Background:Digital health applications (DHAs) are gaining influence and promise great potential for the monitoring and management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs).Objectives:To analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on RMD patients’ and rheumatologists’ usage, preferences, and perception of digital health applications (DHAs) in Germany.Methods:A web-based national survey was developed by the Working Group Young Rheumatology of the German Society for Rheumatology and the German League against Rheumatism. The prospective survey was distributed via social media, QR-code, and email. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and regression analyses were performed to show correlations.Results:We analysed the responses of 299 patients and 129 rheumatologists. Most patients (74%) and rheumatologists (76%) believed that DHAs are useful in the management of RMDs and felt confident in their own usage thereof (90%; 86%). 38% of patients and 71% of rheumatologists reported that their attitude had changed positively towards DHAs and that their usage had increased due to COVID-19 (29%; 48%).Usage and recommendation of DHAs for both groups are shown in Figure 1:Figure 1.Usage or recommendation of digital health applications. Patients and rheumatologists were asked to indicate the specific digital health applications (DHAs) they used or were recommended.The majority in both groups agreed on implementing virtual visits for follow-up appointments in stable disease conditions. The most reported advantages of DHAs were usage independent of time and place (76.6%; 77.5%). The main barriers were a lack of information on suitable, available DHAs (58.5%; 41.9%), poor usability (42.1% of patients) and a lack of evidence supporting the effectiveness of DHAs (23.2% of rheumatologists) (Table 1).Table 1.Advantages and Barriers of DHA, n (%).AdvantagesBarriersPatientsRheumatologistsPatientsRheumatologistsLocation-Independence229 (76.6)100 (77.5)Too little information175 (58.5)54 (41.9)Time-independence223 (74.6)94 (72.9)Too little evidence of benefits36 (12.0)30 (23.3)Detailed documentation97 (32.4)47 (36.4)Poor quality of current apps47 (15.7)29 (22.5)Cost saving95 (31.8)37 (28.7)Concernsabout data protection52 (17.4)25 (19.4)More information88 (29.4)38 (29.5)Lack of usability126 (42.1)17 (13.2)Independenceof doctors+36 (12.0)-Lack of accessibility4 (1.3)-More flexibility107 (36.8)77 (59.7)High costs4 (1.3)23 (17.8)Preparationfor discussion+46 (15.4)-No suitable equipment17 (5.7)11 (8.5)No advantages at all18 (6.0)1 (0.8)Lack of user competenceNo Need9 (3.0)39 (13.0)-12 (9.3)Patients and rheumatologists were asked about the advantages and barriers of DHAs. Multiple answers were allowed. Patients had two additional potential advantages and potential barriers to choose from*.Only a minority (<10% in both groups) believed that digitalisation has a negative impact on the patient-doctor relationship.Conclusion:The COVID-19 pandemic instigated an increase in patients’ and rheumatologists’ acceptance and usage of DHAs, possibly introducing a permanent paradigm shift in the management of RMDs.Acknowledgements:The authors thank the following persons and societies for their great effort, distributing the online survey: P.Aries, A.Hueber, E.Feist, C.Fiehn, P.Korsten, I.Kötter, F.Mühlensiepen, A.Pfeil, M.Rudwaleit, M.Welcker, S.Zinke, Deutsche Vereinigung Morbus Bechterew e.V., Deutsche Rheuma-Liga Bundesverband e. V., Sklerodermie Selbsthilfe e.V.Disclosure of Interests:Anna Kernder: None declared, Harriet Morf: None declared, Philipp Klemm: None declared, Diana Vossen Speakers bureau: Novartis, Abbvie, Amgen, Consultant of: Abbvie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myer Squibb, Celgene GmbH, Gilead Sciences Inc., Lilly Deutschland GmbH, Medac GmbH, Novartis Pharma GmbH, Pfizer Deutschland GmbH, UCB Pharma GmbH, Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Abbvie, Marco Meyer Consultant of: Medac, Isabell Haase Speakers bureau: Medac, Consultant of: Medac, Grant/research support from: UCB, Abbvie, BMS, Johanna Mucke Speakers bureau: AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai Pharma Germany GmbH, Celgene GmbH, Gilead Sciences Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen-Cilag GmbH, Lilly Deutschland GmbH, Novartis Pharma GmbH, Pfizer Deutschland GmbH and UCB Pharma GmbH., Consultant of: AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai Pharma Germany GmbH, Celgene GmbH, Gilead Sciences Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen-Cilag GmbH, Lilly Deutschland GmbH, Novartis Pharma GmbH, Pfizer Deutschland GmbH and UCB Pharma GmbH., Arnd Kleyer Shareholder of: yes, Speakers bureau: Lilly, Novartis, Consultant of: Abbvie, Lilly, Novartis BMS, Gilead,Janssen, Grant/research support from: Lilly, Novartis, Gilead,, Philipp Sewerin Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Axiom Health, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Chugai Pharma Marketing Ltd./Chugai Europe, Deutscher Psoriasis-Bund, Fresenius Kabi, Gilead Sciences, Hexal Pharma, Janssen-Cilag, Johnson & Johnson, Lilly, Medi-login, Mediri GmbH, Novartis Pharma, Onkowissen GmbH, Pfizer, Roche Pharma, Rheumazentrum Rhein-Ruhr, Sanofi-Genzyme, Swedish Orphan Biovitrum, and UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Bundesministerium fuer Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft (DFG), Deutscher Psoriasis-Bund, Fresenius Kabi, Gilead Sciences, Hexal Pharma, Janssen-Cilag, Lilly, Novartis Pharma, Pfizer, Rheumazentrum Rhein-Ruhr, Roche Pharma, Sanofi-Genzyme, and UCB, Gerlinde Bendzuck: None declared, Sabine Eis: None declared, Johannes Knitza Consultant of: Abbvie, Novartis, Lilly, Medac, BMS, Sanofi, Amgen, Gilead, UCB, ABATON, GSK, Grant/research support from: Novartis, UCB, Thermofisher, Sanofi, Martin Krusche Speakers bureau: Lilly, Medac, Novartis, Roche/Chugai, Consultant of: Abbvie, Lilly, Gilead, Medac, Novartis, Sobi, BMS, Amgen, GSK, Grant/research support from: Sanofi
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