation, and medication adherence with promising initial results. Additionally, these devices have demonstrated the ability to streamline data collection by administering questionnaires accurately and reliably. With the use of these technologies, there are several challenges that must be addressed before wider implementation including respecting patient privacy, maintaining regulatory standards, acceptance by patients and healthcare providers, determining the validity of voice-based biomarkers and endpoints, and increased accessibility.

SUMMARY

Voice technology represents a novel and promising tool for cardiovascular clinical trials; however, research is still required to understand how it can be best harnessed.