Real-World-Evidence of Digital Health Applications (DiGAs) in Rheumatology: Insights from the DiGAReal Registry
Abstract Introduction Prescribable digital health applications (DiGAs) present scalable solutions to improve patient self-management in rheumatology, however real-world evidence is scarce. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effectiveness, usage, and usability of DiGAs prescribed by rheumatologists, a...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Adis, Springer Healthcare
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Rheumatology and Therapy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40744-025-00744-y |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850094765918388224 |
|---|---|
| author | Alexander Albrecht Jule Taubmann Ioanna Minopoulou Lukas Hatscher Stefan Kleinert Felix Mühlensiepen Martin Welcker Jan Leipe Nils Schulz Philipp Klemm Axel Hueber Georg Schett Sebastian Kuhn Hannah Labinsky Johannes Knitza |
| author_facet | Alexander Albrecht Jule Taubmann Ioanna Minopoulou Lukas Hatscher Stefan Kleinert Felix Mühlensiepen Martin Welcker Jan Leipe Nils Schulz Philipp Klemm Axel Hueber Georg Schett Sebastian Kuhn Hannah Labinsky Johannes Knitza |
| author_sort | Alexander Albrecht |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Prescribable digital health applications (DiGAs) present scalable solutions to improve patient self-management in rheumatology, however real-world evidence is scarce. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effectiveness, usage, and usability of DiGAs prescribed by rheumatologists, as well as patient satisfaction. Methods The DiGAReal registry includes adult patients with rheumatic conditions who received a DiGA prescription. Data at baseline (T0) and the 3-month follow-up (T1) were collected through electronic questionnaires. Study outcomes included DiGA-specific outcome assessments as well as generic outcome assessments, including the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC), Patient Activation Measure (PAM®), and the German Telehealth Usability and Utility Short Questionnaire (TUUSQ). Changes between T0 and T1 were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired tests. Results A total of 191 patients were included between June 2022 and April 2023. Of these, 127 completed the 3-month follow-up, and 114 reported using the prescribed DiGA, with 66% reporting weekly use and 15% completing the full DiGA program. The most commonly prescribed DiGAs targeted pain management (53%). Symptom improvement was reported by 51% of patients using a DiGA, with significant reductions in exhaustion levels (p = 0.03). Significant DiGA-specific improvements were observed for DiGAs addressing back pain (p = 0.05) and insomnia (p = 0.006). However, no overall significant changes were detected in patient activation, health literacy, pain, overall health, or disease activity. Back pain and weight management DiGAs were the most effective, frequently used, and best-rated DiGAs, with symptom improvements reported by 50% to 82% of patients. Conclusion The findings suggest that DiGAs can improve symptom management in rheumatic patients, especially for conditions like back pain and weight control. Further real-world evidence is needed and may support value-based digital health efforts and reimbursement frameworks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8bdbac94337e4ca6a75e779ec332d2e2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2198-6576 2198-6584 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Adis, Springer Healthcare |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Rheumatology and Therapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-8bdbac94337e4ca6a75e779ec332d2e22025-08-20T02:41:35ZengAdis, Springer HealthcareRheumatology and Therapy2198-65762198-65842025-01-0112226728210.1007/s40744-025-00744-yReal-World-Evidence of Digital Health Applications (DiGAs) in Rheumatology: Insights from the DiGAReal RegistryAlexander Albrecht0Jule Taubmann1Ioanna Minopoulou2Lukas Hatscher3Stefan Kleinert4Felix Mühlensiepen5Martin Welcker6Jan Leipe7Nils Schulz8Philipp Klemm9Axel Hueber10Georg Schett11Sebastian Kuhn12Hannah Labinsky13Johannes Knitza14Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum ErlangenDepartment of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum ErlangenDepartment of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum ErlangenDepartment of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum ErlangenPraxisgemeinschaft Rheumatologie-Nephrologie (PGRN)Center for Health Services Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor FontaneMedizinisches Versorgungszentrum für Rheumatologie Dr. M. Welcker GmbHDepartment of Medicine V, Division of Rheumatology, University Hospital CentreDepartment of Rheumatology, Immunology, Osteology and Physical Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University GießenDepartment of Rheumatology, Immunology, Osteology and Physical Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University GießenDepartment Internal Medicine 5, Division of Rheumatology, Klinikum Nuremberg, Paracelsus Medical UniversityDepartment of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum ErlangenInstitute for Digital Medicine, University Hospital Giessen-Marburg, Philipps University MarburgDepartment of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum ErlangenDepartment of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum ErlangenAbstract Introduction Prescribable digital health applications (DiGAs) present scalable solutions to improve patient self-management in rheumatology, however real-world evidence is scarce. