RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Toward Electronic Health Recording: Evaluation of Electronic Patient-reported Outcome Measures System for Remote Monitoring of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP jrheum.151421
DO 10.3899/jrheum.151421
A1 Yasser El Miedany
A1 Maha El Gaafary
A1 Sally Youssef
A1 Sami Bahlas
A1 Samah Almedany
A1 Ihab Ahmed
A1 Deborah Palmer
YR 2016
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2016/09/08/jrheum.151421.abstract
AB Objective To assess the use of electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROM) in standard clinical practice for early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management, the ePROM ability to enhance clinical care, and how computing technology can improve the patients’ adherence to therapy. Methods In a double-blinded randomized-controlled study, 211 patients with early RA diagnosed according to American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria completed a PROM in paper format at their first clinic visit. Patients were then randomized to Group 1, which completed an ePROM questionnaire monthly, or Group 2, which continued the standard paper PROM format. Over a 12-month period, Group 1 patients were assessed every 3 months in the clinic, whereas Group 2 patients were assessed in the clinic initially monthly for 6 months, then every 3 months. The primary endpoint was the equivalence of outcomes [Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID-3) and 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28)] in both groups. The secondary endpoint was the patients’ adherence to their medications. Results There was no significant difference between disease activity measures as well as DAS28 and RAPID-3 scores at 3, 6, and 12 months of management, although there was a trend toward lower patient-reported tender joint count and functional disability score in the active group versus the control group. The patients’ adherence to antirheumatic therapy was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the ePROM group, whereas stopping disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for intolerability was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the control group at 12 months of treatment. Conclusion We found ePROM equivalent to standard paper PROM format. Further, it enabled the patients to personally monitor how they are doing regarding their disease activity and helped to optimize their adherence to their treatment.