Prescribed Cardiac Wearables in Routine Care: a qualitative study of Patient Experiences

BackgroundContinuous adhesive patch electrocardiographic (ECG) wearables are increasingly prescribed. Patient experience with these devices can influence adherence, but research in this area is limited. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of patients receiving wearable cardiac monitoring technology as part of their routine care through the lens of treatment burden. MethodsThis was a qualitative study with semi-structured phone interviews conducted between February and May 2024. We recruited participants from primary care and outpatient clinics using maximum variation sampling to ensure diversity in sex, ethnicity, and education levels. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. ResultsSixteen participants (mean age 51 years, 63% female) were interviewed (average duration: 33 minutes). Three themes were developed: 1) Experience using the device: Burden vs Ease of Use, which captured participants perceptions of how easily they could integrate the device in their daily lives; 2) Individual variability in responses to ECG self-monitoring covered participants emotional and cognitive response to knowing their heart rhythm was monitored; and 3) The care process shapes patient experiences reflected support preferences during the set-up and monitoring period and the uncertainty regarding timely clinical and device feedback. ConclusionsPatients valued cardiac wearables for facilitating diagnosis and felt reassured knowing they were clinically monitored. However, gaps in information provided to patients seemed to cause anxiety for some participants. These concerns could be mitigated through clearer clinician communication and patient education at the time of prescription.