APPENDIX TABLE III.

Positive and negative comments and suggested changes for the larger study.

ID	Positive Comments	Negative Comments	Training suggested
1	Enjoyed feeling that the study physician was his advocate and helping adjust medications promptly. “I liked being aware of my BP every day. Measuring BP became a habit.”
2	I like that the reading are sent automatically. I like keeping an eye on my BP and getting into the habit of measuring BP. I am motivated to measure my BP daily and I know my BP will climb up if my miss my medication. When I was not in the trial, this feedback was not there.
3	Study made me aware of my BP. The study was slick once it worked. Taking my BP daily is a habit now. Once it worked it was easy.		Need more training on how to use an iphone. I would have liked refresher training.
4	Liked the slick smart phone. Like the feedback from the system.	May not have time to do this daily.
7	This is the best thing that happened to me. Made me aware of my BP. Appreciated medical care and watchfulness. This became a ritual. I wanted to use it several times / day. If I was not in the study, my BP would be high and I would fall through the cracks.
8	Being monitored gave me peace of mind after my hypertensive stroke. Helped me be aware.
9	The training was very thorough. I liked that it let me know my readings. And that it sent BP to MD and that the MD would know my readings immediately I am quite impressed with how thorough the study was.
10	It brought to light that my BP was high. I was worried about the stroke and how I was going to manage. I did not even know about BP. It was interesting to know that my BP was really high in the morning but OK at lunch. I liked knowing my BP and talking to Sarah every week (PharmD co-I). I liked that someone else had control of the readings and I do not have to push buttons. It went right through. The study was very simple and very thorough.	I did not like having to do it every morning. But I will do it several times / week – just not every day like the study.
14	I knew the app. Simple instructions. Helpful to do every day. Got in a routine. Otherwise, I have to go to clinic or drug store to get a BP reading. This made me aware of my condition every day. Helped me not to forget my medication. Was quite an education. I liked that the BP uploaded directly to the doctor. Information sent directly to the doctor. MD can then manage. Easy to understand. I will use home BP monitoring in the future – not only for me but my wife too. She has BP problems. Before we were going to the drug store. The doctor was on top of my BP. I liked that she could change my meds if needed. Otherwise, I would have to go to the clinic. Size is nice. Small and compact.
15	It was easy, quick, took 5 minutes at the most. Study let me know about my BP goals.		Would have liked more phone training.
16	The training when the coordinator came to my home was more useful. I was out of it in the hospital. It was easy to use the equipment. The system let me know when my BP was getting high.
17	This put me on the spot and made me accountable. The system was straightforward and easy to use. The system lets me take BP as many times as I wanted to. I took my BP often to make sure that it was going okay. I like the ease. I like that the information is going to the MD. That is neat! I cannot emphasize that enough.
18	It helped me keep track of my BP. I also wrote down the BP from my study and brought it to my primary care MD. He really liked that. The study MD made medication changes. I did not know her that well. I asked my primary care provider. He agreed with the changes made by study MD. I liked that the BP was transmitted automatically.	Kind of confusing in the beginning.	Would like more written step by step instructions.
19	The training gave me confidence that the readings were correct. Convenient. More comfortable at home. Simple. I like that BP is being sent to someone who monitors the BP.	I don’t like taking BP every day.
21	Overall this was helpful as the medication adjustment helped stabilize BP. Simple and easy to use. Liked that it was automatic.	Somewhat anxiety provoking to measure BP every day. Would it be high or low? If the readings were different – was it me or the machine?	Need written instruction about what arm to use.
23	Easy. Not complicated. Learned the importance of taking BP more than once to get accurate reading. It was convenient and easy to use.		Should have provided training on changing batteries.
24	Once I had the system working, I could do it in less than a minute.	Felt that machine BP was high because it was higher than what was measured during his hospital stay particularly during rehabilitation.	Not familiar with Apple.
25	My BP problems are tied to diet. When I saw my BP spike during trial, it was reminder to eat better. Simple straightforward not complicated.
27	System was simple. It told me how my BP was. Especially since I was on medication it was helpful to me. Automatic transmission was convenient.
33	I did not have any problems with machine. I liked keeping track on a regular basis. I never did before. I liked that I did not have to call it in (automatic transmission).	I did not like doing it every day.
34	Learned something about my BP in the morning. I like knowing my BP readings. This was similar to my own monitor. I like that it was automatic.	I don’t like doing it in the morning.	Need a repeat demonstration of system.
36	Gave me confidence. We detected the low BP as well. Easiest device ever used. We could get multiple measurements on the same device. It was simple.		Instructions on going back to main screen.
38	Helped me know when I was having AFIB. Helped adjust my medications. I often had high readings and they had to adjust.
40	Liked that it was automatic.	Interested for 2 months.	Provide confirmation that BP uploaded to study database. More written instructions.
41	Nice and easy. Like that it sent readings automatically.		Would like training on changing batteries on cuff beforehand