Search

BackgroundDespite the growing interest and exponential popularity of mobile health (mHealth) apps for long-term conditions such as rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) and their self-management, patients are rarely directly consulted and involved in the app development process. ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the needs, experiences, and views of people diagnosed with RMDs on mHealth apps. MethodsThe study used a mixed methods approach: (1) an initial qualitative phase via a patient focus group in the UK and (2) a survey disseminated through national organizations for patients with RMDs across European countries, the United States, Canada, and Australia. ResultsThe focus group included six patients with life-long musculoskeletal conditions. Half had used a self-management app at least once. The use of existing apps was reported as time-consuming due to a lack of functionality. The need for bespoke apps was voiced by all participants. Among 424 patients across European countries, the United States, Canada, and Australia, the main age group was 45 to 54 years (122/424, 28.7%), and 86.8% (368/424) were women. Half of the respondents were aware of the existence of apps to support self-management of their RMDs (188/355, 53%), with 42% (79/188) of them currently using such devices. Patients were mostly interested in an app to self-monitor their health parameters (259/346, 74.9%) and disease activity (221/346, 63.9%) or communicate directly with their health care provider (200/346, 57.8%). ConclusionsPatients considered that using an app could help them to self-manage their RMD condition if it was tailored to their needs and co-developed with health professionals. The development of such apps will require standardization and regular quality control.

BackgroundAlthough the increasing availability of mobile health (mHealth) apps may enable people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) to better self-manage their health, there is a general lack of evidence on ways to ensure appropriate development and evaluation of apps. ObjectiveThis study aimed to obtain an overview on existing mHealth apps for self-management in patients with RMDs, focusing on content and development methods. MethodsA search was performed up to December 2017 across 5 databases. For each publication relevant to an app for RMDs, information on the disease, purpose, content, and development strategies was extracted and qualitatively assessed. ResultsOf 562 abstracts, 32 were included in the analysis. Of these 32 abstracts, 11 (34%) referred to an app linked to a connected device. Most of the apps targeted rheumatoid arthritis (11/32, 34%). The top three aspects addressed by the apps were pain (23/32, 71%), fatigue (15/32, 47%), and physical activity (15/32, 47%). The development process of the apps was described in 84% (27/32) of the articles and was of low to moderate quality in most of the cases. Despite most of the articles having been published within the past two years, only 5 apps were still commercially available at the time of our search. Moreover, only very few studies showed improvement of RMD outcome measures. ConclusionsThe development process of most apps was of low or moderate quality in many studies. Owing to the increasing RMD patients’ willingness to use mHealth apps for self-management, optimal standards and quality assurance of new apps are mandatory.

The second part of the Guidelines and Recommendations for Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (MSUS), produced under the auspices of EFSUMB, following the same methodology as for Part 1, provides information and recommendations on the use of this imaging modality for joint pathology, pediatric applications, and musculoskeletal ultrasound-guided procedures. Clinical application, practical points, limitations, and artifacts are described and discussed for every joint or procedure. The document is intended to guide clinical users in their daily practice., Competing Interests: Fernando Alfageme Speaker honoraria: GE, Mindray; Equipment support: EsaoteDavid Bong No Conflicts of interestAngel Bueno No Conflicts of interestVito Cantisani Speaker honoraria: Bracco, Samsung, CanonPaz Collado No Conflicts of interestMaria Antonietta D'Agostino No Conflicts of interestDaniela Fodor No Conflicts of interestJavier de la Fuente No Conflicts of interestWolfgang Hartung Speaker honoraria: Abbvie, GE Healthcare, Alpinion Medical; Ultrasound equipment support; Alpinion Medical Germany, Canon Medical GermanyHilde Hammer Speake honoraria and/or consultancy; AbbVie, Lilly, Roche, NovartisAndrea Klauser No Conflicts of interestJens Kessler No Conflicts of interestManuela Lenghel No Conflicts of interestCarlo Martinoli Speaker honoraria and equipment support: Philips, CanonDolores Mendoza-Cembranos No Conflicts of interestMihaela Micu No Conflicts of interestIngrid Möller No Conflicts of interestAurelie Najm No Conflicts of interestGabriella Iohom No Conflicts of interestClara Malattia No Conflicts of interestPeter Mandl No Conflicts of interestEsperanza Naredo No Conflicts of interestLevent Ozcakar No Conflicts of interestRiccardo Picasso No Conflicts of interestAthena Plagou Speaker honoraria: GESebastian C Rodriguez-Garcia No Conflicts of interestXavier Sala-Blanch No Conflicts of interestLuca Scofienza Non-financial support: Samsung Imaging, Abiogen, Bracco Imaging Italia; Speaker honoraria: Esaote SPA, Abiogen, Biolive, Fidia Pharma Group, Novartis, PfizerOana Serban No Conflicts of interestPaolo Simoni No Conflicts of interestIwona Sudoł-Szopińska No Conflicts of interestLene Terslev Speaker honoraria: GEChristian Tesch No Conflicts of interestPlamen Todorov No Conflicts of interestJacqueline Uson No Conflicts of interestVioleta Vlad No Conflicts of interestFederico Zaottini No Conflicts of interestMichael Pelea, Diana Bilous, Anamaria Marian, Roxana Gutiu No conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

