Evaluation of a hybrid telehealth care pathway for patients with axial spondyloarthritis including self-sampling at home: results of a longitudinal proof-of-concept mixed-methods study (TeleSpactive)

Labinsky H, May S, Boy K, von Rohr S, Grahammer M, Kuhn S, Rojas-Restrepo J, Vogt E, Heinze M, Schett G, Muehlensiepen F, Knitza J (2024)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2024

Journal

Book Volume: 44

Pages Range: 1133-1142

DOI: 10.1007/s00296-024-05581-w

Abstract

Patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) require close monitoring to achieve the goal of sustained disease remission. Telehealth can facilitate continuous care while relieving scarce healthcare resources. In a mixed-methods proof-of-concept study, we investigated a hybrid telehealth care axSpA pathway in patients with stable disease over 6 months. Patients used a medical app to document disease activity (BASDAI and PtGA bi-weekly, flare questionnaire weekly). To enable a remote ASDAS-CRP (TELE-ASDAS-CRP), patients used a capillary self-sampling device at home. Monitoring results were discussed and a decision was reached via shared decision-making whether a pre-planned 3-month on-site appointment (T3) was necessary. Ten patients completed the study, and eight patients also completed additional telephone interviews. Questionnaire adherence was high; BASDAI (82.3%), flares (74.8%) and all patients successfully completed the TELE-ASDAS-CRP for the T3 evaluation. At T3, 9/10 patients were in remission or low disease activity and all patients declined the offer of an optional T3 on-site appointment. Patient acceptance of all study components was high with a net promoter score (NPS) of +50% (mean NPS 8.8 ± 1.5) for self-sampling, +70% (mean NPS 9.0 ± 1.6) for the electronic questionnaires and +90% for the T3 teleconsultation (mean NPS 9.7 ± 0.6). In interviews, patients reported benefits such as a better overview of their condition, ease of use of telehealth tools, greater autonomy, and, most importantly, travel time savings. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate a hybrid approach to follow-up axSpA patients including self-sampling. The positive results observed in this scalable proof-of-concept study warrant a larger confirmatory study.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg "Theodor Fontane" / Brandenburg Medical School "Theodor Fontane" Germany (DE) Thermo Fisher Scientific Germany Limited & Co. KG Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg (UKGM) Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Labinsky, H., May, S., Boy, K., von Rohr, S., Grahammer, M., Kuhn, S.,... Knitza, J. (2024). Evaluation of a hybrid telehealth care pathway for patients with axial spondyloarthritis including self-sampling at home: results of a longitudinal proof-of-concept mixed-methods study (TeleSpactive). Rheumatology International, 44, 1133-1142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-024-05581-w

MLA:

Labinsky, Hannah, et al. "Evaluation of a hybrid telehealth care pathway for patients with axial spondyloarthritis including self-sampling at home: results of a longitudinal proof-of-concept mixed-methods study (TeleSpactive)." Rheumatology International 44 (2024): 1133-1142.

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