Value Specification process

Building on these insights, the value specification phase aims to identify what stakeholders consider important in a future healthcare innovation. These values are subsequently translated into concrete requirements that can guide design, development, implementation, and evaluation activities in collaboration with prospective end-users and other relevant stakeholders. This helps ensure that innovations align with the needs and preferences of those who use, deliver, and support them.

A summary of the study that resulted in the value categories, values, and requirements presented on this website can be found below:

About a use case of the value specification phase

Preventing COPD exacerbations is crucial for maintaining patient well-being and reducing healthcare burden. To support early detection, a non-invasive breath analysis device is being co-created with patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) for use in remote patient monitoring (RPM).

Within the value specification phase, patients (n=63) and HCPs (n=42) were involved in three qualitative research activities: interviews, focus groups, patient and public involvement sessions. These activities focused on: 1) exploring and identifying key values; 2) validating and refining these values; and 3) translating values into concrete requirements. This is also visualized in the figure below.

Participants highlighted 38 values related to the device and care process, which were grouped into nine categories;

• Patient-centered care and patient outcomes

• User-friendliness and inclusivity

• Agreements on RPM responsibilities

• Patient empowerment

• Information provision and guidance

• Enhanced care efficiency

• Implementation process

• HCP care provision

• Safety and reliability

Patients and HCPs subsequently translated these values into 142 concrete products (e.g., easy to clean)- and process (e.g., group training before use) requirements.

The study demonstrated that active involvement of patients and HCPs in the early stages of development, supports the alignment of RPM solutions with their values and existing COPD care processes. The findings provide a strong foundation for the development of digital innovations in COPD and other chronic pulmonary care and offer transferable insights for co-creating patient-centered technologies beyond the breath analysis device.

*hard-and software of the product, including physical device, application, dashboard
**process of remote patient monitoring in COPD exacerbation care (e.g., communication between HCP and patient)