A web-compatible instrument for measuring self-reported disease activity in arthritis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Health Informatics
• Digital Health

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management requires regular patient health assessment.
• Traditional paper-based surveys can be cumbersome for both patients and clinicians.
• Web-based platforms offer a potential improvement for health data collection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a Web-based computer health assessment survey for RA patients.
• To compare the efficacy and patient reception of this digital survey against traditional paper versions.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 43 RA patients at a university clinic.
• Patients completed both paper and computer versions of a self-assessment questionnaire, including the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), visual analog scales (VAS) for pain and fatigue, and joint count tools.
• Follow-up surveys assessed patient opinions on the computer version.

Main Results:

• High correlations (ICC > 0.9) were found between paper and computer versions for HAQ scores, psychological distress, and VAS scores for pain and global disease severity.
• Moderate correlations were observed for self-efficacy, VAS fatigue scores, and tender joint counts.
• Patients reported slightly higher scores on the computer version for HAQ and self-efficacy; 71% favored the digital joint count tool.

Conclusions:

• Web-based computer surveys for RA self-assessment are comparable to paper versions.
• Digital surveys can significantly enhance physician capabilities for monitoring patient health.
• Implementation in clinics or via the internet holds promise for improved RA patient care.