eHealth empowered patient participation in infection control

Abstract

This dissertation explores how eHealth, particularly a patient-focused mobile app, can enhance infection prevention by engaging patients, with a focus on reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). Urinary catheters, often used unnecessarily or too long, are a major risk factor. While healthcare professionals are traditionally involved in prevention efforts, the role of patients remains underexplored.

The research first examines available apps for infection prevention, using a custom app-store scraper. Few apps targeted patients, and user engagement was often low—a critical barrier to behavior change.

To address this, the Participatient app was developed to inform patients about catheter use, risks, and indications. It encourages patients to actively participate in decision-making, such as discussing the necessity of catheters with providers. The app’s development followed the CeHRes roadmap, involving co-creation with patients, caregivers, and designers.

Feasibility studies showed that active promotion boosts app usage. The PECCA study suggested the app reduces unnecessary catheter use, though its impact on infection rates depends on multiple factors. Patients and providers viewed the app positively but cited barriers like time constraints and digital literacy. The dissertation concludes that patient engagement via eHealth is promising for infection prevention, provided it is integrated into existing care processes.