Caused technology anxiety
anxiety
Three patients, who were above 60 years old and were retired or working part-time, described how they became more anxious since participating in the trial. Their concerns were—afraid to see high BP readings, errors with transmission of readings, unable to reach polyclinic hotline, and found it a chore to remember to measure BP. Two of these three patients had uncontrolled BP (≥ 140/90 mmHg) after 6 months of trial participation. Staff also recalled encountering anxious patients, some of whom even withdrew from the trial.
[It is] okay but also sometimes gives you anxiety. Like if high, you [get] scared… Sometimes it could be a chore, you have to remember to measure. (F099, female, 64 years old)
Sometimes the hotline can be very busy, and if you are very urgent, you can’t get through, you can get panicked. (F122, female, 73 years old)Three patients also feared losing or damaging the BP monitor, as they perceived it to belong to the government and compensation would be a consequence. Due to this, F007 (male, 47 years old) kept the devices in the box after each measurement, which became a barrier and “makes it more cumbersome” to take regular BP readings since it was kept out of sight.