Experiences With Telehealth Followup in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Qualitative Interview Study

Abstract

Objective: To explore the experiences of a patient-reported outcome (PRO)-based telehealth followup from the perspective of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their experiences of increasing their active role, and responsibility for disease control in particular.

Methods: Adopting a strategy of interpretive description, we conducted individual, semistructured interviews with 15 RA patients participating in a telehealth followup. Participants were selected purposively and consecutively from both sexes and with various ages, disease durations, and disease severity. The analysis was inductive, with a constant comparative approach. First, we identified the main themes conveying the participants' experiences. Then we constructed patient typologies to explain different perspectives on the telehealth followup.

Results: Five themes covered the participants' experiences: a flexible solution, responsibility, knowledge of RA, communication and involvement, and continuity. Two typologies, the keen patient and the reluctant patient, represented opposite perspectives and preferences regarding the core value of and approach to the telehealth followup.

Conclusion: The participants had positive perceptions of the PRO-based telehealth followup and saw it as a flexible and resource-saving solution. They reported disadvantages related to missing face-to-face contact with health professionals. The 2 typologies, the keen and the reluctant patient, help us understand the patients' different needs, wishes, and abilities to take part in telehealth followup. Our findings reveal a need for more insight into how telehealth followup could be integrated in routine clinical practice, paying special attention to how reluctant patients may be supported.