Smartphone application for rheumatoid arthritis self-management: cross-sectional study revealed the usefulness, willingness to use and patients' needs

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Azevedo, R (Author) Other; José Bernardes (Author) FMUP; Fonseca, J (Author) FMUP; Lima, A (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Rheumatology International

Vol. 35

Pages: 1675-1685

ISSN: 0172-8172

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 29 Citations

Scopus - 34 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00G-3N2

DOI: 10.1007/s00296-015-3270-9

Abstract (EN): Patient-centered smartphone applications have potential to support rheumatoid arthritis (RA) self-management but remain almost unexplored in literature. Therefore, this study evaluated the usefulness of a smartphone application to support RA self-management, the willingness of RA patients to use and pay for it and the features the application should have. In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was developed to collect information on population, device ownership, usefulness and willingness to use and pay for a RA self-management application and application features. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, t test or Mann-Whitney's test and multivariate analysis were used. One hundred RA patients answered the questionnaire. Patients' mean age was 57 +/- A 11.9 years, most were females (91 %), with multiple drug regimens and a 40 % treatment non-compliance rate. Most patients believed that could have a more active role in self-management (94 %) and reported it would be useful to develop a RA self-management application (86 %). Patients willing to use an application (83 %) were younger, with a possible more active role in self-management, with access to a smartphone, and using short message service, electronic mail and Internet. Multivariate analysis confirmed these results, except the associations regarding access to a smartphone and use of electronic mail and Internet. Fifty-eight patients (82 %) were willing to pay for a RA self-management application and the most requested feature for it was information in a simple format. This study suggested the usefulness and patients' willingness to use and pay for a RA self-management application and provided insight on patients' needs.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11