Hybrid care model doesn’t impact outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis patients

A hybrid health care model that combines face-to-face consultations with telemedicine was found to be non-inferior to in-person consultations in achieving patient-reported outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study.

In this non-inferiority, randomized study, 130 patients were randomized to 6 months of face-to-face consultation or hybrid care modality (intervention period-1) and then the converse modality (intervention period-2); 121 patients completed their study participation, with 61 patients receiving face-to-face consultation and 60 patients receiving hybrid care modality over intervention period-1. Baseline characteristics were similar between patients in each group.

Most patients (90.1%) were middle-aged females with long-standing disease. Overall, 96.7% were on disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and 61.2% on corticosteroids.

Differences in Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 behavior were below the non-inferiority margin.

Reference
Guaracha-Basáñez GA, Contreras-Yáñez I, Estrada González VA, et al. Impact of a hybrid medical care model in the rheumatoid arthritis patient-reported outcomes: A non-inferiority crossover randomized study. J Telemed Telecare. 2022;1357633X221122098. doi: 10.1177/1357633X221122098. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36046945.