Development and real-life use assessment of a self-management smartphone application for patients with inflammatory arthritis. A user-centred step-by-step approach

Background

Mobile health applications (apps) are increasing in interest to enhance patient self-management. Few apps are actually used by patients and have been developed for patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) treated with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs which use entails risk of adverse effects such as infections.

Objective

To develop Hiboot, a self-management mobile app for patients with IA, by using a user-centred step-by-step approach and assess its real-life use.

Methods

The app development included first a qualitative study with semi-guided audiotaped interviews of 21 patients to identify the impact of IA on daily life and patient treatments practices and an online cross-sectional survey of 344 patients to assess their health apps use in general and potential user needs. A multidisciplinary team developed the first version of the app via five face-to-face meetings. After app launch, a second qualitative study of 21 patients and a users’ test of 13 patients and 3 rheumatologists led to the app’s current version. The number of app installations, current users and comments were collected from the Google Play store and the Apple store.

Results

The qualitative study revealed needs for counselling, patient–health professional partnership, and skills to cope with risk situations; 86.8% participants would be ready to use an app primarily on their rheumatologist’s recommendation. Six functionalities were implemented: a safety checklist before treatment administration, aids in daily life situations based on the French academic recommendations, treatment reminders, global well-being self-assessment, periodic counselling messages, and a diary. The Hiboot app was installed 20,500 times from September 2017 to October 2020, with 4300 regular current users. Scores were 4.4/5 stars at Android and iOS stores.

Conclusion

Hiboot is a free self-management app for patients with IA developed by a step-by-step process including patients and health professionals. Further evaluation of the Hiboot benefit is needed.

OP0303-PARE HEALTH DEMOCRACY IN THE TIME OF COVID-19: A COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE BETWEEN PATIENT ORGANIZATIONS AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE LIVING WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background

Has the COVID-19 crisis overwhelmed health democracy? This question may have arisen since extraordinary measures taken in response to the pandemic were developed almost exclusively by scientific expert committees. Citizens, patients, patient organizations, healthcare professionals, and even experts from these committees have recognized a lack of health democracy in the decision-making process regarding the COVID-19 response in France. Indeed, patient voices were barely heard during the early stages of the pandemic; yet inclusive dialogue is crucial for building trust and adherence to policy.

Moreover, patients also need to be assisted in handling the overabundance of COVID-19 information, particularly misleading and false information, referred to as an “infodemic” by the WHO.

Objectives

To show a practical and effective application of health democracy in rheumatology through collaboration between patient associations and rheumatologists during the COVID-19 pandemic. To collect, select, analyze, abstract, and translate COVID-19 literature to provide rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with useful, convenient and quality educational materials that answer patients’ medical, scientific and daily life questions. This initiative is consistent with patient-centered COVID-19 response.

Methods

At the instigation of a patient association in October 2021, a working group was established to develop a COVID-19 patient education resource to meet the expectations and needs of RA patients. The working group consisted of health professionals and patients identified by the partner patient organization. A committee of rheumatologists checked the reliability and accuracy of the scientific and medical information. A committee of patients assessed materials’ relevance, readability, and understandability. Materials were written in lay language without distorting the meaning of the scientific data. The methodology is detailed in Figure 1.

Figure 1.

Process flowchart

Results

The document is available to download on www.polyarthrite-andar.com (number of unique visits on the webpage for the last version: 1176). A printed version was also provided directly to patients by rheumatologists. To provide up-to-date information, the brochure was updated 7 times between the first edition in January 2021 and the last version in August 2021. This last version included 49 questions. Each update was announced to all members of the patient organization in its monthly newsletter (number of newsletter’s subscribers: 1863; number of followers: Facebook=2632; Twitter=1382; Instagram=921; LinkedIn= 590; Youtube=2907). The “Medical and scientific questions” section provided reliable and expert-reviewed information about the virus, protective measures, testing, vaccination, integrating RA specificities and its treatments for each item. The “Daily life questions” section provided practical advice during the pandemic, in particular by addressing the “TousAntiCovid” smartphone application, isolation certificates, remote working and lockdown instructions.

Conclusion

This initiative demonstrates the benefits that can be achieved by greater collaboration between patients and healthcare professionals to address population health problems. The patient could be an active contributor in improving disease management of his peers. This patient education tool is a good example of the relevance of the motto of ‘nothing about us, without us’. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of bringing patients’ voices to affect evidence-based policies centered around the needs of patients. Health democracy needs to form the backbone of how a health system is structured.

Acknowledgements

I Writing support and update was funded by Galapagos B.V., Mechelen, Belgium

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

Development and validation of a self-administered questionnaire measuring essential knowledge in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

To develop and validate a questionnaire assessing patient knowledge in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Knowledge considered essential for patients with RA was identified through a series of Delphi rounds among rheumatologists, health professionals (HPs), patients, and then reformulated to construct the knowledge questionnaire. Cross-sectional multicenter validation was performed in 12 rheumatology departments to assess internal validity (Kuder–Richardson coefficient), external validity, acceptability, reproducibility (Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient) and sensitivity to change (difference in total score before and after patient education sessions). Associations between patient variables and knowledge levels were evaluated. RAKE (RA Knowledge questionnairE) is a self-administered 45-item questionnaire scored 0–100, with a 32-item short-form survey assessing knowledge of disease, comorbidity, pharmacological treatments, non-pharmacological treatments, self-care and adaptative skills. Of 130 patients included in the validation study, 108 were women. Acceptability was good with < 5% missing data. Internal validity coefficient was 0.90. Mean (standard deviation) long-form score was 72.8 ± 17.8, with lower scores in comorbidity and self-care and higher scores in adaptive skills. Reproducibility was good (0.86 [0.80; 0.92]). RAKE score was positively correlated with the patients’ level of education and the HPs’ opinion on the patients’ knowledge. RAKE score showed good sensitivity to change: 66.8 ± 16.4 then 83.8 ± 12.7, representing a hedges effect size of 1.14 [95% CI 0.73; 1.55]. RAKE is an updated questionnaire assessing essential knowledge for patients with RA to enhance self-management according to current guidelines and the patients’ perspective. RAKE can usefully inform patient education interventions, routine care and research.

