KAIROS presents CentraXX Patient-App

On July 13th, 2017 Kairos presented its current version of the CentraXX Patient App during the “CentraXX User Day 1/2017” in Berlin. Intensive development on the app has been ongoing in recent months.

There has been a growing realization in medicine. Every patient is different, and although two patients may have received the same diagnosis, highly individualized therapies might be necessary for recovery. This increases the importance of digital instruments such as health apps that can accompany these therapies for instance, capture objective and subjective patient data and/or facilitate improved regular communication between doctors and patients. This constitutes an improved communication to which the patient even has legal claim according to § 630g BGB (Right to inspection of the patient’s record), Art. 20 DSGVO (right to data transferability).

Since there are currently 50 million smartphones in Germany (number still increasing), the mobile app technically offers a crucial personal communication and information interface between doctor and patient.

It thus seems only consequent that KAIROS offer its clients the additional communication tool with its CentraXX Patient-App, integrated into the CentraXX architecture. The apps benefits profit both clinic and patient.

Patient reported outcomes

The meaning of measurements from patient evaluations (Patient Reported-Outcomes (PRO)/Patient-Reported-Outcome-Measures (PROM)) is observably increasing. However, much of the patient information that is gathered is captured on paper. The use of Kairos ePRO-technology and of the CentraXX Patient App would make this obsolete. The CentraXX App makes it possible for the patient to digitally and regularly transfer personal assessments and evaluations regarding their health to the clinic via CentraXX in a timely fashion and 24/7. ICHOM-standard sets can be used for the structuring of this information. This patient-oriented information offers the doctor important possibilities to compare – hence provides further decision support that becomes meaningful to the patient as well given the importance of patient empowerment and in regards to decision support models.

In respect to recruiting for clinical trials, using the CentraXX App can also lead to real win-win situations. On the one hand the clinic can more easily detect patients that are eligible for certain trials in CentraXX. They are connected long-term through the CentraXX Patient App they can use to contact the patient, and ask about trial participation. Push-messages can be used for the purpose of directly and quickly informing the user, but also for keeping the contact up-to-date and for reactivating a contact promptly (e.g., after a move or similar changes).

On the other hand, the patient also profits from the most current information transfer and the possibility of receiving information about planned trials or asking to participate in current ones. The quality and success rate of trials can be improved through effective recruiting tools that help include the greatest number of suitable participants.

Security and usability

Technically speaking, the CentraXX Patient App is a “native App”. In this case a performant and secure iOS-App, developed for iPhone and iPad application. The cryptographically saved and encrypted data on the mobile device can be viewed even when offline. The logon to the dedicated CentraXX server requires a two-factor authentication (user name + password, and additional, individualized API-key). The App and the connected patient data are additionally secured through a password or finger print (TouchID) against unauthorized access on the mobile device.

Client certificates secure the encrypted communication with the CentraXX servers and provide an additional level of security.

Throughout the development of the CentraXX Patient App, amongst other things, the “Human Interface Guidelines” from Apple as well as DIN EN ISO 9241 were followed, warranting a consistent and simple usability. After the first logon, the user is familiarized with all functions in a virtual tour (“Onboarding”). These design-measures and the focused use on a simple, and personal addressing of the patient help to reduce or remove usage barriers. At the same time, acceptance and usage duration is raised.

“Aside from the purely technical possibilities offered by an app, the success- whether or not the app is really used by patients/probands- really depends on the value it can add and its user friendliness (usability). The benefits that patient and clinic receive due to the app in the fields of added patient information and through improved trial recruiting are obvious. To achieve the user friendliness, we have specifically added trained and dedicated communication and app designers to our IT-team at Kairos” says Martin Zuenkeler, CEO of KAIROS.