Tailoring Rheumatoid Arthritis Visit Timing Based on mHealth App Data: Mixed Methods Assessment of Implementation and Usability

Abstract

Abstract BackgroundVisits to medical subspecialists are common, with follow-up timing often based on heuristics rather than evidence. Unnecessary visits contribute to long wait times for new patients. Specialists could enhance visit timing and reduce frequency by systematically monitoring patients’ symptoms between visits, especially for symptom-driven conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We previously designed an intervention using a mobile health (mHealth) app to collect patient-reported outcomes (PRO). One of several aims of the app was to assist rheumatologists in determining visit timing for patients with RA. The intervention did not reduce visit frequency. ObjectiveTo explore possible reasons for the lack of association between the intervention and visit frequency, we describe app usage, assess usability, and identify barriers and facilitators for using between-visit PRO data to reduce visits when patients’ symptoms are stable. MethodsWe analyzed patients’ use of the app by reporting adherence (percent of PRO questionnaires completed during the 12-month study) and retention (use in the last month of the study). To examine rheumatologists’ experiences, we summarized views of the electronic health record (EHR)–embedded PRO dashboard and EHR inbox messages suggesting early or deferred visits. We assessed app usability using the interactive mHealth App Usability Questionnaire for Ease of Use and Usefulness for patients and the System Usability Scale for rheumatologists. We assessed rheumatologist-level effects of intervention usage using Kruskal-Wallis rank sum and equality of proportion tests. We identified barriers and facilitators through interviews and surveys. ResultsThe analysis included 150 patients with RA and their 11 rheumatologists. Patients answered a median of 53.3% (IQR 34.1%-69.2%) of PRO questionnaires; this proportion varied by rheumatologist (range 40.7%‐67%). Over half of the patients used the app during the final month of the study (56%, range 51%‐65%, by rheumatologists); the median number of months of use was 12 (IQR 9-12). Rheumatologists viewed the dashboard 78 times (17.6% of 443 visits) with significant differences in viewing rates by rheumatologist (range 10%‐66%; PP ConclusionsWhile an mHealth app for reporting RA PROs was used frequently by patients, using these data to reduce the frequency of unneeded visits was not straightforward. Better engagement of clinicians may improve the use of PRO data.