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effectiveness, usage, and usability of DiGAs prescribed by rheumatologists, as well as patient satisfaction. Methods The DiGAReal registry includes adult patients with rheumatic conditions who received a DiGA prescription. Data at baseline (T0) and the 3-month follow-up (T1) were collected through electronic questionnaires. Study outcomes included DiGA-specific outcome assessments as well as generic outcome assessments, including the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC), Patient Activation Measure (PAM®), and the German Telehealth Usability and Utility Short Questionnaire (TUUSQ). Changes between T0 and T1 were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired tests. Results A total of 191 patients were included between June 2022 and April 2023. Of these, 127 completed the 3-month follow-up, and 114 reported using the prescribed DiGA, with 66% reporting weekly use and 15% completing the full DiGA program. The most commonly prescribed DiGAs targeted pain management (53%). Symptom improvement was reported by 51% of patients using a DiGA, with significant reductions in exhaustion levels (p = 0.03). Significant DiGA-specific improvements were observed for DiGAs addressing back pain (p = 0.05) and insomnia (p = 0.006). However, no overall significant changes were detected in patient activation, health literacy, pain, overall health, or disease activity. Back pain and weight management DiGAs were the most effective, frequently used, and best-rated DiGAs, with symptom improvements reported by 50% to 82% of patients. Conclusion The findings suggest that DiGAs can improve symptom management in rheumatic patients, especially for conditions like back pain and weight control. Further real-world evidence is needed and may support value-based digital health efforts and reimbursement frameworks.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40744-025-00744-yDigital health applicationsRheumatologyDigital therapeuticsPatient self-managementReal-world evidence |
| spellingShingle | Alexander Albrecht Jule Taubmann Ioanna Minopoulou Lukas Hatscher Stefan Kleinert Felix Mühlensiepen Martin Welcker Jan Leipe Nils Schulz Philipp Klemm Axel Hueber Georg Schett Sebastian Kuhn Hannah Labinsky Johannes Knitza Real-World-Evidence of Digital Health Applications (DiGAs) in Rheumatology: Insights from the DiGAReal Registry Rheumatology and Therapy Digital health applications Rheumatology Digital therapeutics Patient self-management Real-world evidence |
| title | Real-World-Evidence of Digital Health Applications (DiGAs) in Rheumatology: Insights from the DiGAReal Registry |
| title_full | Real-World-Evidence of Digital Health Applications (DiGAs) in Rheumatology: Insights from the DiGAReal Registry |
| title_fullStr | Real-World-Evidence of Digital Health Applications (DiGAs) in Rheumatology: Insights from the DiGAReal Registry |
| title_full_unstemmed | Real-World-Evidence of Digital Health Applications (DiGAs) in Rheumatology: Insights from the DiGAReal Registry |
| title_short | Real-World-Evidence of Digital Health Applications (DiGAs) in Rheumatology: Insights from the DiGAReal Registry |
| title_sort | real world evidence of digital health applications digas in rheumatology insights from the digareal registry |
| topic | Digital health applications Rheumatology Digital therapeutics Patient self-management Real-world evidence |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40744-025-00744-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alexanderalbrecht realworldevidenceofdigitalhealthapplicationsdigasinrheumatologyinsightsfromthedigarealregistry AT juletaubmann realworldevidenceofdigitalhealthapplicationsdigasinrheumatologyinsightsfromthedigarealregistry AT ioannaminopoulou realworldevidenceofdigitalhealthapplicationsdigasinrheumatologyinsightsfromthedigarealregistry AT lukashatscher realworldevidenceofdigitalhealthapplicationsdigasinrheumatologyinsightsfromthedigarealregistry AT stefankleinert realworldevidenceofdigitalhealthapplicationsdigasinrheumatologyinsightsfromthedigarealregistry AT felixmuhlensiepen realworldevidenceofdigitalhealthapplicationsdigasinrheumatologyinsightsfromthedigarealregistry AT martinwelcker realworldevidenceofdigitalhealthapplicationsdigasinrheumatologyinsightsfromthedigarealregistry AT janleipe realworldevidenceofdigitalhealthapplicationsdigasinrheumatologyinsightsfromthedigarealregistry AT nilsschulz realworldevidenceofdigitalhealthapplicationsdigasinrheumatologyinsightsfromthedigarealregistry AT philippklemm realworldevidenceofdigitalhealthapplicationsdigasinrheumatologyinsightsfromthedigarealregistry AT axelhueber realworldevidenceofdigitalhealthapplicationsdigasinrheumatologyinsightsfromthedigarealregistry AT georgschett realworldevidenceofdigitalhealthapplicationsdigasinrheumatologyinsightsfromthedigarealregistry AT sebastiankuhn realworldevidenceofdigitalhealthapplicationsdigasinrheumatologyinsightsfromthedigarealregistry AT hannahlabinsky realworldevidenceofdigitalhealthapplicationsdigasinrheumatologyinsightsfromthedigarealregistry AT johannesknitza realworldevidenceofdigitalhealthapplicationsdigasinrheumatologyinsightsfromthedigarealregistry |