Observational studyRheumatology international2023
Real-world usage of digital health applications (DiGA) in rheumatology: results from a German patient survey.
Observational study in Rheumatology international, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 38 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
38 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- [Medical health apps for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis].Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie · 2025Pooled it
- Digital Behavioral Therapy Improves Outcome in Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis and Persistent Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Arthritis care & research · 2026Trial
- Longitudinal fatigue outcomes and prediction in inflammatory arthritis: a real-world digital cohort study.Rheumatology international · 2026Article
- [Digital health applications and adherence in depression: a qualitative study from the perspective of healthcare providers].Der Nervenarzt · 2026Article
- Impact of Different Onboarding Strategies on Low Adoption and Engagement With a Self-Monitoring and Management App for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Prospective Study.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2026Article
- Exploring digital health technology in rheumatology: a scoping review on benefits, challenges, and future possibilities.EULAR rheumatology open · 2026Review
- User Profiles and Engagement in a Hypertension Self-Management App: Cross-Sectional Survey.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- Evaluating usability, adherence and clinical benefit of a new digital heath application in rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot feasibility study.Rheumatology international · 2026Article
- Predictors of adherence to a digital health application in patients with inflammatory arthritis: retrospective analysis.Rheumatology international · 2025Article
- [Digital health applications : A new approach in the management of comobidities].Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie · 2025Review
- Understanding Economic Decision-Making in Digital Therapeutics Development: Qualitative Approach.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Digital empowerment on hold: DiGA adoption gaps-a German national cross-sectional patient survey study.Rheumatology international · 2025Article
- Real-World-Evidence of Digital Health Applications (DiGAs) in Rheumatology: Insights from the DiGAReal Registry.Rheumatology and therapy · 2025Article
- Benefits and Barriers to mHealth in Hypertension Care: Qualitative Study With German Health Care Professionals.JMIR human factors · 2025Article
- Exploring the Effect of an 8-Week AI-Composed Exercise Program on Pain Intensity and Well-Being in Patients With Spinal Pain: Retrospective Cohort Analysis.JMIR formative research · 2025Article
- Impact of digital health interventions on glycemic control and weight management.NPJ digital medicine · 2025Article
- Digital Transformation of Rheumatology Care in Germany: Cross-Sectional National Survey.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Assessing rural populations' barriers to mental healthcare and perceptions towards prescription digital therapeutics: a cross-sectional survey.Frontiers in digital health · 2025Article
- Back on track - digital health applications to treat back pain of rheumatic patients? Results of a qualitative interview study.Rheumatology international · 2024Article
- Virtual reality-based Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE-VR) as an adjunct to medications for opioid use disorder: a Phase 1 trial.Annals of medicine · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Mobile health applications and digital therapeutics (DTx) aim to improve current patient care. Real-world data on DTx are, however, scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adherence, acceptance, and efficacy of DTx in a clinical routine rheumatology setting. We conducted a prospective observational cohort study assessing the use, adherence, acceptance, and efficacy of the DTx DiGA (Digitale Gesundheitsanwendungen) by survey over 12 weeks. Patients included had to have a rheumatic disease and had been prescribed a DiGA. Acceptance was assessed using the Net promoter score (NPS). 48 patients were prescribed DiGA. Of these, 39/48 (81%) completed the follow-up survey. 21/39 (54%) patients downloaded the DTx and 20/39 (51%) used the DTx at least once. 9/39 (23%) of patients stopped quickly afterward and 5/39 (13%) reported having completed the whole DTx program. Lack of time and commitment were reported as the main reasons for non-use. Overall acceptance of DiGA was high (Net promoter score (NPS) mean (SD) 7.8/10 (2.3)). While the majority of patients (60%) reported no improvement, one subgroup of patients (7/20, 35%) who regularly used an exercise-based DTx for back pain reported symptom improvement. Acceptance of DTx in patients with rheumatic diseases is high, however onboarding to DTx use and adherence to DTx is still challenging in patients with rheumatic diseases. In a subgroup of patients with back pain, however, the use of an exercise-based DTx led to symptom improvement.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.