Research on the benefits of mobile medical APP in the management of psoriatic patients treated with biological therapy

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the benefits of the management of psoriatic patients treated with biological therapy using APP follow-up. Methods From June to September 2020, we enrolled 201 psoriatic patients who were treated with biological agents at the psoriasis center of dermatology hospital, Southern Medical University. Patients were randomly assigned APP follow-up (101 cases) and conventional follow-up (100 cases) groups. After one-year follow-up, a questionnaire was used to evaluate the patients' satisfaction rates, improvement in PASI scores and follow-up compliance. Results Compared to patients in conventional follow-up group, patients in the APP follow-up group had higher satisfaction rates with outpatient care, including registration, check-in, and outpatient clinic (all P<0.05), and patients' compliance, in addition to lower PASI scores (1.23±1.29 vs 7.14±1.86, t=14.63, P<0.05) and higher improvement rates of PASI scores (93.11% vs 59.34%). Conclusions Management of psoriatic patients with mobile medical APP and optimization of multiple steps of outpatient visits can improve patients' experience and satisfaction. Patient health education and follow-up management through APP can improve patients' compliance and positively impact psoriasis management.

Keywords

• app
• psoriasis
• biologics
• patient management