Session Information
Date: Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Title: Metabolic and Crystal Arthropathies – Basic and Clinical Science Poster II
Session Type: ACR Poster Session C
Session Time: 9:00AM-11:00AM
Background/Purpose: Gout flares are a major cause of morbidity and are an important outcome in clinical studies. Significant limitations for timely flare ascertainment exist, and while technology has promise to capture flares passively, optimal methods to do so are uncertain. We examined the feasibility, preference, and satisfaction of an interactive voice response [IVR] system versus a smartphone mobile application [RheumPRO; Birmingham, AL] to capture gout flares between study visits.
Methods: Gout patients were randomized to IVR vs. RheumPRO for flare capture and crossed over to the other technology at 3 months. Study inclusion criteria: physician diagnosed gout, hyperuricemia (serum urate level ≥6.8 mg/dl), self-report of ≥2 flares in the previous 6 months, and smartphone ownership. Participants reported flare status via weekly scheduled RheumPRO interactions or IVR calls. At 3 (crossover) and 6 months (end of study), participants completed satisfaction/feasibility surveys. Feasibility was ascertained via response rate (adherence) to RheumPRO interactions or IVR calls. Satisfaction was assessed using dichotomous preference questions and a Likert scale question on ease of use (range 0 to 10; very easy to very difficult). Descriptive statistics characterized differences between methods.
Results: Of 44 participants enrolled, 38 completed both study arms, Participants were predominantly men (87%), had a mean (±SD) age of 50 (±15) years, and most (87%) were on urate lowering therapy at enrollment. At study completion, 28 (74%) preferred RheumPRO, 3 (8%) preferred IVR and 7 (18%) had no preference. Adherence with both methods did not differ at 80%. Measures of feasibility and satisfaction for each method are shown in Table 1.
Table 1.
|
|
IVR |
RheumPRO |
p-value |
|
Gout Flares |
|
|
|
|
Weeks with a flare (per pt) Mean (±SD) |
2.6 (±2.5) |
3.4 (±3.3) |
0.27 |
|
Total flare weeks (% of study time with flares) |
27% |
35% |
0.02 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feasibility (Adherence) (weekly response to interactions or calls) Mean % (±SD) |
80.6% (±21.3%) |
80.1% (±24.6%) |
0.94 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Technology Satisfaction Measures |
|
|
|
|
Ease of use (0-10; very easy to very difficult) Mean (±SD) |
1.63 (±2.5) |
0.58 (±1.12) |
0.02 |
|
Disrupted activity (i.e. intrusiveness), % |
18.4% |
2.6% |
0.06 |
|
Ability to respond to interactions or calls, % |
72.8% |
94.7% |
0.01 |
|
Preference of reporting via device/call compared clinic visit, % |
86.5% |
92.1% |
0.48 |
|
Satisfaction with frequency of contact, % |
89.5% |
89.5% |
1.00 |
|
Willing to use in future, % |
89.5% |
97.3% |
0.36 |
Conclusion: Both a smartphone App and IVR were found to be equally feasible technologies and reasonably accepted to capture gout flares. More patients preferred the RheumPRO App, which detected more flares, and found it easier to use and more convenient than an automated call system. Each technology may offer variable benefits for feasible gout flare assessment in future clinical studies.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Elmagboul N, Coburn BW, Saag K, Foster PJ, Mudano AS, Melnick JA, Bergman DA, Yang S, Redden DT, Chen L, Cooper F, Curtis JR, Mikuls TR. Comparison of an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) to Smart Phone App to Determine Patient Preference for Reporting Gout Flares [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2018; 70 (suppl 9). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/comparison-of-an-interactive-voice-response-ivr-to-smart-phone-app-to-determine-patient-preference-for-reporting-gout-flares/. Accessed .« Back to 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting
ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/comparison-of-an-interactive-voice-response-ivr-to-smart-phone-app-to-determine-patient-preference-for-reporting-gout-flares/