S’oh Sin geez (Breathing Properly): Optimizing COPD Virtual Care in First Nations Communities

COPD is a lung disease characterized by shortness of breath, reduced activity tolerance, and poor quality of life. First Nations people have a high prevalence of this condition. People with COPD are encouraged to take an active role in managing their health, but this is challenging for people living in remote or rural locations. To improve disease management and access to care, many First Nations communities have turned to telehealth systems. However, many systems are primarily video-conferencing systems to enable live conversations between patient and practitioner. Biometric monitoring increases the capacity of telehealth by regularly measuring and transmitting important health information (such as medication use) to health providers. However, the use of biometric monitoring to enhance virtual care in First Nations communities has not been adequately investigated and may be considered intrusive. The goal of this project is to explore the acceptability, feasibility, and relevant research needs related to the implementation of COPD biometric monitoring into an existing First Nations telehealth system.

Faculty Supervisor:

Pat Camp

Student:

Debora Melissa Moecke Petry

Partner:

Agartee Technology

Discipline:

Physics / Astronomy

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of British Columbia