Bridging the gap in implementation of home monitoring for Pulmonary Fibrosis: a healthcare professionals’ perspective

<bold>Background:</bold> The adoption of home monitoring for patients with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) varies widely with multiple barriers hindering implementation by healthcare professionals (HCPs). <bold>Aim:</bold> To identify differences in anticipated barriers in implementing home monitoring for PF between HCPs experienced and inexperienced with eHealth for PF. <bold>Methods:</bold> Semi-structured interviews with HCPs were conducted across 18 PF hospitals in the Netherlands. A predefined topic list focusing on barriers of implementation was used, based on the NASSS implementation framework [PMID: 29092808]. After coding, subgroup analysis was performed for experienced and inexperienced HCPs. Frequencies were normalized for group size difference. <bold>Results:</bold> 32 semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 pulmonologists and 12 nurse specialists. 23 HCPs (72%) reported to be experienced and 9 (28%) inexperienced. Inexperienced HCPs emphasized older age of patients and doubts about reliability of home spirometry as prominent barriers, whereas experienced HCPs did not. Experienced HCPs considered the burden for patients to fill out questionnaires as a significant barrier, mentioning time burden and survey fatigue (figure 1). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Perceived barriers hindering the implementation of home monitoring for PF may evolve with experience. Expertise of experienced HCPs could serve as a catalyst to further adopt the use of home monitoring in PF. <fig><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA4365/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig>