Transforming cardiovascular care: A patient-centric breakthrough

In the relentless battle against cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of global mortality, an exciting research project conducted by Dr Claris Chung, Jessie Fu, and Indira Venkatraman at the UC Business School is on the frontline, pioneering a transformative approach. By merging cutting-edge technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence with the wealth of experiences from patients and healthcare practitioners, Dr Chung is collaborating with Associate Professor Katrina Poppe from the University of Auckland, redefining CVD care through advanced symptom assessment and improved health communication.

Motivation

At the heart of Claris’s research lies a simple yet profound truth – prompt treatment saves lives. Recognising the shortcomings in the current healthcare systems for early symptom assessment, the team is driven to bridge this gap. Their motivation is clear: empower individuals, enhance health literacy, and revolutionise cardiovascular health by fostering effective communication between patients and healthcare providers.

Impacts this research brings

Picture a future where people have a tool to record their symptoms and communicate directly with healthcare professionals – this innovation leads to quicker response times and informed triage decisions. This research promises profound impacts in the short term - improved patient outcomes, reduced delays in seeking medical help, and a more engaged, informed, and empowered community facing cardiovascular challenges head-on.

Looking beyond the horizon, the vision of the two research partners extends to a world with significantly reduced prevalence and severity of CVD over time. The patient-centric app they are crafting is not just a tool; it's a catalyst for lasting change. By fostering health literacy, empowering informed decisions, and promoting preventive measures, this research aspires to create a society where CVD is less prevalent. This long-term impact reaches far beyond individual wellbeing, influencing systemic changes in healthcare and contributing to a healthier, more resilient global community.

Next steps

Moving forward, the team will delve into a literature review using text mining, exploring CVD studies and communication gaps. At the same time, they will engage with cardiology experts, CVD patients, and peer researchers to gain more invaluable insights. Integrating knowledge from literature and interviews, they will craft a robust research proposal and outline initial app features. Back by funding from the Health Research Council New Zealand, the team set to dive into focused group sessions, gather feedback, and kickstart co-creation with potential users and health professionals. This meticulous, step-by-step approach lays the foundation for the Patient-focused CVD Symptom Assessment and Health Communication App to take its next leap with applied funding.

Contact Claris to know more about this exciting endeavour to transform CVD care.

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Outputs

Conference presentations

Chung, C., Fu, J., & Dicker, B. (2023). Patient-focused cardiovascular symptom assessment systems: Reducing pre-hospital delays and enhancing triage decisions. Australasian Conference on Information Systems, Wellington, New Zealand, 8-10 Dec 2023.