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Digital Health Transition in Rheumatology: A Qualitative Study

Author

Listed:
  • Felix Mühlensiepen

    (Center for Health Services Research, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, 15562 Rüdersdorf, Germany
    Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, 14476 Potsdam, Germany)

  • Sandra Kurkowski

    (Department of Palliative Medicine, CCC Erlangen-EMN, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany)

  • Martin Krusche

    (Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany)

  • Johanna Mucke

    (Policlinic and Hiller Research Unit for Rheumatology, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany)

  • Robert Prill

    (Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
    Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Municipal Clinic Brandenburg, 14770 Brandenburg, Germany)

  • Martin Heinze

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

  • Hendrik Schulze-Koops

    (Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine IV, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80336 Munich, Germany)

  • Nicolas Vuillerme

    (AGEIS, Faculty of Medicine, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38706 Grenoble, France
    Institut Universitaire de France, 75006 Paris, France
    LabCom Telecom4Health, Université Grenoble Alpes & Orange Labs, 38400 Grenoble, France)

  • Georg Schett

    (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)

  • Johannes Knitza

    (AGEIS, Faculty of Medicine, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38706 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)

Abstract

The global COVID-19 pandemic has led to drastic changes in the management of patients with rheumatic diseases. Due to the imminent risk of infection, monitoring intervals of rheumatic patients have prolonged. The aim of this study is to present insights from patients, rheumatologists, and digital product developers on the ongoing digital health transition in rheumatology. A qualitative and participatory semi-structured fishbowl approach was conducted to gain detailed insights from a total of 476 participants. The main findings show that digital health and remote care are generally welcomed by the participants. Five key themes emerged from the qualitative content analysis: (1) digital rheumatology use cases, (2) user descriptions, (3) adaptation to different environments of rheumatology care, and (4) potentials of and (5) barriers to digital rheumatology implementation. Codes were scaled by positive and negative ratings as well as on micro, meso, and macro levels. A main recommendation resulting from the insights is that both patients and rheumatologists need more information and education to successfully implement digital health tools into clinical routine.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2636-:d:511531
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maria Gabriella Melchiorre & Giovanni Lamura & Francesco Barbabella & on behalf of ICARE4EU Consortium, 2018. "eHealth for people with multimorbidity: Results from the ICARE4EU project and insights from the “10 e’s” by Gunther Eysenbach," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(11), pages 1-26, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.

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