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

Felix Muehlensiepen, Johannes Knitza, Wenke Marquardt, Susann May, Martin Krusche, Axel Hueber, Julian Schwarz, Nicolas Vuillerme, Martin Heinze and Martin Welcker
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Felix Muehlensiepen: KV Consult-und Managementgesellschaft mbH, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
Johannes Knitza: AGEIS, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
Wenke Marquardt: KV Consult-und Managementgesellschaft mbH, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
Susann May: Center for Health Services Research, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, 15562 Rüdersdorf bei Berlin, Germany
Martin Krusche: Department of Internal Medicine III, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
Axel Hueber: Division of Rheumatology, Klinikum Nürnberg, Paracelsus Medical University, 90419 Nürnberg, Germany
Julian Schwarz: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Immanuel Klinik Rüdersdorf, 15562 Rüdersdorf, Germany
Nicolas Vuillerme: AGEIS, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
Martin Heinze: Center for Health Services Research, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, 15562 Rüdersdorf bei Berlin, Germany
Martin Welcker: Medizinisches Versorgungszentrum für Rheumatologie Dr. M. Welcker GmbH, 82152 Planegg, Germany

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-18

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: chronic disease; rheumatology; telemedicine; eHealth; mHealth; patient perspective; mixed methods; qualitative research; survey (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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