ArticleRheumatology and therapy2025
Real-World-Evidence of Digital Health Applications (DiGAs) in Rheumatology: Insights from the DiGAReal Registry.
Article in Rheumatology and therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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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
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Potential of digital applications for self-management and other outcomes in inflammatory rheumatic diseases: a systematic literature review.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Pooled it
- Baseline pain, fatigue, and sleep quality predict 12-week pain improvement in inflammatory arthritis: retrospective real-world analysis of a digital health application cohort.Rheumatology international · 2026Article
- [Survey on primary care for rheumatology patients in Lower Franconia and the contribution of digital health].Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie · 2026Article
- User Profiles and Engagement in a Hypertension Self-Management App: Cross-Sectional Survey.Journal of medical Internet research · 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
- [Digital treatment of fibromyalgia].Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie · 2025Review
- Healthcare effects and evidence robustness of reimbursable digital health applications in Germany: a systematic review.NPJ digital medicine · 2025Article
- Digital empowerment on hold: DiGA adoption gaps-a German national cross-sectional patient survey study.Rheumatology international · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
15 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionPrescribable digital health applications (DiGAs) present scalable solutions to improve patient self-management in rheumatology, however real-world evidence is scarce. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effectiveness, usage, and usability of DiGAs prescribed by rheumatologists, as well as patient satisfaction.
methodsThe DiGAReal registry includes adult patients with rheumatic conditions who received a DiGA prescription. Data at baseline (T0) and the 3-month follow-up (T1) were collected through electronic questionnaires. Study outcomes included DiGA-specific outcome assessments as well as generic outcome assessments, including the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC), Patient Activation Measure (PAM®), and the German Telehealth Usability and Utility Short Questionnaire (TUUSQ). Changes between T0 and T1 were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired tests.
resultsA total of 191 patients were included between June 2022 and April 2023. Of these, 127 completed the 3-month follow-up, and 114 reported using the prescribed DiGA, with 66% reporting weekly use and 15% completing the full DiGA program. The most commonly prescribed DiGAs targeted pain management (53%). Symptom improvement was reported by 51% of patients using a DiGA, with significant reductions in exhaustion levels (p = 0.03). Significant DiGA-specific improvements were observed for DiGAs addressing back pain (p = 0.05) and insomnia (p = 0.006). However, no overall significant changes were detected in patient activation, health literacy, pain, overall health, or disease activity. Back pain and weight management DiGAs were the most effective, frequently used, and best-rated DiGAs, with symptom improvements reported by 50% to 82% of patients.
conclusionThe findings suggest that DiGAs can improve symptom management in rheumatic patients, especially for conditions like back pain and weight control. Further real-world evidence is needed and may support value-based digital health efforts and reimbursement frameworks.
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