Opportunities and Barriers of Telemedicine in Rheumatology: A Participatory, Mixed-Methods Study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Opportunities and Barriers of Telemedicine in Rheumatology: A Participatory, Mixed-Methods Study

AU - Muehlensiepen, Felix

AU - Knitza, Johannes

AU - Marquardt, Wenke

AU - May, Susann

AU - Krusche, Martin

AU - Hueber, Axel

AU - Schwarz, Julian

AU - Vuillerme, Nicolas

AU - Heinze, Martin

AU - Welcker, Martin

PY - 2021/12/13

Y1 - 2021/12/13

N2 - Despite all its promises, telemedicine is still not widely implemented in the care of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). The aim of this study is to investigate opportunities, barriers, acceptance, and preferences concerning telemedicine among RMD patients and professional stakeholders. From November 2017 to December 2019, a participatory, mixed-methods study was conducted, consisting of (1) expert interviews (n = 27) with RMD patients and professional stakeholders, (2) a national paper-based patient survey (n = 766), and (3) focus groups (n = 2) with patient representatives and rheumatologists. The qualitative findings indicate that patients equate personal contact with physical face-to-face contact, which could be reduced by implementing telemedicine, thus negatively influencing the patient-doctor relationship. Correspondingly "no personal contact with the doctor" is the main reason (64%) why 38% of the surveyed patients refuse to try telemedicine. Professional stakeholders expect telemedicine to contribute to the effective allocation of scarce resources in rheumatology care. The main barriers reported by stakeholders were the scarcity of time resources in RMD care, the absence of physical examinations, and organizational challenges associated with the implementation of telemedicine in RMD care. While the exact integration of telemedicine into routine care has yet to be found, the consequences on the patient-physician relationship must be permanently considered.

AB - Despite all its promises, telemedicine is still not widely implemented in the care of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). The aim of this study is to investigate opportunities, barriers, acceptance, and preferences concerning telemedicine among RMD patients and professional stakeholders. From November 2017 to December 2019, a participatory, mixed-methods study was conducted, consisting of (1) expert interviews (n = 27) with RMD patients and professional stakeholders, (2) a national paper-based patient survey (n = 766), and (3) focus groups (n = 2) with patient representatives and rheumatologists. The qualitative findings indicate that patients equate personal contact with physical face-to-face contact, which could be reduced by implementing telemedicine, thus negatively influencing the patient-doctor relationship. Correspondingly "no personal contact with the doctor" is the main reason (64%) why 38% of the surveyed patients refuse to try telemedicine. Professional stakeholders expect telemedicine to contribute to the effective allocation of scarce resources in rheumatology care. The main barriers reported by stakeholders were the scarcity of time resources in RMD care, the absence of physical examinations, and organizational challenges associated with the implementation of telemedicine in RMD care. While the exact integration of telemedicine into routine care has yet to be found, the consequences on the patient-physician relationship must be permanently considered.

KW - Focus Groups

KW - Humans

KW - Musculoskeletal Diseases

KW - Rheumatology

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

KW - Telemedicine

U2 - 10.3390/ijerph182413127

DO - 10.3390/ijerph182413127

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 34948737

VL - 18

JO - INT J ENV RES PUB HE

JF - INT J ENV RES PUB HE

SN - 1660-4601

IS - 24

M1 - 13127

ER -