Qualitative study of the views of people living with cardiovascular disease, and healthcare professionals, towards the use of a digital platform to support cardiovascular disease self-management

Objectives: This paper focuses on formative research as part of a broader study to develop and evaluate an innovative digital health platform for the self-management of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The primary objective is to better understand the perceptions of key stakeholders towards the proposed platform (Salvio) and to identify the development considerations they may prioritise based on their own experiences of CVD management.

Design: A qualitative research study using thematic analysis to explore patterns and themes within the various participant contributions.

Setting: Triangulation of data collection methods were used to generate data, including focus group discussions, semistructured interviews and guided conversations.

Participants: Participants (n=26) were people with a diagnosis of CVD (n=18) and relevant healthcare professionals (n=8).

Results: Findings indicate that the proposed platform would be a beneficial solution for certain groups whose health behaviour change is not currently supported by discrete solutions. Both participant groups perceive the digital health platform more trustworthy than accessing multiple interventions through unsupported digital repositories. Healthcare professionals agreed that they would endorse an evidence-based platform that had been rigorously developed and evaluated. CVD participants prioritised a decision support tool to guide them through the platform, as they perceive an unstructured approach as overly complex. Both participant groups perceived data sharing with certain self-selected individuals (eg, spouse) to be a useful method for gaining support with their health behaviour change.

Conclusions: A digital health platform offering a variety of existing, evidence-based interventions would provide users with suitable self-management solution(s) based on their own individual needs and preferences. Salvio could be enhanced by providing adequate support to platform users, guiding the diverse CVD population through a host of digital solutions, ensuring that Salvio is endorsed by trusted healthcare professionals and maintaining connections with usual care. Such a platform would augment existing self-management and secondary prevention services.