Nominated Principal Applicant

Robert Wu, University Health Network

Principal Applicants

Eyal de Lara, University of Toronto
Andrea Gershon, Sunnybrook Research Institute

Co-Applicants

Nisha Andany, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Adrienne Chan, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Vikram Comondore, William Osler Health Center
Nick Daneman, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Tiago Falk, INRS – Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications
Christopher Graham, Trillium Health Network
Sameer Masood, University Health Network
Frank Rudzicz, University of Toronto
Teresa To, Hospital for Sick Children

Objectives

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 were required to isolate at home, with a small but significant percentage needing hospitalization. As the situation evolved, both patients and healthcare providers faced growing concerns about how to best monitor and manage those recovering at home.

To address this challenge, this research team developed a smartphone app, COVIDFree@Home, designed to remotely track patients’ symptoms and health indicators such as temperature and oxygen saturation. A key feature of the system was a clinician-facing dashboard that allowed healthcare providers to monitor patient data in real time and intervene promptly if necessary. The goal was to determine whether this type of mobile health technology could effectively support patient care outside the hospital and provide early warning signs for potential complications.

This study was conducted across University Health Network, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and Trillium Health Partners, enrolling over 400 participants newly diagnosed with COVID-19. These participants were asked to use the app daily for 10 days while isolating at home.

Major Successes

  • The team’s findings highlighted the app’s potential for real-time remote monitoring, with strong patient engagement– around 88% of participants used the platform to report their symptoms or oxygen levels at least once, and nearly 60% did so for at least six days.
  • In a follow-up patient experience survey, more than half of the respondents indicated that the app helped them better manage COVID-19 and facilitated improved communication with their healthcare providers.
  • Many also expressed feeling reassured by the continuous monitoring, emphasizing the value of having consistent, real-time support during their isolation.
  • Among participants who required hospitalization, the app may have helped identify these individuals early, allowing for timely medical intervention.
  • These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using mobile tools for remote patient monitoring and showcase how digital solutions can support healthcare delivery during a pandemic.

Budget

CoVaRR-Net is funding this research, which was first proposed to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s (CIHR) Emerging COVID-19 Research Gaps and Priorities – Variants funding call, with a $412,996 cash contribution.