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Graña Gil J, Moreno Martínez MJ, Carrasco Cubero MDC. Delphi consensus on the use of telemedicine in rheumatology: RESULTAR study. REUMATOLOGIA CLINICA 2024; 20:254-262. [PMID: 38821741 DOI: 10.1016/j.reumae.2024.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES There is growing interest in the potential of telemedicine (TM) as an alternative to physical consultation. Although numerous studies prove the benefits of TM in rheumatology, there are no recommendations on its implementation in Spain. The aim of this study was to analyze the application of TM in rheumatology consultations in Spain. MATERIALS AND METHODS Qualitative, cross-sectional, multicenter study with Delphi methodology in two rounds of queries. A structured ad hoc questionnaire was designed that included statements on teleconsultation, nursing teleconsultation, telecare, telerehabilitation, teleradiology, telehealth tele-education, main barriers, advantages and disadvantages of telehealth tele-education and TM in rheumatoid arthritis. The participants were rheumatology specialists practicing in Spain. RESULTS The participating rheumatologists (N = 80) had a mean age of 42.4 (±9.0) years, with 12.6 (±8.4) years of experience. Some of the aspects of TM that obtained the greatest consensus were: TM is useful for follow-up of some patients, to help determine if a face-to-face consultation is necessary, or to assist patients with rheumatoid arthritis if they present low activity or in remission; certain patients, such as those in their first consultation or those who present digital barriers or cognitive deterioration, should be seen face-to-face; TM presents some technical and patient access barriers; TM can be useful in nursing and in continued medical education. CONCLUSIONS TM can be beneficial for the treatment and follow-up of patients with rheumatic diseases, as well as for alleviating the face-to-face care burden in rheumatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenaro Graña Gil
- Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Universitario de A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
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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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Hermans K, Boonen A, Vonkeman HE, van Tubergen A. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of combined asynchronous telemonitoring and patient-initiated care for spondyloarthritis: protocol for a pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial (TeleSpA Study). BMJ Open 2023; 13:e067445. [PMID: 36806136 PMCID: PMC9944312 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION During the COVID-19 pandemic, an accelerated uptake of remote monitoring strategies, replacing traditional face-to-face care, has been observed. However, data on the effects of remote care interventions for patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases remain scarce and interpretation is hampered by study heterogeneity and research quality concerns. High-quality evidence is required to guide future implementation in clinical practice, with health economic analyses identified as an important knowledge gap. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing telemonitoring with conventional care for patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) are currently lacking. METHODS AND ANALYSIS TeleSpA is a pragmatic, multicentre RCT investigating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of combined asynchronous telemonitoring and patient-initiated follow-up for patients with SpA, compared with conventional care. Two-hundred patients will be recruited at two hospitals and randomised (1:1) to the study intervention or standard care. The primary endpoint is a reduction in the number of follow-up visits by ≥25% in the intervention compared with standard care group, during a 1-year period. Secondary endpoints are (a) non-inferiority of the study intervention with regard to health outcomes, quality of care and patient-reported experience with care; and (b) cost-effectiveness of the intervention, evaluated through a prospective trial-based cost-utility analysis. In addition, experiences with the study intervention will be assessed among patients and healthcare providers, and factors associated with primary and secondary endpoints will be identified. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This study was approved by the Medical Research Ethics Committee of the Academic Hospital Maastricht/Maastricht University (NL71041.068.19/METC 19-059). Results will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT04673825.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasper Hermans
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Annelies Boonen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Harald E Vonkeman
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Astrid van Tubergen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Hormaza-Jaramillo A, Arredondo A, Forero E, Herrera S, Ochoa C, Arbeláez-Cortés Á, Fernandez Aldana AR, Rodriguez A, Amador L, Castaño N, Reyes J. Effectiveness of Telemedicine Compared with Standard Care for Patients with Rheumatic Diseases: A Systematic Review. Telemed J E Health 2022; 28:1852-1860. [PMID: 35834601 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2022.0098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically review the evidence on the effectiveness of telemedicine compared to standard care for patients with rheumatic diseases. Methods: A search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; for the gray literature, GREYNET databases and a snowball search were used. MeSH or Emtree terms. Three authors independently selected systematic reviews, randomized controlled trail (RCTs), or non-RCTs with patients with autoimmune or inflammatory rheumatic diseases, where telemedicine was compared with standard care. Effectiveness was measured in terms of disease activity, quality of life, and functional activity. The patients' satisfaction was also