Benefits of Switch from Oral to Subcutaneous Route on Adherence to Methotrexate in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Real Life Setting

PURPOSE

The purpose of the APRIM study (for Adherence Polyarthrite Rhumatoïde Injection Methotrexate) was to investigate the change in treatment adherence of patients with rheumatic arthritis (RA) who switched from oral to subcutaneous methotrexate (MTX).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Prospective, observational study in RA patients treated with MTX and switching from oral to subcutaneous (SC) route in real-life conditions. Data on motivations for switch, disease activity (DAS28-CRP), quality of life (AISM-2 SF), disability (HAQ-DI), and adherence to MTX were collected at inclusion (M0) and 6 months later (M6). Adherence was assessed by the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) and defined as high (MMAS-8 = 8), medium (MMAS-8 = 6 or ≤8) or low (MMAS-8 < 6). The primary evaluation criterion was the proportion of patients who maintained strong adherence or improved adherence by at least one category (from low to medium or strong or from medium to strong) between M0 and M6.

RESULTS

The analysis involved 207 patients (age 60.4±12.7 years, 75.2% females). 6.7% were in remission and 15.5% had low disease activity (LDA) at baseline. 58.5% reached the primary criterion and strong adherence rate increased from 42.0% to 50.7%. Change of route was combined with increased MTX dose in 34.8% of patients. Switch to SC route increased the proportion of patients with remission or LDA from 22.8% to 52.9% and increased quality of life even in patients with unchanged MTX dose.

CONCLUSION

Overall, change from oral to SC route improved adherence to MTX, RA control and quality of life independently of change in MTX dose.

L’Éducation Thérapeutique du Patient et les rhumatologues libéraux : état des lieux

Objectifs : Devant les difficultés de recrutement des programmes hospitaliers d’éducation thérapeutique du patient (ETP) en rhumatologie et dans une réflexion sur la pertinence de réseaux ville-hôpital, il était intéressant de s’interroger sur la place des rhumatologues libéraux. Méthodes : Pour faire un état des lieux des connaissances, perceptions, attentes et intentions des rhumatologues libéraux et mixtes français, une enquête en ligne a été diffusée. Résultats : Les réponses de 96 rhumatologues montrent un véritable intérêt pour une implication personnelle en ETP. Cette implication est conditionnée à une offre de formation et d’outils adaptés à leur pratique, mais aussi à sa valorisation financière et à une coordination avec les autres acteurs de santé. Interrogés sur l’intérêt de réseaux autour de l’ETP, 65 % des répondants y sont favorables. Discussion : Les rhumatologues libéraux, avec l’avantage de proposer un accès direct et privilégié au cabinet favorisant le parcours éducatif, pourraient contribuer à diffuser plus largement l’ETP en rhumatologie et permettre à un plus grand nombre de patients d’en bénéficier. Conclusion : Ces résultats soulèvent des questions sur une possible confusion entre ETP et activités d’information du patient. Pour permettre une meilleure appréhension des particularités et des bénéfices spécifiques de l’ETP, il paraît intéressant d’envisager l’acquisition de compétences en ETP et en posture éducative comme un élément à part entière des activités de Formation médicale continue.

Patients' information and perspectives on biosimilars in rheumatology: A French nation-wide survey

OBJECTIVE

To assess the patients' information about biosimilars and to identify the patients' incentives and deterrents to concur with the use of biosimilars.

METHODS

Nation-wide cross-sectional study assessing information and concerns about biosimilars of French patients treated for rheumatic inflammatory diseases, whether they were treated or not by a biological DMARD. The assessment was available online from March to July 2017.

RESULTS

Among the 629 respondents, 43% knew what biosimilars were. The main sources of information were rheumatologists and patient associations. Among patients treated with a biosimilar, 44% were not informed before they received the treatment. The patients' concerns focused on the non-similar molecular structure (46%), efficacy (60%) and safety (57%) comparatively to the originator biologic. 15% of respondents would refuse to switch their biologic to its biosimilar. More than 50% of respondents would warily accept to switch medications and interrupt the treatment if in doubt. Being informed about biosimilars and a good understanding of the definition of biosimilars were characteristics associated with better adherence to biosimilars. The rheumatologist was considered the most influent source of information about biosimilars and was considered reliable when deciding to switch a biologic to its biosimilar. Patient were reluctant to substitution of the medications by pharmacists (2%). Medico-economical issues acted as an incentive and a deterrent to accept the switch of medication.

CONCLUSION

Biosimilars are largely unknown to patients. Information seems to be instrumental in improving the patients' adherence to biosimilars and could help preserving the therapeutic relationship and avoiding a nocebo effect.