title: Feasibility study: home telemonitoring for patients with lung cancer in a mountainous rural area.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the feasibility of rural home telemonitoring for patients with lung cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Exploratory, descriptive, observational.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient homes within a 75-mile radius of the study hospital in West Virginia.
  
  
  METHODS
  10 patients hospitalized with lung cancer as a primary or secondary-related diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data included referral and demographics, chart reviews, and clinical data collected using a HomMed telemonitor. Five patients received usual care after discharge; five had telemonitors set up at home for 14 days with daily phone calls for nurse coaching; mid- and end-study data were collected by phone and in homes through two months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Enrollment and retention characteristics, physiologic (e.g., temperature, pulse, blood pressure, weight, O2 saturation) and 10 symptom datapoints, patient and family telemonitor satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 45 referred patients, only 10 consented; 1 of 5 usual care and 3 of 5 monitored patients completed the entire study. Telemonitored data transmission was feasible in rural areas with high satisfaction; symptom data and physiologic data were inconsistent but characteristic of lung cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Challenges included environment, culture, technology, and overall enrollment and retention. Physiologic and symptom changes were important data for nurse coaching on risks, symptom management, and clinician contact.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enrollment and retention in cancer research warrants additional study. Daily monitoring is feasible and important in risk assessment, but length of time to monitor signs and symptoms, which changed rapidly, is unclear. Symptom changes were useful as proxy indicators for physiologic changes, so risk outcomes may be assessable by phone for patient self-management coaching by nurses.
authors.affiliation: Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, School of Nursing at West Virginia University in Morgantown.
authors.forename: Trisha M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Petitte
authors.affiliation: Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, School of Nursing at West Virginia University in Morgantown.
authors.forename: Georgia L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Narsavage
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Kent State University in Ohio.
authors.forename: Yea-Jyh
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University Research Corporation in Morgantown.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coole
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University Health System in Morgantown.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Forth
authors.affiliation: Carey Business School, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Kevin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Frick
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001061:Appalachian Region; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing*; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012424:Rural Population; D012648:Self Care; D055817:Telenursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014903:West Virginia
keywords: care of the medically underserved; community health/home care; lung cancer; patient education; quality of life