User-Friendly Interface for the Smartphone-based Self Management of Pulmonary Rehabilitation

A prototype system has been developed, based on a mobile Smartphone linked via Bluetooth to a range of monitoring devices (pulse oximeter, blood pressure monitor, ECG monitor), with a facility to integrate to clinical information systems, to enable individuals to self manage their own healthcare. The system has been developed to be used in specific chronic disease applications. The research study described outlines three specific applications of chronic disease self management - nutrition and exercise monitor for weight reduction; - pulse oximeter and exercise monitor for pulmonary rehabilitation: - blood pressure monitor for coronary heart disease patients. The objectives of the work are to design the system around the clinical application, based on existing health service protocols. The key principles in design are to make the system accessible to and usable by both the medical professional and a lay user. The pulmonary rehabilitation application is explored in more detail, to demonstrate progress towards this end.