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. 2018 Dec 21;7(12):e190.
doi: 10.2196/resprot.9639.

A Web-Based Telemanagement System for Patients With Complex Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Mariam Aguas #  1   2   3 , Javier Del Hoyo #  1 , Raquel Faubel  4   5 , Diana Muñoz  1 , David Domínguez  6 , Guillermo Bastida  1   2   3 , Belén Navarro  1 , Alejandra Barrios  1 , Bernardo Valdivieso  5   7   8 , Marisa Correcher  9 , Pilar Nos  1   2   3
Affiliations

A Web-Based Telemanagement System for Patients With Complex Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Mariam Aguas et al. JMIR Res Protoc. .

Abstract

Background: Telemedicine has been successfully used to provide inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients with health care services remotely via the implementation of information and communications technology, which uses safe and feasible apps that have been well accepted by patients in remission. However, the design of telemedicine apps in this setting involves difficulties that hinder the adherence of patients to the follow-up plans and the efficacy of these systems to improve disease activity and quality of life.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the development of a Web platform, Telemonitoring of Crohn Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (TECCU), for remote monitoring of patients with complex IBD and the design of a clinical trial involving IBD patients who received standard care (G_Control), nurse-assisted telephone care (G_NT), or care based on distance monitoring (G_TECCU).

Methods: We describe the development of a remote monitoring system and the difficulties encountered in designing the platform. A 3-arm randomized controlled trial was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of this Web platform in disease management compared with G_NT and G_Control.

Results: According to the schedules established for the medical treatment initiated (corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, or biological agents), a total of 63 patients (21 patients from each group) answered periodic questionnaires regarding disease activity, quality of life, therapeutic adherence, adverse effects, satisfaction, work productivity, and social activities. Blood and stool analyses (fecal calprotectin) were performed periodically. On the basis of the results of these tests in G_TECCU, alerts were generated in a Web platform with adapted action plans, including changes in medication and frequency of follow-up. The main issues found were the development of an easy-to-use Web platform, the selection of validated clinical scores and objective biomarkers for remote monitoring, and the design of a clinical trial to compare the 3 main follow-up methods evaluated to date in IBD.

Conclusions: The development of a Web-based remote management program for safe and adequate control of IBD proved challenging. The results of this clinical trial will advance knowledge regarding the effectiveness of TECCU Web platform for improvement of disease activity, quality of life, and use of health care resources in complex IBD patients.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02943538; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02943538 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6y4DQdmt8).

International registered report identifier (irrid): RR1-10.2196/9639.

Keywords: Crohn disease; eHealth; inflammatory bowel disease; information technology; telemedicine; ulcerative colitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: DD is the General Manager of Connected Health Services, the company that owns the intellectual property and commercial rights of the NOMHADchronic software platform, which was configured and used in the TECCU trial for the remote management of patients with CD and UC.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of study participants. IBD: inflammatory bowel disease; G_Control: standard care; G_NT: nurse-assisted telephone care; G_TECCU: care based on distance monitoring.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Telemonitoring system for patients with complex inflammatory bowel disease. TECCU: Telemonitoring of Crohn Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Follow-up timeline for G_TECCU receiving treatment with immunosuppressants or biologic agents.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Home page of the NOMHADhome platform, patient version. Translations for the screenshot: Mañana: Morning; Mediciones: Statistics; Cuestionarios: Questionnaires; Evolución de constants: Vital signs; Educación: Education; Buenos días paciente 0001: Good morning patient number 0001; Teclea tu PIN: Please type your PIN number; Otros: Other; Salir: Disconnect.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Home page of the NOMHADmobile platform and access to vital signs, patient version.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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