Table 3.
Usage of digital health applications before and after COVID-19 pandemic, n (%)
| Characteristics | Patients n=299 (100%) |
Rheumatologists n=129 (100%) |
| I believe using digital health applications (eg, medical apps, video consultation and online pharmacies) is useful for managing my disease, n (%) | ||
| Strongly disagree | 8 (2.7) | 0 (0.0) |
| Disagree | 11 (3.7) | 2 (1.6) |
| Neutral | 58 (19.4) | 29 (22.5) |
| Agree | 138 (46.2) | 62 (48.1) |
| Strongly agree | 84 (28.1) | 36 (27.9) |
| Has your attitude towards digital health Apps changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic?, n (%) | ||
| It changed positively | 112 (37.5) | 92 (71.3) |
| It changed negatively | 2 (0.7) | 3 (2.3) |
| It has been unaffected | 185 (61.9) | 34 (26.4) |
| Do you use digital health apps more regularly since the COVID-19 pandemic?, n (%) | ||
| Yes | 88 (29.4) | 62 (48.1) |
| No | 211 (70.6) | 67 (51.9) |
| I feel able to use digital health apps, n (%) | ||
| Strongly disagree | 6 (2.0) | 1 (0.8) |
| Disagree | 3 (1.0) | 3 (2.3) |
| Neutral | 21 (7.0) | 15 (11.6) |
| Agree | 127 (42.5) | 61 (47.3) |
| Strongly agree | 142 (47.5) | 49 (38.0) |
Patients and rheumatologists were asked to indicate if they believe in the usage of DHA for managing the disease and if their attitude has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
DHA, digital health application.