Implementation of a Capillary Blood Self-Sampling Technique at Home for Monitoring of Patients with IBD

Abstract

Background: Recent advancements in remote healthcare aim to improve the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients by reducing the need for hospital visits. These could positively impact the quality of life and at the same time reduce healthcare resource consumption. This study evaluated the feasibility of capillary blood sampling at home for disease monitoring in IBD patients. It is the first study to assess this novel method for the routine measurement of biochemical as well as hematological parameters at more than one time point. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 13 patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (CU) and an indication for frequent blood monitoring performed finger prick-based capillary blood sampling in the hospital and at two time points at home. After home sampling, blood samples were returned to the diagnostic laboratory at the hospital, where biochemical as well as hematological parameters were determined from the samples. A successful blood sample was defined as being a) transported in <48 hours, b) of sufficient sample quality, and c) a sufficient sample volume. Patients were asked to fill in a patient experience and satisfaction questionnaire after each withdrawn blood sample. Results: In total, 11 patients completed the study (mean age: 31 years, CD: 69%, CU: 31%). 8 out of 11 and 11 out of 11 blood samples (72% and 100%) were successful, at timepoint 1 (T1) and timepoint 2 (T2), respectively. Age, sex, and IBD diagnosis were not significantly associated with the probability of success. 46% of the patients preferred capillary blood sampling at home over venous sampling at the hospital, which increased to 56% at T2. 56% and 64% of the patients were satisfied with the new method at T1 and T2, respectively. Younger patient groups expressed higher satisfaction and preference. 64% of patients reported a better performance with blood sampling at T2 compared to T1. Conclusions: This study established the feasibility of capillary blood sampling at home for routine disease monitoring in IBD patients, with a high success rate. Patient satisfaction was highest in younger patient groups. With further device optimization and careful consideration of individual preferences, this novel method offers a solution for integrating laboratory diagnostics in the remote monitoring of IBD patients with eHealth technologies.