Jiayi Xu

Aim: To explore the perceptions of elderly patients with chronic diseases and their healthcare providers on the use of wearable devices for home health monitoring, identifying barriers and facilitators to their effective adoption in China’s rapidly aging population. Background: As China’s population ages, managing chronic diseases among elderly patients has become increasingly complex. Wearable health monitoring devices offer a promising solution, enabling remote and continuous health tracking. However, the adoption of these devices remains limited, particularly among elderly patients. Understanding the perspectives of both patients and healthcare providers is crucial for optimizing wearable device use in chronic disease management. Design: A qualitative descriptive study. Method: From May 2023 to March 2024, semistructured interviews were conducted with 16 elderly patients and 11 healthcare providers in Nanjing, China. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s 7‐step method, generating key themes that address both the challenges and opportunities in adopting wearable health technologies. Findings: Seven major themes emerged: (1) Technology Acceptance and Motivation, (2) Changes in Social Support and Interaction, (3) Adjustments in Healthcare Work Modes, (4) Barriers and Risks in Technology Application, (5) Device Compliance and Knowledge Gaps, (6) Identifying Key Features for Quality Assessment of Wearable Devices, and (7) The Role of Customization and Adaptability. While the potential benefits of wearable devices for chronic disease management were widely recognized, concerns about complexity, cost, and data security were key obstacles. Conclusion: Wearable devices hold significant potential for improving the management of chronic diseases among elderly patients, yet multiple barriers hinder their widespread adoption. Addressing issues related to usability, privacy, and affordability, alongside providing education and policy support, will be critical to enhancing their integration into healthcare settings. Implications for the Profession and Patient Care: This study underscores the importance of creating targeted strategies to overcome the challenges in using wearable health devices among elderly patients. Healthcare providers and policymakers should focus on simplifying technology, enhancing patient education, and addressing privacy concerns to foster broader acceptance and use of these devices in chronic disease care. Impact: By promoting the adoption of wearable health technologies, healthcare systems can improve chronic disease management outcomes for elderly patients, reduce the burden on healthcare services, and support a more patient‐centered approach to care. Patient or Public Contribution: Elderly patients with chronic diseases and their healthcare providers contributed valuable insights by sharing their experiences with wearable health monitoring devices, shaping the study’s findings.

Background: Cognitive frailty (CF) is currently a significant issue, and most of the associated factors discovered in current studies are not modifiable. Therefore, it is crucial to identify modifiable risk factors that can be targeted for interventions in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and modifiable risk factors of CF in CHF patients in China. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we sequentially enrolled patients diagnosed with CHF. CF served as the dependent variable, assessed through the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Scale and the FRAIL Scale. The independent variable questionnaire encompassed various components, including general demographic information, the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), the Simplified Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ), the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ). Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify independent factors contributing to CF. Results: A total of 271 patients with CHF were included in the study. The overall prevalence of CF was found to be 49.4%, with 28.8% of patients exhibiting potentially reversible cognitive frailty and 20.7% showing reversible cognitive frailty. Among middle-young CHF patients, 10.7% had reversible cognitive frailty and 6.4% had potentially reversible cognitive frailty, with a prevalence of CF at 17.1%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that body mass index (OR = 0.826, 95%CI = 0.726–0.938), blood pressure level (OR = 2.323, 95%CI = 1.105–4.882), nutrition status (OR = 0.820, 95%CI = 0.671–0.979), and social support (OR = 0.745, 95%CI = 0.659–0.842) were independent factors associated with CF (p < 0.05). Conclusions: We observed a relatively high prevalence of CF among Chinese patients diagnosed with CHF. Many factors including BMI, blood pressure level, nutrition status, and social support emerging as modifiable risk factors associated with CF. We propose conducting clinical trials to assess the impact of modifying these risk factors. The outcomes of this study offer valuable insights for healthcare professionals, guiding them in implementing effective measures to improve the CF status in CHF patients during clinical practice.