ACR Meeting Abstracts

ACR Meeting Abstracts

  • Meetings
    • ACR Convergence 2024
    • ACR Convergence 2023
    • 2023 ACR/ARP PRSYM
    • ACR Convergence 2022
    • ACR Convergence 2021
    • ACR Convergence 2020
    • 2020 ACR/ARP PRSYM
    • 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting
    • 2018-2009 Meetings
    • Download Abstracts
  • Keyword Index
  • Advanced Search
  • Your Favorites
    • Favorites
    • Login
    • View and print all favorites
    • Clear all your favorites
  • ACR Meetings

Abstract Number: 1929

Use of Digital Health Tools for Health Promotion Among Individuals with Rheumatologic Diseases in the United States

Ufuoma Mamoh1, Soziema Salia1, Alejandro Jaller1, Comfort anim-koranteng2, Joshua Halliday3, Joseph Atarere4, Ted Akhiwu1 and Indira Acharya1, 1Medstar Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore, MD, 2Harlem Medical Center, Harlem, NY, 3Grreater Accra Regional Hospital, Accra, Ghana, 4Department of Internal Medicine, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore, MD

Meeting: ACR Convergence 2024

Keywords: Access to care, autoimmune diseases, Community programs, health behaviors, physical activity

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
Session Information

Date: Monday, November 18, 2024

Title: Health Services Research – ACR/ARP Poster III

Session Type: Poster Session C

Session Time: 10:30AM-12:30PM

Background/Purpose: Rheumatologic diseases (RDs) significantly impact the quality of life, cause significant socioeconomic burdens, and increase the risk of other systemic diseases including cardiovascular disease, infections, and malignancy. Digital health tools (DHT) have shown promise in health promotion among cancer survivors and individuals with cardiovascular disease. Yet, there is currently a lack of research on its use in people with RDs. In this study, we examined the ownership and use of DHT among individuals with RDs and evaluated the relationship between DHT use and positive health behaviors in this population.

Methods: We extracted data from adult respondents of the 2017 and 2018 iterations of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). We classified study respondents into two groups: ‘RDs’ and ‘no RDs’. The outcomes of interest were (1) ownership and perceived usefulness of DHTs and (2) positive health behaviors defined as adherence to nationally recommended levels of (i) general physical activity (≥150 min/week of moderate-intensity activity), (ii) resistance and strength exercise (≥2 times/week), and (iii) fruit and vegetable intake (≥2 cups of each/day). Using separate multivariable logistic regression models, we evaluated for differences in ownership and perceived usefulness of DHT by RD status, and the relationship between DHT usage and adoption of positive health behaviors among individuals with RDs.

Results:  In this study, we found no difference in ownership and usage of DHTs between participants with RD and those without RD (Table 2).  Among individuals with RD, males, those older than 65, and those from households with an annual income < $20,000 were less likely to use DHTs (Table 1). Among individuals with RD, there was no difference in health behavior change between DHTs users and non-users weekly physical activity levels [OR 0.94; 95% CI (0.63, 1.41); p= 0.776] and weekly strength training [OR 1.51; 95% CI (0.94, 2.43); p= 0.089]. Individuals with RD were just as likely as those without RD to own and use smartphones, tablets, and health apps, but more likely to report that the DHTs facilitated discussions with their healthcare providers (HCP)[OR 1.34; 95% CI (1.08,1.67); p = 0.010].

Conclusion: Among people with RD, males, individuals older than 65 years, and those from the lowest income class were less likely to use DHTs.  Although people with RD were more likely to report that DHTs facilitated discussions with HCP, we found no evidence that this leads to health behavior change. DHTs remain an untapped resource in managing RD. Tools such as exercise, meal prep, and pain management apps specific to RD should be explored to optimize health behaviors among individuals with RD.

Supporting image 1

Table :1 Sociodemographic characteristic of study participants

Supporting image 2

Table 2: Ownership and usage of DHT by Rheumatologic disease status

Supporting image 3

Table 3: Health behaviour change by health app status among individuals with Rheumatologic disease


Disclosures: U. Mamoh: None; S. Salia: None; A. Jaller: None; C. anim-koranteng: None; J. Halliday: None; J. Atarere: None; T. Akhiwu: None; I. Acharya: None.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Mamoh U, Salia S, Jaller A, anim-koranteng C, Halliday J, Atarere J, Akhiwu T, Acharya I. Use of Digital Health Tools for Health Promotion Among Individuals with Rheumatologic Diseases in the United States [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2024; 76 (suppl 9). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/use-of-digital-health-tools-for-health-promotion-among-individuals-with-rheumatologic-diseases-in-the-united-states/. Accessed .
  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

« Back to ACR Convergence 2024

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/use-of-digital-health-tools-for-health-promotion-among-individuals-with-rheumatologic-diseases-in-the-united-states/

Advanced Search

Your Favorites

You can save and print a list of your favorite abstracts during your browser session by clicking the “Favorite” button at the bottom of any abstract. View your favorites »

All abstracts accepted to ACR Convergence are under media embargo once the ACR has notified presenters of their abstract’s acceptance. They may be presented at other meetings or published as manuscripts after this time but should not be discussed in non-scholarly venues or outlets. The following embargo policies are strictly enforced by the ACR.

Accepted abstracts are made available to the public online in advance of the meeting and are published in a special online supplement of our scientific journal, Arthritis & Rheumatology. Information contained in those abstracts may not be released until the abstracts appear online. In an exception to the media embargo, academic institutions, private organizations, and companies with products whose value may be influenced by information contained in an abstract may issue a press release to coincide with the availability of an ACR abstract on the ACR website. However, the ACR continues to require that information that goes beyond that contained in the abstract (e.g., discussion of the abstract done as part of editorial news coverage) is under media embargo until 10:00 AM ET on November 14, 2024. Journalists with access to embargoed information cannot release articles or editorial news coverage before this time. Editorial news coverage is considered original articles/videos developed by employed journalists to report facts, commentary, and subject matter expert quotes in a narrative form using a variety of sources (e.g., research, announcements, press releases, events, etc.).

Violation of this policy may result in the abstract being withdrawn from the meeting and other measures deemed appropriate. Authors are responsible for notifying colleagues, institutions, communications firms, and all other stakeholders related to the development or promotion of the abstract about this policy. If you have questions about the ACR abstract embargo policy, please contact ACR abstracts staff at [email protected].

Wiley

  • Online Journal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Permissions Policies
  • Cookie Preferences

© Copyright 2025 American College of Rheumatology