The first part of the guidelines and recommendations for musculoskeletal ultrasound, produced under the auspices of the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB), provides information about the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound for assessing extraarticular structures (muscles, tendons, entheses, ligaments, bones, bursae, fasciae, nerves, skin, subcutaneous tissues, and nails) and their pathologies. Clinical applications, practical points, limitations, and artifacts are described and discussed for every structure. After an extensive literature review, the recommendations have been developed according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine and GRADE criteria and the consensus level was established through a Delphi process. The document is intended to guide clinical users in their daily practice., Competing Interests: Fernando Alfageme: Speaker honoraria: GE, Mindray; Equipment support: EsaoteDavid Bong: No Conflicts of interestAngel Bueno: No Conflicts of interestVito Cantisani: Speaker honoraria: Bracco, Samsung, CanonPaz Collado: No Conflicts of interestMaria Antonietta D’Agostino: No Conflicts of interestDaniela Fodor: No Conflicts of interestJavier de la Fuente: No Conflicts of interestWolfgang Hartung: Speaker honoraria: Abbvie, GE Healthcare, Alpinion Medical; Ultrasound equipment support; Alpinion Medical Germany, Canon Medical GermanyHilde Hammer: Speake honoraria and/or consultancy; AbbVie, Lilly, Roche, NovartisAndrea Klauser: No Conflicts of interestJens Kessler: No Conflicts of interestManuela Lenghel: No Conflicts of interestCarlo Martinoli: Speaker honoraria and equipment support: Philips, CanonDolores Mendoza-Cembranos: No Conflicts of interestMihaela Micu: No Conflicts of interestIngrid Möller: No Conflicts of interestAurelie Najm: No Conflicts of interestGabriella Iohom: No Conflicts of interestClara Malattia: No Conflicts of interestPeter Mandl: No Conflicts of interestEsperanza Naredo: No Conflicts of interestLevent Ozcakar: No Conflicts of interestRiccardo Picasso: No Conflicts of interestAthena Plagou: Speaker honoraria: GESebastian C Rodriguez-Garcia: No Conflicts of interestXavier Sala-Blanch: No Conflicts of interestLuca Scofienza: Non-financial support: Samsung Imaging, Abiogen, Bracco Imaging Italia; Speaker honoraria: Esaote SPA, Abiogen, Biolive, Fidia Pharma Group, Novartis, PfizerOana Serban: No Conflicts of interestPaolo Simoni: No Conflicts of interestIwona Sudoł-Szopińska: No Conflicts of interestLene Terslev: Speaker honoraria: GEChristian Tesch: No Conflicts of interestPlamen Todorov: No Conflicts of interestJacqueline Uson: No Conflicts of interestVioleta Vlad: No Conflicts of interestFederico Zaottini: No Conflicts of interestMichael Pelea, Diana Bilous, Anamaria Marian, Roxana Gutiu: No conflict of interest, (Thieme. All rights reserved.)