Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Research on digital health tools (DHT) use in rheumatologic disease (RD) patients is lacking. METHOD: Data from the 2017 and 2018 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) were used to compare DHT ownership and perceived usefulness between individuals with and without RD and to evaluate how health applications usage influenced health behaviors in RD patients. RESULTS: No significant differences in smartphone or health applications ownership were found between the groups. Among RD patients, older males and those with lower incomes were less likely to use DHT. DHT users reported better communication with healthcare providers, but no significant impact on health behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Females, individuals <65 years, and those with higher annual income had higher odds of health applications usage. DHT facilitated better communication between patients with RD and healthcare providers. DHT tailored for RD are readily available but remain underutilized and warrant further exploration to improve health outcomes in this population.