Search

Objective: Digital symptom-checkers (SCs) have potential to improve rheumatology triage and reduce diagnostic delays. In addition to being accurate, SCs should be user friendly and meet patient's needs. Here, we examined usability and acceptance of Rheumatic? -a new and freely available online SC (currently with >44 000 users)-in a real-world setting., Methods: Study participants were recruited from an ongoing prospective study, and included people ≥18 years with musculoskeletal complaints completing Rheumatic? online. The user experience survey comprised five usability and acceptability questions (11-point rating scale), and an open-ended question regarding improvement of Rheumatic? Data were analysed in R using t-test or Wilcoxon rank test (group comparisons), or linear regression (continuous variables)., Results: A total of 12 712 people completed the user experience survey. The study population had a normal age distribution, with a peak at 50-59 years, and 78% women. A majority found Rheumatic? useful (78%), thought the questionnaire gave them an opportunity to describe their complaints well (76%), and would recommend Rheumatic? to friends and other patients (74%). Main shortcoming was that 36% thought there were too many questions. Still, 39% suggested more detailed questions, and only 2% suggested a reduction of questions., Conclusion: Based on real-world data from the largest user evaluation study of a digital SC in rheumatology, we conclude that Rheumatic? is well accepted by women and men with rheumatic complaints, in all investigated age groups. Wide-scale adoption of Rheumatic? , therefore, seems feasible, with promising scientific and clinical implications on the horizon., Competing Interests: Competing interests: RK is an editorial board member of RMD Open. She has not been involved in handling of the manuscript at RMD Open, or in communication with the journal regarding the study. LUMC and KI are research collaborators with Elsa Science AB. Elsa Science AB has contributed to the collaboration with in-kind contributions to the design, development and hosting of the digital symptom-checker Rheumatic? KL was part-time employed by Elsa Science, January 2022–February 2023. All other authors declare no commercial or financial conflict of interest in relation to the study., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)