2022 EULAR points to consider for remote care in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases

De Thurah A, Bosch P, Marques A, Meissner Y, Mukhtyar CB, Knitza J, Najm A, Osteras N, Pelle T, Knudsen LR, Smucrova H, Berenbaum F, Jani M, Geenen R, Krusche M, Pchelnikova P, De Souza S, Badreh S, Wiek D, Piantoni S, Gwinnutt JM, Duftner C, Canhao HM, Quartuccio L, Stoilov N, Prior Y, Bijlsma JWJ, Zabotti A, Stamm TA, Dejaco C (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2022-222341

Abstract

Background Remote care and telehealth have the potential to expand healthcare access, and the COVID-19 pandemic has called for alternative solutions to conventional face-to-face follow-up and monitoring. However, guidance is needed on the integration of telehealth into clinical care of people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD). Objective To develop EULAR points to consider (PtC) for the development, prioritisation and implementation of telehealth for people with RMD. Methods A multidisciplinary EULAR task force (TF) of 30 members from 14 European countries was established, and the EULAR standardised operating procedures for development of PtC were followed. A systematic literature review was conducted to support the TF in formulating the PtC. The level of agreement among the TF was established by anonymous online voting. Results Four overarching principles and nine PtC were formulated. The use of telehealth should be tailored to patient's needs and preferences. The healthcare team should have adequate equipment and training and have telecommunication skills. Telehealth can be used in screening for RMD as preassessment in the referral process, for disease monitoring and regulation of medication dosages and in some non-pharmacological interventions. People with RMD should be offered training in using telehealth, and barriers should be resolved whenever possible. The level of agreement to each statement ranged from 8.5 to 9.8/10. Conclusion The PtC have identified areas where telehealth could improve quality of care and increase healthcare access. Knowing about drivers and barriers of telehealth is a prerequisite to successfully establish remote care approaches in rheumatologic clinical practice.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

King’s College London United Kingdom (GB) Aarhus University Hospital / Aarhus Universitetshospital Denmark (DK) Higher School of Nursing of Coimbra / Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra Portugal (PT) Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ) Germany (DE) Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital United Kingdom (GB) University of Glasgow United Kingdom (GB) Diakonhjemmet Hospital Norway (NO) Radboud University Nijmegen Netherlands (NL) Institute of Rheumatology / Revmatologický Ústav Czech Republic (CZ) University of Paris 4 - Paris-Sorbonne / Université paris IV Paris-Sorbonne France (FR) University of Manchester United Kingdom (GB) Universiteit Utrecht (UU) / Utrecht University Netherlands (NL) Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) Germany (DE) European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Switzerland (CH) Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia Italy (IT) Medizinische Universität Innsbruck Austria (AT) New University of Lisbon / Universidade Nova de Lisboa Portugal (PT) Ospedale Santa Maria della Misericordia di Udine Italy (IT) Medical University Sofia / Медицински университет Bulgaria (BG) University of Salford United Kingdom (GB) University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMC Utrecht) Netherlands (NL) Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für Arthritis und Rehabilitation Austria (AT)

How to cite

APA:

De Thurah, A., Bosch, P., Marques, A., Meissner, Y., Mukhtyar, C.B., Knitza, J.,... Dejaco, C. (2022). 2022 EULAR points to consider for remote care in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2022-222341

MLA:

De Thurah, Annette, et al. "2022 EULAR points to consider for remote care in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases." Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2022).

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