JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) pose significant management challenges due to sporadic flares, requiring close monitoring and effective patient-healthcare provider communication. Traditional care models often fail to offer a comprehensive view of disease progression, leading to gaps in continuous patient care. Our research addresses this need by developing IMIDoc, a digital health solution co-created by an interdisciplinary team comprised of clinical experts, biomedical engineers, and technical developers, tailored for RA and SpA patients. In this work, we describe IMIDoc's development, which involved a structured co-creation process, with a planning phase to assess unmet needs and secure funding, followed by a development phase. The app, designed with user-centered principles, aims to not only improve patient monitoring and education, but also to facilitate healthcare provider decision-making. It includes features for recording patient data, managing medication, and providing educational content. A feasibility study and pilot testing revealed high usability and relevance, though improvements in the user interface and functionality were identified. The app's technical and clinical efficacy is to be evaluated in a forthcoming multicenter clinical study involving 360 patients across five Spanish hospitals. The co-creative approach and focus on user needs of IMIDoc hold promise for enhancing patient care and outcomes in IMIDs.