The system will build on and integrate existing solutions by healthcare providers in the UK and Spain. If successful, the ‘mHealth’ platform could lead the way to similar systems being developed for people with other diseases.
HIV patients will have access to a mobile ‘phone app that links, via secure interface facilities, to the clinical database at the hospital where they receive treatment. Test results and information about medications and appointments will be made available to patients remotely via this new platform and some face-to -face appointments will be replaced by ‘virtual’ appointments for patients with stable HIV.
The University of Brighton research is led by Flis Henwood, Professor of Social Informatics in the School of Applied Social Science. She said: “Our research in EmERGE involves leading on the ‘sociotechnical evaluation’ which seeks to understand, and share learning about, the social and organisational factors that can inhibit or facilitate the successful development and implementation of the new system.