Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40464815›Full record

ArticleRheumatology international2025

Potentials and barriers of digital patient education in rheumatic disease management: an exploratory qualitative interview study.

Franziska Lumma, Johannes Knitza, Felix Mühlensiepen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Rheumatology international, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Franziska LummaMedicstream, Hürth, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-7343-2532
Johannes Knitza *Institute for Digital Medicine, University Hospital Giessen-Marburg, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9695-0657
Felix Mühlensiepen *Center for Health Services Research, Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane Seebad 82/83 Rüdersdorf bei, 15562, Berlin, Germany. Felix.Muehlensiepen@mhb-fontane.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8571-7286

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Patient education (PE) is essential, however hindered by the limited time of rheumatology healthcare professionals. Digital patient education (DPE) promises to bridge this care gap. This study explores the potential and challenges of DPE in rheumatology. Semi-structured expert interviews were conducted with 14 stakeholders across healthcare levels, including rheumatologists, specialized nurses, patient representatives, policymakers, and industry experts. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis following Kuckartz's methodology, with intracoder reliability assessed via the Brennan-Prediger Kappa coefficient. Three main themes emerged in the qualitative content analysis: (1) the status quo of PE in general, (2) the potentials and challenges of DPE and (3) DiRhIS as an emerging tool in the field of DPE in rheumatology. Participants highlighted significant gaps in traditional PE, including limited consultation time, inadequate access to information, and misinformation risks. While DPE was recognized as a promising tool to enhance patient knowledge, adherence, and shared decision-making, systemic barriers hinder adoption. Experts identified key obstacles such as resistance among healthcare providers, limited digital literacy among patients, and challenges in integrating DPE into clinical workflows. A hybrid model combining digital and in-person education was favored to address patient needs across different literacy levels. Successful implementation requires structured integration, stakeholder involvement, and strategies to address infrastructural and attitudinal barriers. Digital patient education (DPE) has the potential to enhance accessibility and the quality of patient education in rheumatology. Findings emphasize the need for personalized patient education, where the balance between face-to-face and digital learning is adapted to individual preferences, health literacy levels, and accessibility needs.

Indexed as

Patient Education as TopicRheumatic DiseasesRheumatologyAttitude of Health PersonnelHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHealth LiteracyHumansInterviews as TopicQualitative ResearchChronic diseaseDigital healthDigital patient educationHealth literacyRheumatic disease managementSelf-management

Identifiers

PMID40464815
PMCPMC12137533

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.