scholarly journals A Smartphone App for Self-Monitoring of Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity to Assist Patient-Initiated Care: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

10.2196/15105 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e15105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart F Seppen ◽  
Merel J L'ami ◽  
Sharon Duarte dos Santos Rico ◽  
Marieke M ter Wee ◽  
Franktien Turkstra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Outpatient Clinic ◽  
Disease Activity Score ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Activity Score ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Background Telemedicine based on self-measurement of disease activity could be one of the key components to create the health care system of the future. Previous publications in various medical fields have shown that it is possible to safely telemonitor patients while reducing the number of outpatient clinic visits. For this purpose, we developed a mobile phone app for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which allows them to self-monitor their disease. Objective The objective of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of self-initiated care assisted by a smartphone app in patients with RA. Methods This is a randomized controlled trial that will be performed for 1 year. A total of 176 patients with RA will be randomized to either self-initiated care with only one scheduled follow-up consultation assisted by our app or usual care. The coprimary outcome measures are the number of outpatient clinic consultations with a rheumatologist taking place during the trial period and the mean disease activity score as measured by the disease activity score 28 (DAS28) at 12 months. The secondary outcomes are patient satisfaction, adherence, patient empowerment, and cost evaluation of health care assisted by the app. Results Recruitment started in May 2019, and up to 18 months will be required for completion of recruitment. Thus far, 78 patients have been randomized, and thus far, experiences with the app have been positive. The study results are expected to be published by the end of 2021. Conclusions The completion of this study will provide important data regarding the following: (1) safety of self-initiated care supported by a smartphone app in terms of DAS28 and (2) efficacy of lowering health care usage with this new strategy of providing health care. Trial Registration Netherlands Trial Register NL7715; https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/7715 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/15105

scholarly journals A mobile app using therapeutic exercise and education for self-management in patients with hand rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized controlled trial protocol

Trials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Rodríguez-Sánchez-Laulhé ◽  
Luis Gabriel Luque-Romero ◽  
Jesús Blanquero ◽  
Alejandro Suero-Pineda ◽  
Ángela Biscarri-Carbonero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Pinch Strength ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Therapeutic Exercise ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Experimental Group

Abstract Background Therapeutic exercise is a safe and cost-effective approach to alleviate hand rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related symptoms. This study aims to investigate the differences in self-management between a smartphone app (CareHand), using hand exercises and educational advices, compared with a standard approach, on hand overall function, pain intensity, stiffness, and grip and pinch strength in patients with hand RA. Methods The project is a prospective, longitudinal, superiority, randomized controlled trial. Fifty-eight participants with hand RA will be randomly assigned into an experimental group (CareHand app) or a control group (conventional treatment). Control intervention involves a paper sheet with exercises and recommendations, and the experimental group includes the use of a smartphone app, which provides individualized exercise programs, self-management, and educational strategies to promote adherence to treatment. Both intervention protocols will last for 3 months. The principal investigator will conduct an educational session at baseline for all participants. Primary outcome comprises the overall hand function, assessed with the Michigan Hand Outcome Questionnaire (MHQ). Secondary outcomes include self-reported functional ability with the Quick DASH questionnaire, self-reported pain intensity and morning stiffness using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and hand grip and pinch strength (dynamometer). Outcome measures will be collected at baseline, and at 1 month and 3-month follow-up. Discussion This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a tele-rehabilitation tool, which uses exercise and self-management strategies, compared to a conventional approach, in patients with hand RA. The smartphone app will allow to monitor the patient’s status and to enhance patient-therapist communication. Some limitations may be related to the short follow-up duration and the lack of evaluation of psychosocial factors. Overall, this new way of promoting long-term effects in patients with a chronic rheumatic disease could be feasible and easy to implement in daily life clinical practice and current musculoskeletal care. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04263974. Registered on 7 March 2020. Date of last update 15 April 2020. Ethics committee code: PI_RH_2018.

