Itsemittaus

Itsemittaus is the practice of performing measurements by oneself rather than by a professional. The term combines itse (“self”) and mittaus (“measurement”), and is used in Finnish to describe self-performed measurements across several domains. In everyday usage it most often refers to health-related self-monitoring, but it can also include consumer environmental measurements and other self-administered assessments.

In health care, itsemittaus encompasses home monitoring by patients, such as blood pressure, blood glucose, body temperature, and weight. The increasing availability of user-friendly devices and digital health platforms has expanded its use, enabling remote monitoring by clinicians and timely interventions. It is often integrated with telemedicine, patient portals, and data-sharing routines.

The main advantages of itsemittaus include greater convenience, earlier detection of changes, improved patient engagement, and the potential to reduce clinic visits and health care costs. However, it also poses challenges: measurement errors due to user technique or device faults, calibration and maintenance needs, misinterpretation of results, and privacy and data security concerns. Equitable access to accurate devices and training is also a consideration.

Regulatory and quality considerations apply to devices marketed for self-measurement. In the European Union and many countries, such devices are subject to safety, accuracy and labeling requirements, including CE marking and conformity assessment where applicable.

See also: remote patient monitoring, self-monitoring, home health care, telemedicine.