BACKGROUND Chronic conditions present major health problems, affecting an increasing number of individuals who experience a variety of symptoms that impact their health related quality of life. Digital tools can be of support in chronic conditions, potentially improving patient-provider communication, promoting shared decision making for treatment and care, and possibly even improving patient outcomes. This study aimed to develop a digital tool for patient-provider communication in chronic health care settings and describes the data collection and subsequent content and software development of the InvolveMe tool. InvolveMe will provide patients with the opportunity to report symptoms and preferences to their health care providers (HCP), and to use secure messaging to interact with the HCPs. METHOD The study employed a combination of interviews with patients with chronic conditions and focus groups with HCPs, examining experiences with chronic conditions and the potential use of a digital tool for support. Participants were recruited from two outpatient clinics at a university hospital. Data collected from interviews and focus groups were analysed using thematic analysis. Content and software development was informed by the data collection and by tool development workshops. RESULTS Analyses from interviews with patients (n = 14) and focus groups with HCPs (n = 11) generated three main themes: 1) Making symptoms and challenges visible, 2) Mastering a new life, and 3) Digital opportunities for follow-up. Each main theme generated separate subthemes. Theme 1 and 2 gave input for content development of the symptom and needs assessment part of the tool, while theme 3 provided ideas for the software development of the InvolveMe tool. Tool development workshops with patients (n = 6) and HCPs (n = 6) supplemented the development. CONCLUSIONS A digital tool such as InvolveMe has the potential to support shared decision making for patients with chronic health conditions. Through integration with an existing patient portal such a tool can provide opportunities for meaningful interactions and communication between patients and HCP's, particularly with regards to symptoms, needs and preferences for care.

中文翻译：

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一种数字患者-提供者通信工具的内容和系统开发，以支持慢性保健中的共同决策制定：InvolveMe。

背景技术慢性病带来了主要的健康问题，影响了越来越多的个人，这些个人经历​​了各种影响其健康相关生活质量的症状。数字工具可以在慢性病中提供支持，有可能改善患者与提供者之间的沟通，促进治疗和护理的共同决策制定，甚至可能改善患者的治疗效果。这项研究旨在开发一种数字工具，用于在慢性保健环境中与患者进行供应商交流，并描述了InvolveMe工具的数据收集以及后续内容和软件开发。InvolveMe将为患者提供机会向其医疗保健提供者（HCP）报告症状和偏好，并使用安全消息传递与HCP进行交互。方法该研究结合了对慢性病患者和HCP焦点小组的访谈，研究了慢性病的经验以及数字工具的潜在用途。参与者是从一家大学医院的两个门诊诊所招募的。从访谈和焦点小组收集的数据使用主题分析进行了分析。数据收集和工具开发研讨会为内容和软件开发提供了信息。结果通过对患者（n = 14）和HCP焦点小组（n = 11）的访谈进行分析得出了三个主要主题：1）使症状和挑战可见，2）掌握新生活，3）进行跟进的数字化机会。每个主主题都生成单独的子主题。主题1和2为该工具的症状和需求评估部分的内容开发提供了输入，而主题3为InvolveMe工具的软件开发提供了思路。由患者（n = 6）和HCP（n = 6）组成的工具开发研讨会补充了开发过程。结论诸如InvolveMe之类的数字工具具有支持慢性病患者共享决策的潜力。通过与现有的患者门户网站集成，该工具可以为患者与HCP之间的有意义的交互和交流提供机会，尤其是在症状，需求和护理偏好方面。结论诸如InvolveMe之类的数字工具具有支持慢性病患者共享决策的潜力。通过与现有的患者门户网站集成，该工具可以为患者与HCP之间的有意义的交互和交流提供机会，尤其是在症状，需求和护理偏好方面。结论诸如InvolveMe之类的数字工具具有支持慢性病患者共享决策的潜力。通过与现有的患者门户网站集成，该工具可以为患者与HCP之间的有意义的交互和交流提供机会，尤其是在症状，需求和护理偏好方面。