# The role of digital health in growth hormone therapy: perspectives from Gulf Cooperation Council pediatric endocrinologists

## TL;DR

Digital health tools can help improve growth hormone therapy in children by integrating patient-generated data, with a focus on social factors and patient satisfaction.

## Contribution

Identifies key patient-generated health data factors relevant to growth hormone therapy adherence in the GCC region.

## Key findings

- Social background and injection context were top factors influencing adherence to growth hormone therapy.
- Patient satisfaction and feelings about treatment were highlighted as important for clinical decision-making.
- Experts suggested integrating these data into clinical workflows to improve treatment outcomes.

## Abstract

With the increasing use of digital health tools patient-generated health data play a crucial role in clinical decision-making, particularly for monitoring treatment adherence. However, integrating data into routine practice remains challenging, especially for chronic conditions such as growth disorders requiring growth hormone therapy (GHT). Integrating these data is essential to improve treatment adherence and growth outcomes in pediatric patients on GHT.

To explore perspectives of pediatric endocrinologists in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region on patient-generated health data for improving GHT adherence and identified strategies for integrating such data into clinical practice.

A participatory workshop was conducted on March 2, 2024, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, using the nominal group technique. Twelve pediatric endocrinologists from the GCC region, one chairman, and two moderators participated in the session. The session centered on three clinical scenarios: GHT naïve (recently diagnosed), poorly adherent, and poor responders. Through two structured voting rounds, experts individually identified, discussed, and ranked the top five most relevant and useful patient-generated health data factors. The first round prioritized key factors, while the second round allowed participants to reassess and refine their selections to reach consensus. The final discussion focused on how identified factors could integrate into clinical practice.

Twenty-two influencing factors were identified, representing the most relevant and useful types of patient-generated health data for integration into clinical practice. Top factors in the first ranking round included demographic data (21 points: age, income level, familiarity with technology); patient’s feelings about treatments and satisfaction (19 points); and social background (17 points: family support, insurance, caregiving responsibilities). Other considerations included reasons for missed injections and educational needs (15 points each). In the second round, social background (35 points) ranked highest, followed by injection context (34 points: timing, comfort, administration support) and patient’s feelings about treatments and satisfaction (30 points) emphasized motivational and emotional aspects of adherence.

The study highlights the significant role of social background, injection contexts, and patient satisfaction as key patient-generated health data factors for pediatric endocrinologists in the GCC region. These findings highlight their potential integration into GHT workflows to enhance clinical decision-making.