Digital health technologies offer opportunities to improve healthcare if integrated appropriately into healthcare systems. A recent study in Germany examining the use of digital health technologies in rheumatology care found that their use and acceptance among patients are increasing. The research highlights the need for ongoing, standardised tracking of digital technologies’ integration into patient care.
The researchers surveyed 337 rheumatology patients from three different clinics in Germany, exploring current acceptance, use and preferences regarding digital health technologies. They also considered the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on these factors. They analysed the results using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis.
Patients widely accepted digital health technologies as valuable tools in rheumatology care, and the accessibility and flexibility of each one drove their choice of which to use.
Over half of the participants (53%, n=179) reported using digital health technologies, including wearables (21%), mHealth apps (21%), digital therapeutics (9%), electronic prescriptions (9%), video consultations (4%) and at-home blood self-sampling (1%). Users were more likely to have a university education than non-users, with 63.7% of users having a degree versus 27.8% amongst non-users.
Patients identified the main benefits of digital health technologies as being able to access the devices anywhere (72%) and at any time (64%). The main barriers included insufficient user knowledge (49%) and limited information on digital health services (40%).
The researchers highlighted the ‘multidisciplinary digital transformation’ taking place in healthcare, particularly the ‘notable surge in digital technologies’ in rheumatology care. They attributed this to the increasing numbers of patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease and the static and, in some cases decreasing, availability of healthcare professionals in this field.
The study showed that digital health technologies are increasingly accepted and used among rheumatology patients in Germany. Highlighting the opportunities and understanding the obstacles to integrating these technologies into patients’ care will aid the digital transformation in rheumatology care, the researchers said. However, they concluded that a standardised monitoring system needs to be developed to maximise their potential.
Reference
May, S et al. Digital Transformation of Rheumatology Care in Germany: Cross-Sectional National Survey. J Med Internet Res 2025; Sept. 09: DOI: 10.2196/52601.
