1. Since the objectives of ePROs are to effectively monitor the outcomes of treatment reported by patients, a study was conducted where rheumatologists completed a survey to investigate the acceptance, usage, and barriers to using ePROs. The results showed that not many rheumatologists currently use ePROs, and less than half are planning to use them, with various reasons investigated for this lack of adoption. I believe this application can be helpful in many areas that aim to measure the outcomes of treatment or the outcome of care and track the status of patients. However, the acceptance may depend significantly on how user-friendly and usefulness the application is.
Based on my experience in nursing, many hospitals in Thailand have developed applications to help patients with self-monitoring. One application used in my hospital is called the Rama Diabetes Care. This application focuses on empowering diabetes patients to effectively manage their own care (Self-Management), with the aim of improving diabetes control and reducing diabetes-related complications. It includes many functions, such as nutrition data logging, medication or insulin injection logging and alert and also the level of blood sugar. Moreover, patients will receive diabetes assessments from doctors. Patients can view their recorded data retrospectively by day, week, month, and year.
2.The important features of ePROs include automatic score calculations and display, as well as simple data transfer to medical records. When the results are available before the consultation, rheumatologists can interpret each patient’s results beforehand. This function benefits the treat-to-target approach, allowing patients to receive closer monitoring and more effective treatment.
Some barriers of the ePRO system were identified in the study. Since there is no information about the detail of software or application’s operation , I think the improvements should focus on enhancing usability and accessibility for all users. I suggest that the system should be simplified, ensuring that key functions such as automatic score calculation, data display, and transfer to medical records are easy to navigate and understand. Simplifying these features can reduce the time and effort required from users. Additionally, providing thorough training and ongoing support can help mitigate the lack of familiarity with the software. By making the interface more intuitive and user-friendly, the system can become more efficient and cost-effective, ultimately satisfying the needs of all users.