DAS-driven therapy versus routine care in patients with recent-onset active rheumatoid arthritis

2009 ◽  
Vol 69 (01) ◽  
pp. 65-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y P M Goekoop-Ruiterman ◽  
J K de Vries-Bouwstra ◽  
P J S M Kerstens ◽  
M M J Nielen ◽  
K Vos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Disease Activity Score ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Joint Damage ◽  
Routine Care ◽  
Activity Score ◽  
Recent Onset ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B

Objectives:To compare the efficacy of Disease Activity Score (DAS)-driven therapy and routine care in patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis.Methods:Patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis receiving traditional antirheumatic therapy from either the BeSt study, a randomised controlled trial comparing different treatment strategies (group A), or two Early Arthritis Clinics (group B) were included. In group A, systematic DAS-driven treatment adjustments aimed to achieve low disease activity (DAS ⩽2.4). In group B, treatment was left to the discretion of the treating doctor. Functional ability (Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ)), Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) and Sharp/van der Heijde radiographic score (SHS) were evaluated.Results:At baseline, patients in group A (n = 234) and group B (n = 201) had comparable demographic characteristics and a mean HAQ of 1.4. Group A had a longer median disease duration than group B (0.5 vs 0.4 years, p = 0.016), a higher mean DAS28 (6.1 vs 5.7, p<0.001), more rheumatoid factor-positive patients (66% vs 42%, p<0.001) and more patients with erosions (71% vs 53%, p<0.001). After 1 year, the HAQ improvement was 0.7 vs 0.5 (p = 0.029), and the percentage in remission (DAS28 <2.6) 31% vs 18% (p<0.005) in groups A and B, respectively. In group A, the median SHS progression was 2.0 (expected progression 7.0), in group B, the SHS progression was 1.0 (expected progression 4.4).Conclusions:In patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis receiving traditional treatment, systematic DAS-driven therapy results in significantly better clinical improvement and possibly improves the suppression of joint damage progression.

scholarly journals A mobile app using therapeutic exercise and education for self-management in patients with hand rheumatoid arthritis. A randomized controlled trial protocol.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo for the Management of Health Research of Seville F Rodríguez-Sánchez-Laulhé ◽  
Luis Gabriel Luque-Romero ◽  
Jesús Blanquero ◽  
Alejandro Suero-Pineda ◽  
Ángela Biscarri-Carbonero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Pinch Strength ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Therapeutic Exercise ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Experimental Group

Abstract Background: Therapeutic exercise is a safe and cost-effective approach to alleviate hand rheumatoid arthritis (RA) related symptoms. This study aims to investigate the differences in self-management between a smartphone app (CareHand), using hand exercises and educational advices, compared with a standard approach, on hand overall function, pain intensity, stiffness, and grip and pinch strength in patients with hand RA. Methods: The project is a prospective, longitudinal, superiority, randomized controlled trial. Fifty-eight participants with hand RA will be randomly assigned into an experimental group (CareHand app) or a control group (conventional treatment). Control intervention involves a paper sheet with exercises and recommendations, and the experimental group includes the use of a smartphone app, which provides individualized exercise programmes, self-management and educational strategies to promote adherence to treatment. Both intervention protocols will last for 3 months. The principal investigator will conduct an educational session at baseline for all participants. Primary outcome comprises the overall hand function, assessed with the Michigan Hand Outcome Questionnaire (MHQ). Secondary outcomes include self-reported functional ability with the Quick DASH questionnaire, self-reported pain intensity and morning stiffness using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and hand grip and pinch strength (dynamometer). Outcome measures will be collected at baseline, and at 1 month and 3-month follow-up. Discussion: This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a telerehabilitation tool, which uses exercise and self-management strategies, compared to a conventional approach, in patients with hand RA. The smartphone app will allow to monitor the patient´s status, and to enhance patient-therapist communication. Some limitations may be related to the short follow-up duration and the lack of evaluation of psychosocial factors. Overall, this new way of promoting long-term effects in patients with a chronic rheumatic disease could be feasible and easy to implement in daily life clinical practice and current musculoskeletal care.

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