Telehealth in Rheumatology: The 2021 Arab League of Rheumatology Best Practice Guidelines

Abstract Background Telehealth use is increasing and will undeniably continue to play a role beyond the COVID-19 era. Best practice guidelines (BPG) for telehealth add credibility, standardize approaches, facilitate reimbursement, and decrease liability.Objectives To develop BPG for the use of Telehealth In Rheumatology in the Arab region, to identify the top barriers and facilitators of telehealth in the Arab region, and to provide rheumatologists with a practical toolkit for the implementation of telehealth.Methods Guidelines were drafted by a core steering committee from the Arab League of Associations for Rheumatology (ArLAR) after performing a literature search. A multidisciplinary task force (TF), including 18 rheumatologists, 2 patients, and 2 regulators from 15 Arab countries, assessed the BPG using 3 rounds of anonymous online voting by modified Delphi process. The voting on barriers and facilitators was performed through one voting round. The toolkit was developed based on available literature and discussions during the Delphi rounds.Results Four General Principles and twelve Statements were formulated. All statements reached &gt;80% consensus. A teleconsultation was specifically defined for the purpose of these guidelines. The concept of choice in telehealth was highlighted, emphasizing patient confidentiality, medical information security, rheumatologist’s clinical judgment, and local jurisdictional regulations. The top barrier for telehealth was the concern about the quality of care. The toolkit emphasized technical aspects of teleconsultation and proposed a triage system.Conclusions The ArLAR BPG provides rheumatologists with a series of strategies about the most reliable, productive, and rational approaches to apply telehealth.Article Summary Strengths and limitations of this study <jats:list list-type="bullet">Best practice guidelines (BPG) the use of Telehealth In Rheumatology in the Arab region were developed herein under the umbrella of the Arab League of Associations for Rheumatology (ArLAR)A teleconsultation was specifically defined for the purpose of these guidelinesThe concept of choice in telehealth was highlighted, emphasizing patient confidentiality, medical information security, rheumatologist’s clinical judgment, and local jurisdictional regulationsThe top barrier for telehealth was the concern about the quality of careThe ArLAR BPG provides rheumatologists with a series of strategies about the most reliable, productive, and rational approaches to apply telehealth in the rheumatology clinic.

Medienart:	Preprint

Erscheinungsjahr:	2023
Erschienen:	2023

Enthalten in:	bioRxiv.org - (2023) vom: 07. Jan. Zur Gesamtaufnahme - year:2023

Sprache:	Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Ziade, Nelly [VerfasserIn] Hmamouchi, Ihsane [VerfasserIn] Kibbi, Lina el [VerfasserIn] Daou, Melissa [VerfasserIn] Abdulateef, Nizar [VerfasserIn] Abutiban, Fatemah [VerfasserIn] Elzorkany, Bassel [VerfasserIn] Dahou-Makhloufi, Chafia [VerfasserIn] Hamdi, Wafa [VerfasserIn] Emadi, Samar Al [VerfasserIn] Halabi, Hussein [VerfasserIn] Alnaqbi, Khalid A. [VerfasserIn] Abu Al Saoud, Sima [VerfasserIn] Hashad, Soad [VerfasserIn] Niamane, Radouane [VerfasserIn] Rakawi, Manal El [VerfasserIn] Kazkaz, Layla [VerfasserIn] Saad, Sahar [VerfasserIn] Eissa, Mervat [VerfasserIn] Fraser, Ilanca [VerfasserIn] Masri, Basel [VerfasserIn]

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Themen:	570 Biology

doi:	10.1101/2021.08.18.21262218

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PPN (Katalog-ID):	XBI032446314