One year of digital health applications (DiGA) in Germany – Rheumatologists’ perspectives

Chehab, Gamal; Stachwitz, Philipp; Hagen, Julia; Larsen, Denitza; Knitza, Johannes; Schneider, Matthias; Voormann, Anna; Specker, Christof

doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.1000668

Cited by 30 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Although the survey was performed, advertised, and distributed online using the major and relevant online communication channels of German rheumatologists response rate ranges between 12 and 16% (depending on the amount of overlapping newsletter recipients) and was thus lower than the expected 20%. We attributed this to the fact that during the COVID-19 pandemic, at least DGRh newsletter recipients were exposed to a large number of DGRh online surveys (38). The majority of our respondents was aged 40 + and thus agebiased results can't be excluded.…”

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the use of video consultation in German rheumatology care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

et al. 2022

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BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic led to transformations in healthcare infrastructures and increased use of (innovative) telemedicine (TM) tools. Comparison of the use of video consultation (VC) in rheumatology in the pre-pandemic period and during the pandemic might allow for evaluating this new form of consultancy in healthcare due to changing conditions and possibilities.Materials and methodsCross-sectional nationwide online survey among German rheumatologists and rheumatologists in training between March and May 2021 promoted by newsletters and Twitter posts.ResultsResults refer to 205 participants. The majority was male (59%), older than 40 years (90%). Thirty-eight percent stated to have employed TM before (“digital users”), 27% were using VC as part of their TM expertise (“VC-users”), 10% stated to have experience with TM but not VC (“TM-users”). Those negating the use of any TM (62%) were designated as “digital non-users.” TM-Knowledge was self-rated as 4 [median on a Likert Scale 1 (very high) to 6 (very low)] with a significant difference between digital users (VC-user 2.7 ± 1.2, TM-user 3.2 ± 1.1) and digital non-users (4.4 ± 1.3). The reported significant increase of VC use during the lockdown periods and between the lockdowns compared to the pre-pandemic phase was regarded as a proxy for VC acceptance in the pandemic. Reasons for VC non-use were administrative/technical efforts (21%), lack of technical equipment (15%), time constraints (12%), time required for individual VC sessions (12%), inadequate reimbursement (11%), lack of demand from patients (11%), data security concerns (9%), poor internet connection (8%), and lack of scientific evaluation/evidence (5%). Physicians considered the following clinical situations to be particularly suitable for VC: follow-up visits (VC-user 79%, TM-user 62%, digital non-user 47%), emergency consultations (VC-user 20%, TM-user 33%, digital non-user 20%), and patients presenting for the first time (VC-user 11%, TM-user 19%, digital non-user 8%).ConclusionEven though the pandemic situation, with social distancing and several lockdowns, provides an ideal environment for the implementation of new remote care forms as VC, its use and acceptance remained comparatively low due to multiple reasons. This analysis may help identify hurdles in employing innovative digital care models for rheumatologic healthcare.

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Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the use of video consultation in German rheumatology care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

et al. 2022

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“…Auch wenn es aktuell keine zertifizierte DiGA für rheumatologische Erkrankungen gibt, existieren jedoch eine Vielzahl zertifizierten Angeboten, welche Komorbiditäten von entzündlich-rheumatischen Erkrankungen (wie beispielswiese Diabetes mellitus, Depression oder der Nikotinkarenz) adressieren. Einen Überblick über die aktuell zugelassenen DiGAs findet man im DiGA-Verzeichnis des Bundesamtes für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte: https:// diga.bfarm.de/de/verzeichnis Einschränkend zu erwähnen ist jedoch, dass das Verschreibungsund Nutzungsverhalten der DiGAs aktuell noch weit hinter den initialen Erwartungen der Politik zurück bleibt [21] und eine erste Analyse unter Patient:innen mit entzündlich-rheumatischen Erkrankungen hier ebenfalls kein gute Therapieadhärenz bzw. dauerhafte Nutzung nahe legt [22].…”

Section: Digitale Gesundheitsapplikationenunclassified

“…Einschränkend zu erwähnen ist jedoch, dass das Verschreibungs- und Nutzungsverhalten der DiGAs aktuell noch weit hinter den initialen Erwartungen der Politik zurück bleibt 21 und eine erste Analyse unter Patient:innen mit entzündlich-rheumatischen Erkrankungen hier ebenfalls kein gute Therapieadhärenz bzw. dauerhafte Nutzung nahe legt 22 .…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Telemedizin in der Rheumatologie

Krusche

Xiong

2023

Aktuelle Rheumatologie

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ZusammenfassungDurch den wachsenden Einzug der Digitalisierung ergeben sich auch für die Medizin neue Anwendungsmöglichkeiten und Herausforderungen. Die COVID-19-Pandemie hat diese Entwicklung weiter verstärkt und dabei das Themenfeld der Telemedizin zunehmend in den Fokus gerückt. Auch in der Rheumatologie ergeben sich durch den Einsatz der Telemedizin neue Einsatzmöglichkeiten sowohl im Bereich der Diagnostik als auch der Therapieüberwachung und -steuerung. Konkret kommt vor allem der Video- und Telefonsprechstunde, digitalen Applikationen (Gesundheitsapps) und Wearables eine Bedeutung zu.

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“…In addition, interactive mHealth interventions have the potential to improve pharmaceutical care outcomes by supporting contact between pharmacists and patients [13,14]. mHealth apps in the DiGA directory can only be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists or approved directly by health insurers at the patient's request; however, two surveys of German physicians have reported very low rates of prescribing of mHealth apps [15,16]. Adherence to mHealth apps has also been reported to be suboptimal, with only 78% of approved or prescribed DiGAs having been activated by patients [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functions of mHealth Diabetes Apps That Enable the Provision of Pharmaceutical Care: Criteria Development and Evaluation of Popular Apps

Sherazi

Laeer

Krutisch³

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Personal digital health apps for managing diabetes should include functions that enable the provision of pharmaceutical care services and allow within-app communication with pharmacists and other healthcare providers, thereby improving patient outcomes. The primary aim of this study was to assess the functions of diabetes apps that were relevant to providing pharmaceutical care services (i.e., medication management, adherence, non-pharmacological management, interoperability, and communication). Sixteen criteria related to pharmaceutical care were developed and then used to assess ten popular diabetes apps. The highest numbers of pharmaceutical care criteria were met by the apps Diabetes:M and mySugr (11 criteria); Contour™Diabetes, Dario Health, and OneTouch Reveal® (ten); and DiabetesConnect and ESYSTA (nine); followed by Glucose Buddy (eight), meala (seven), and lumind (three). The most prevalent functions were related to promoting adherence and non-pharmacological management, but most criteria relevant to medication management were lacking. Five apps allowed within-app communication between patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs); however, no app included communication with pharmacists. High-quality diabetes apps are powerful tools to support pharmaceutical care and remotely monitor diabetes patients. Improvements are needed as they often lack many medication management functions, including within-app communication with HCPs (especially pharmacists). To maximize diabetes app use and improve outcomes, app developers should consider including pharmacists alongside other healthcare providers when customizing app designs.

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One year of digital health applications (DiGA) in Germany – Rheumatologists’ perspectives

Cited by 30 publications

References 24 publications

Evaluation of the use of video consultation in German rheumatology care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Evaluation of the use of video consultation in German rheumatology care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Telemedizin in der Rheumatologie

Functions of mHealth Diabetes Apps That Enable the Provision of Pharmaceutical Care: Criteria Development and Evaluation of Popular Apps

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