Satisfaction with modes of telemedicine delivery during COVID-19: A randomized, single-blind, parallel group, noninferiority trial.

Background: Little is known about satisfaction with different modes of telemedicine delivery. The objective of this study was to determine whether patient satisfaction with phone-only was noninferior to video visits.

Methods: We conducted a parallel group, randomized (1:1), single-blind, noninferiority trial in multispecialty clinics at a tertiary academic medical center.

Evaluation of an Intervention to Support Patient-Rheumatologist Conversations About Escalating Treatment in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Proof-of-Principle Study.

Objective: This study's objective was to test whether an online video intervention discussing appropriate treatment escalation improves willingness to change treatment in people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: We conducted a controlled, randomized trial among patients with RA enrolled in ArthritisPower, a United States patient registry. We recruited participants by email and surveyed their assessment of disease activity (patient global), satisfaction with disease control (patient acceptable symptom state), attitudes about RA medications, decisional conflict (decisional conflict scale), and willingness to modify RA treatment (choice predisposition scale, higher scores are better) if or when recommended by their rheumatologist.

Denosumab did not improve computerized tomography erosion scores when added to intensive urate-lowering therapy in gout: Results from a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background/purpose: Disordered osteoclast activity has been implicated in the pathogenesis of gouty bone erosion. We sought to determine if the addition of denosumab (a monoclonal antibody targeting the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand - RANKL) to intensive urate-lowering therapy (ULT) improves gouty bone erosion.

Methods: Open-label, parallel-group pilot randomized controlled trial in which 20 participants with gout with at least one confirmed conventional radiographic foot bone erosion were assigned in a 1:1 allocation to receive denosumab (60 mg subcutaneous every 6 months) added to intensive ULT (serum urate ≤5 mg/dL or 300 µmol/L at the time of randomization and continued for the duration of the study), or intensive ULT alone.

Reducing Immunogenicity of Pegloticase With Concomitant Use of Mycophenolate Mofetil in Patients With Refractory Gout: A Phase II, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Objective: Pegloticase is used for the treatment of severe gout, but its use is limited by immunogenicity. This study was undertaken to evaluate whether mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) prolongs the efficacy of pegloticase.

Methods: Participants were randomized 3:1 to receive 1,000 mg MMF twice daily or placebo for 14 weeks, starting 2 weeks before receiving pegloticase and continuing while receiving intravenous pegloticase 8 mg biweekly for 12 weeks.

Physical activity measured using wearable activity tracking devices associated with gout flares.

Objective: To determine the feasibility and validity of using wearable activity trackers to test associations between gout flares with physical activity and sleep.

Methods: Participants with physician-diagnosed gout, hyperuricemia (≥ 6.8 mg/dl), current smartphone use, and ≥ 2 self-reported flares in the previous 6 months were enrolled.

Comparison of an interactive voice response system and smartphone application in the identification of gout flares.

Objective: To examine the feasibility, preference, and satisfaction of an interactive voice response (IVR) system versus a customized smartphone application (StudyBuddy) to capture gout flares METHODS: In this 24-week prospective, randomized, crossover, open-label pilot study, 44 gout patients were randomized to IVR vs. StudyBuddy and were crossed over to the other technology after 12 weeks. Flares were reported via weekly (and later daily) scheduled StudyBuddy or IVR queries.

Patient and Rheumatologist Perspectives Regarding Challenges to Achieving Optimal Disease Control in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: To identify and prioritize patient- and rheumatologist-perceived barriers to achieving disease control.

Methods: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and rheumatologists from the Corrona registry were invited by e-mail to participate in nominal groups. Two separate lists of barriers were created, 1 from RA patient-only nominal groups and the other from rheumatologist-only nominal groups, and barriers were sorted into themes.

A Performing Arts Intervention Improves Cognitive Dysfunction in 50 Hospitalized Older Adults.

Background And Objectives: Arts in medicine programs have emerged as a patient-centered approach that aims to improve health-related quality of life for patients in U.S. hospitals.

Use of Scribes for Documentation Assistance in Rheumatology and Endocrinology Clinics: Impact on Clinic Workflow and Patient and Physician Satisfaction.

Background/objective: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of utilizing medical scribes on clinic workflow, physician professional satisfaction, and patient satisfaction in rheumatology and endocrinology clinics.

Methods: We conducted a within-practice pilot study of medical scribes that included a 6-week intervention phase (documentation assistance by medical scribes) followed by a control phase (usual documentation with no assistance) in outpatient rheumatology and endocrinology clinics at an academic medical center. We evaluated the following outcomes: physician professional satisfaction (range, 5-25, with higher values denoting higher satisfaction), autonomy (range, 4-16, with higher values denoting higher autonomy), perception of clinic workflow (range, 1 = calm, 5 = chaotic), and patient satisfaction (5-point Likert item, anchors: strongly agree, strongly disagree).