measured. The risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane collaboration tool for RCTs and AMSTAR II for systematic reviews. Results: Four RCTs, one cross-out study, and five systematic reviews were included. The studies were conducted with rheumatoid arthritis patients, and one study involved patients with systematic lupus erythematosus. The interventions mainly involved teleconsultation and telemonitoring, with patient-reported outcomes (PROs) being compared with standard care. Four studies measured the effectiveness of telemedicine using PROs, in which three of the RCTs did not find differences in the clinical outcomes, and one found that telemedicine improved the remission of diseases, functional impairment, and radiographic joint damage progression. Two studies measured patient satisfaction with telemedicine and standard care without a significant difference between the groups. Conclusions: Despite heterogeneity between studies, the findings were remarkably consistent in demonstrating that there was no significant difference between the telemedicine group and the control group in terms of PROs and patient satisfaction. Patients should be offered the option of telemedicine to manage their diseases as part of health-care support. Further research is needed on the effectiveness of telemedicine in the long term for patients with rheumatic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana Arredondo
- Internal Medicine and Rheumatology Fundacion Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud, Bogota, Colombia
- Rheumatology, Hospital de San Jose, Bogota, Colombia
- Rheumatology, Clinicos IPS, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Elias Forero
- Rheumatology, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia
| | - Sebastian Herrera
- Rheumatology, ARTMEDICA, Medellin, Colombia
- Rheumatology, Clinica Las Americas, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Carlos Ochoa
- Rheumatology, Centro de Reumatologia, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Álvaro Arbeláez-Cortés
- Rheumatology, Clinica Imbanaco Grupo Quiron salud, Cali, Colombia
- Internal Medicine, Universidad Libre, Cali, Colombia
| | | | - Andrea Rodriguez
- Clinical Epidemiology, National University of Colombia, Bogota, Colombia
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Barber CE, Levy DM, Ahluwalia V, Mendel A, Taylor-Gjevre R, Gerschman T, Koppikar S, Jilkine K, Stringer E, Barnabe C, Aydin SZ, Luca N, Berard R, Tam K, Burt J, Murdoch JC, Zinck G, Lane T, Heeley J, Mannerow M, Mills R, Wilhelm L, Spencer N, Ohata B. Best Practices for Virtual Care, a Consensus Statement from the Canadian Rheumatology Association. J Rheumatol 2022; 49:408-418. [DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.211017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Objective To develop best practice statements for the provision of virtual care in adult and pediatric rheumatology for the Canadian Rheumatology Association's (CRA) Telehealth Working Group (TWG). Methods Four members of the TWG representing adult, pediatric, university-based and community rheumatology practices defined the scope of the project. A rapid literature review was conducted between April-May 2021 of existing systematic reviews, policy documents and published literature and abstracts on the topic. The review informed a candidate set of 7 statements and a supporting document. The statements were submitted to a 3-round (R) modified Delphi process with 22 panelists recruited through the CRA and patient advocacy organizations. Panelists rated the importance and feasibility of the statements on a Likert scale of 1-9. Statements with final median ratings between 7-9 with no disagreement were retained in the final set. Results 21 (95%) panelists participated in R1, 15 (71%) in R2 and 18 (82%) in R3. All but one statement met inclusion criteria during R1. Revisions were made to 5/7 statements following R2 and an additional statement was added. All statements met inclusion criteria following R3. The statements addressed the following themes in the provision of virtual care: adherence to existing standards and regulations, appropriateness, consent, physical examination, patient-reported outcomes, use in addition to in-person visits, and complex co-management of disease. Conclusion The best practice statements represent a starting point for advancing virtual care in rheumatology. Future educational efforts to help implement these best practices and research to address identified knowledge gaps are planned.
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Rothmann MJ, Mouritsen JD, Ladefoged NS, Jeppesen MN, Lillevang AS, Laustrup H, Ellingsen T. The use of telehealth in psychological counselling of adult vulnerable patients with rheumatic diseases and diabetes: An explorative study inspired by participatory design (Preprint). JMIR Hum Factors 2021; 9:e30829. [PMID: 35311690 PMCID: PMC8981013 DOI: 10.2196/30829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Objective Methods Results Conclusions
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Affiliation(s)
- Mette Juel Rothmann
- Rheumatology Research Unit, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Odense, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Centre for Innovative Medical Technology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Julie Drotner Mouritsen
- Rheumatology Research Unit, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Odense, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Nanna Skov Ladefoged
- Rheumatology Research Unit, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Odense, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Anna Sofie Lillevang
- Rheumatology Research Unit, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Odense, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Helle Laustrup
- Rheumatology Research Unit, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Torkell Ellingsen
- Rheumatology Research Unit, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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