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Opportunities and Barriers of Telemedicine in Rheumatology: A Participatory, Mixed-Methods Study

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  • Felix Muehlensiepen

    (KV Consult-und Managementgesellschaft mbH, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
    Center for Health Services Research, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, 15562 Rüdersdorf bei Berlin, Germany
    Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, 16816 Neuruppin, Germany
    AGEIS, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France)

  • Johannes Knitza

    (AGEIS, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
    Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
    Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany)

  • Wenke Marquardt

    (KV Consult-und Managementgesellschaft mbH, 14469 Potsdam, Germany)

  • Susann May

    (Center for Health Services Research, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, 15562 Rüdersdorf bei Berlin, Germany)

  • Martin Krusche

    (Department of Internal Medicine III, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Axel Hueber

    (Division of Rheumatology, Klinikum Nürnberg, Paracelsus Medical University, 90419 Nürnberg, Germany)

  • Julian Schwarz

    (Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Immanuel Klinik Rüdersdorf, 15562 Rüdersdorf, Germany)

  • Nicolas Vuillerme

    (AGEIS, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
    Institut Universitaire de France, 75006 Paris, France
    LabCom Telecom4Health, Orange Labs & Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Inria, Grenoble INP-UGA, 38400 Grenoble, France)

  • Martin Heinze

    (Center for Health Services Research, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, 15562 Rüdersdorf bei Berlin, Germany
    Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, 16816 Neuruppin, Germany
    Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Immanuel Klinik Rüdersdorf, 15562 Rüdersdorf, Germany)

  • Martin Welcker

    (Medizinisches Versorgungszentrum für Rheumatologie Dr. M. Welcker GmbH, 82152 Planegg, Germany)

Abstract

Despite all its promises, telemedicine is still not widely implemented in the care of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). The aim of this study is to investigate opportunities, barriers, acceptance, and preferences concerning telemedicine among RMD patients and professional stakeholders. From November 2017 to December 2019, a participatory, mixed-methods study was conducted, consisting of (1) expert interviews ( n = 27) with RMD patients and professional stakeholders, (2) a national paper-based patient survey ( n = 766), and (3) focus groups ( n = 2) with patient representatives and rheumatologists. The qualitative findings indicate that patients equate personal contact with physical face-to-face contact, which could be reduced by implementing telemedicine, thus negatively influencing the patient–doctor relationship. Correspondingly “no personal contact with the doctor” is the main reason (64%) why 38% of the surveyed patients refuse to try telemedicine. Professional stakeholders expect telemedicine to contribute to the effective allocation of scarce resources in rheumatology care. The main barriers reported by stakeholders were the scarcity of time resources in RMD care, the absence of physical examinations, and organizational challenges associated with the implementation of telemedicine in RMD care. While the exact integration of telemedicine into routine care has yet to be found, the consequences on the patient-physician relationship must be permanently considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Felix Muehlensiepen & Johannes Knitza & Wenke Marquardt & Susann May & Martin Krusche & Axel Hueber & Julian Schwarz & Nicolas Vuillerme & Martin Heinze & Martin Welcker, 2021. "Opportunities and Barriers of Telemedicine in Rheumatology: A Participatory, Mixed-Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:24:p:13127-:d:700887
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Felix Mühlensiepen & Sandra Kurkowski & Martin Krusche & Johanna Mucke & Robert Prill & Martin Heinze & Martin Welcker & Hendrik Schulze-Koops & Nicolas Vuillerme & Georg Schett & Johannes Knitza, 2021. "Digital Health Transition in Rheumatology: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-11, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Katarzyna Weronika Binder-Olibrowska & Magdalena Agnieszka Wrzesińska & Maciek Godycki-Ćwirko, 2022. "Is Telemedicine in Primary Care a Good Option for Polish Patients with Visual Impairments Outside of a Pandemic?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-21, May.
    2. Christian Becker & Matthias Diener & Axel J. Hueber & Jörg Henes & Martin Krusche & Yuriy Ignatyev & Susann May & Ulrike Erstling & Corinna Elling-Audersch & Johannes Knitza & Felix Muehlensiepen, 2022. "Unmet Information Needs of Patients with Rheumatic Diseases: Results of a Cross-Sectional Online Survey Study in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-12, June.

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