Methods Inf Med 2016; 55(01): 65-69
DOI: 10.3414/ME14-01-0106
Focus Theme – Original Articles
Schattauer GmbH

Self-assessment of Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Using a Smartphone Application

Development and 3-month Feasibility Study
S. Nishiguchi
1   Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
2   Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
,
H. Ito
3   Department of the Control for Rheumatic Diseases, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
,
M. Yamada
4   Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tokyo, Japan
,
H. Yoshitomi
5   Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
,
M. Furu
3   Department of the Control for Rheumatic Diseases, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
,
M. Ito
6   NTT Service Evolution Laboratories, Kanagawa, Japan
,
A. Shinohara
6   NTT Service Evolution Laboratories, Kanagawa, Japan
,
T. Ura
6   NTT Service Evolution Laboratories, Kanagawa, Japan
,
K. Okamoto
7   Division of Medical Information Technology and Administration Planning, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
,
T. Aoyama
1   Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
,
Tadao Tsuboyama
1   Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 28 October 2014

Accepted 07 September 2015

Publication Date:
08 January 2018 (online)

Zoom Image

Summary

Introduction: This article is part of the Focus Theme of Methods of Information in Medicine on “Methodologies, Models and Algorithms for Patients Rehabilitation”. Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive inflammatory disease that causes damage to multiple joints, decline in functional status, and premature mortality. Thus, effective and frequent objective assessments are necessary. Then, we developed a self-assessment system for RA patients based on a smartphone application. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of a self-assessment system for RA patients using a smart-phone application. Methods: We measured daily disease activity in nine RA patients who used the smart-phone application for a period of three months. A disease activity score (DAS28) predictive model was used and feedback comments relating to disease activity were shown to patients via the smartphone application each day. To assess participants’ RA disease activity, the DAS28 based on the C-reactive protein level was measured by a rheumatologist during monthly clinical visits. Results: The disease activity measured by the application correlated well with the patients’ actual disease activity during the 3-month period, as assessed by clinical examination. Furthermore, most participants gave favourable responses to a questionnaire administered at the end of the 3-month period containing questions relating to the ease of use and usefulness of the system. Conclusions: The results of this feasibility study indicated that the DAS28 predictive model can longitudinally predict DAS28 and may be an acceptable and useful tool for assessment of RA disease activity for both patients and healthcare providers.