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Avouac J, Marotte H, Balsa A, Chebbah M, Clanche SL, Verhagen LAW, Filková M, Mueller RB, Mongey AB, Taylor PC. Teleconsultation in rheumatology: A literature review and opinion paper. Semin Arthritis Rheum 2023; 63:152271. [PMID: 37813005 DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2023.152271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
In this article, we review published literature on "telerheumatology", a term describing the use of telemedicine in rheumatology. This field has received considerable recent attention through the development of efficient digital technologies, resulting in a good level of satisfaction among patients and health care professionals. In 2020, the social distancing constraints during the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated more widespread adoption worldwide. Telerheumatology is particularly suited for patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have achieved a sustained therapeutic target of remission or low disease activity. To facilitate remote consultations and meet expectations of rheumatologists and patients, international and national guidelines have recently been proposed and existing tools, such as Patient-Reported Outcomes questionnaires, have had to be digitally adapted. In addition, telerheumatology toolkits are proposed by the Arab League of Associations for Rheumatology (ArLAR), the Association of American Medical College (AAMC), and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) for all learners, from medical students to practicing clinicians, encouraging the acquisition of telehealth skills and facilitating their integration into their routine clinical practice. The main benefits reported for this mode of health care are greater access to specialty care, flexibility, reduced rates of missed appointments, as well as improved patient engagement and autonomy. Limitations include the absence of physical examination. However, to implement telerheumatology effectively and widely in daily clinical practice, some barriers still need to be addressed. These include training of health care professionals, technological restrictions and reimbursement mechanisms. Despite the advantages of telerheumatology, it is not intended to replace face-to-face visits, but rather as a way to enhance access to care, service delivery and health care support for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Avouac
- Service de Rhumatologie, Hôpital Cochin, AP-HP Centre - Université Paris Cité, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Hubert Marotte
- SAINBIOSE, INSERM U1059, Université Jean Monnet, Saint-Etienne, France; Service de Rhumatologie, CHU Saint-Etienne,42055 Saint-Etienne, France; CIC 1408, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Alejandro Balsa
- Rheumatology Unit, University Hospital La Paz, Institute for Health Research-IdiPAZ, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid,28046 Madrid, Spain
| | - Myriam Chebbah
- Public Health Expertise, Département Affaires Médicales, 10 boulevard de Sébastopol, 75004 Paris, France
| | - Solenn Le Clanche
- Public Health Expertise, Département Affaires Médicales, 10 boulevard de Sébastopol, 75004 Paris, France
| | | | - Mária Filková
- Institute of Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Peter C Taylor
- Norman Collison Professor of Musculoskeletal Sciences at the Botnar Research Centre, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Windmill Road, Oxford, OX3 7LD, UK.
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Bhangu G, Hartfeld NMS, Lacaille D, Lopatina E, Hoens AM, Barber MRW, Then KL, Zafar S, Fifi-Mah A, Hazlewood G, Barber CEH. A scoping review of shared care models for rheumatoid arthritis with patient-initiated follow-up. Semin Arthritis Rheum 2023; 60:152190. [PMID: 36934470 DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2023.152190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE An emerging strategy to address access challenges to rheumatologists for patients with RA is shared care between primary and specialist care, with patient-initiated rheumatologist follow-up as needed. The objective of this scoping review was to explore studies implementing this model of care. METHODS Four electronic databases were searched from 01/01/2000-31/03/2022 using three main concepts (RA, shared care, patient-initiated follow-up). English-language studies of any design were included if they described the implementation and/or outcomes of shared care model for RA with patient-initiated follow-up. Two authors reviewed and selected articles in duplicate and extracted data on study characteristics, care model implementation and outcomes according to a pre-specified protocol. RESULTS Following duplicate removal, 1578 articles were screened for inclusion and 58 underwent full-text review. Sixteen articles were included, representing 10 unique studies. Five studies had qualitative outcomes and two were pre-implementation studies. Model implementation varied significantly between studies. Effectiveness data was available in 10 studies and demonstrated equivalent outcomes for the model of care (disease activity, radiographic damage, quality of life). Health system costs were equivalent or lower than usual care. While satisfaction with care was equivalent or improved in shared care models with patient-initiated follow-up, some concerns were expressed in qualitative evaluation around appropriate patient selection for such models, and information for health equity evaluation was not reported. CONCLUSIONS While shared care models with patient-initiated follow-up may offer comparable outcomes for RA, further work is required to understand patient preferences, health equity considerations and longer-term outcomes for such models of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurjeet Bhangu
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nicole M S Hartfeld
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Diane Lacaille
- Arthritis Research Canada, Canada; Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Elena Lopatina
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Alison M Hoens
- Arthritis Research Canada, Canada; Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Megan R W Barber
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Arthritis Research Canada, Canada
| | - Karen L Then
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Saania Zafar
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Arthritis Research Canada, Canada
| | - Aurore Fifi-Mah
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Glen Hazlewood
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Arthritis Research Canada, Canada
| | - Claire E H Barber
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Arthritis Research Canada, Canada.
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Park JE, Lee JE, Moon BK, Lee H, Park SH, Kim SK, Choe JY, Kim JW, Song YK. Impact of a pharmaceutical care service for patients with rheumatoid arthritis using a customised mobile device (the PROUD trial): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e061917. [PMID: 35728909 PMCID: PMC9214359 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) generally requires lifelong treatment; however, its medication complexity might affect non-adherence. Pharmacist-led telehealth services were as effective as face-to-face services and reduced potential side effects in outpatients with chronic diseases. This study aims to analyse the effect of a telepharmacy service with a customised mobile device in comparison with the usual pharmacist service on the humanistic and clinical outcomes in patients with RA. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The study is designed as a prospective, randomised, open-label, and controlled trial to compare the humanistic and clinical outcomes of the pharmaceutical care service with monthly telecommunications and a customised mobile application (telepharmacy care group) against the usual service by community pharmacists (usual care group) in 256 patients with RA and prescribed at least one of the disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Participants will be recruited from a tertiary hospital in Republic of Korea with written informed consent. The primary outcome will be the changes in health-related quality of life as measured by the Korean version of the EuroQoL's five-dimensional questionnaire at 6 months compared with baseline. The secondary outcomes will be the changes in the following: scores of the Korean version of the Compliance Questionnaire-Rheumatology and medication knowledge at 3 and 6 months compared with baseline; scores of the Korean version of the Pharmacy Service Questionnaire at 6 months compared with baseline; clinical parameters such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein level, and pain score at 3 and 6 months compared with baseline; frequency of acute care utilisation over 6 months. Analysis will be carried out with intent-to-treat and per-protocol principles. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Daegu Catholic University Medical Center (IRB no. CR-21-082-L, 14 July 2021). The study findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER KCT0006508.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Eun Park
- College of Pharmacy, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan, South Korea
- Department of Pharmacy, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Ju-Eun Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Bo-Kyung Moon
- Department of Pharmacy, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Hwajeong Lee
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Sung-Hoon Park
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Seong-Kyu Kim
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Jung-Yoon Choe
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Ji-Won Kim
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Yun-Kyoung Song
- College of Pharmacy, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan, South Korea
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