Exploring the Integration of a Patient Generated Health Data in a FAIR Digital Health System in Low-Resourced Settings: A User-Centered Approach

This article presents the initial user-centered research exploring the opportunities in the collection of Patient-Generated Health Data (PGHD) within the context of a project aimed at improving health management and outcomes among residents in African countries. Through interviews with a doctor, a patient and two data managers, the local status and opinions regarding PGHD collection, integration and use are investigated. The findings suggest that PGHD have only been encountered in paper forms - and are mostly patient driven, however opportunities for PGHD for the facility and patient were identified and included supporting the treatment of white-collar hypertension, treatment planning and self-management. One of the key findings is the observed formed opinion about the relationship between quality (reasonability and provenance) and trust of PGHD such that it appears there is a direct relationship between perceived quality and trust of PGHD by the healthcare personnel. Also, traditional digital home monitoring devices, such as blood pressure monitors combined with an Interactive Voice Response (IVR), offer a more practical approach to PGHD collection in the African (Nigerian) context compared to wearables, considering factors such as affordability, ease of use, and data extractability. The study highlights the importance of considering the specific circumstances and requirements of African countries while designing and implementing PGHD collection strategies.