Potential benefits of implementation to standard care |
“Yes, that's a time saver. So with me it's fine to have time off. But for some others, they probably have to take a whole day off. So then it's already a good thing if you can do it yourself.” (Patient 10, Sjögren's syndrome, TAP II: 05:34) |
“For the patients who have to take blood every week or every two weeks, it might be optimal that they don't have to drive miles to the doctor just to take blood. It would be easier. Especially nowadays with the gas prices…” (Patient 13, Sjögren's syndrome, TAP II: 06:34) |
“Exactly. I'll say it as it is right now, it would be easier for me to send my blood there instead of me stepping outside with Covid, because I don't have any antibodies.” (Patient 5, Antiphospholipid syndrome, Tasso + : 14:13) |
“Fortunately, I don't mind it anymore, but at the very beginning, when it started, here with the 20 needle pricks and so on, I couldn't see my own blood. (…) Perhaps you can take away a little bit of the fear of such people. Because you know, you don't have to have this syringe in your arm anymore.” (Patient 5, Antiphospholipid syndrome, Tasso + : 15:42) |
“For example, if you don't feel so good or something, then I could do it myself. Well, that's always a hassle. I would have to call first and then see if I can get through by phone and then describe what's going on with me. Then you have to see if you can get an earlier appointment, depending on the situation. So that would be kind of quicker to send that away, then maybe save all the hassle.” (Patient 3, Systemic lupus erythematosus, TAP II: 17:07) |
“Yes, first and foremost, I think, the acceleration of diagnosis, because if the patient in question has clear symptoms, which are also part of the classification criteria and we can then detect the corresponding antibodies at home, for example, then I would be able to call in the patient more quickly.” (HCP 3: 04:26) |
“Saving appointments for patients with stable disease, who simply need a follow-up examination… And for others, more frequent blood collection may be necessary, making it easy to intervene ahead of time to avoid potential damage that can be read in [abnormal] laboratory parameters before the ‘spook’ even starts. That might not have been possible before. It definitely has massive advantages there.” (HCP 5: 02:14) |
Potential drawbacks of implementation to standard rheumatology care |
“The independence is very, very good. The only thing I wonder: The amount of blood is not very much and when I see the amount that is taken during blood sampling at the medical practice and the amount that is taken with the device trialed, then I believe that it’s very reduced, so to a few parameters probably. I think that you then still have to go to the doctor for other furor something.” (Patient 15, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Tasso + : 09:46) |
“If it is really about this one parameter… I think that if other matters are to be examined which cannot be determined with capillary blood, then it is of course nonsense to say that patients come to the hospital, have their venous blood drawn, and then have capillary blood drawn as well. So I think it really only makes sense if it's very time-consuming for the patient, the university is overloaded and one or two specific parameters really need to be examined or what is possible in the context of such a capillary blood sample.” (HCP 4: 12:49) |
“So, for instance, one limit is the current availability. That's clear, you just have to see what's available at the moment. The other limit is, of course, the costs. So that's all very limited now, because you're pretty dependent on what you can afford or maybe what you're provided with for individual studies. These are still limitations.” (HCP 2: 13:58) |
“This waste. But to be honest, I don't see that as a disadvantage, because it's no different in the clinic. We also have butterflies and swabs and so on and so forth. But maybe the patients don't notice that, because they don't necessarily watch. Some of them look away when the blood is being taken, and they are perhaps not so aware of this waste. I don't think that is a disadvantage. As far as the costs of the device itself are concerned, I think they are recovered somewhat by the fact that perhaps on-site appointments including transport, doctor's time, time for the patient and so on can be saved. So I don't see the disadvantages very clearly yet.” (HCP 3: 06:45) |
“So going to the family doctor is always, for me at least, easier, more convenient and makes more sense to me than getting this package at home and then taking the blood myself.” (Patient 8, Granulomatosis with polyangiitis, TAP II: 12:28) |
Requirements for transfer to standard rheumatology care |
“And usually I also have the possibility to discuss my blood. So, if the values are not good, I would like to receive a report and I would like to have the opportunity to discuss it by phone or by e-mail afterwards, or to ask for a discussion, that would be important to me.” (Patient 14, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Tasso + : 12:06) |
“Of course, it is clear that a non-expert can hardly make any sense of positive anti-dsDNA antibodies at first. Therefore, this should certainly not be a stand-alone offer to be able to take any antibodies at home. But, as I said, it should certainly be connected with a medical discussion, an explanatory discussion, whether positive or negative. But I think telemedicine is an important pillar that can and should be implemented.” (HCP 3: 05:55) |
“I firmly believe in it. Yes, I believe that it is indeed absolutely feasible. Of course, you have to see for which diseases. I think this has to be determined on a very individual basis. There are certain individual patient groups where it makes more sense to at least start with it. But I believe that this is transferable, yes. And that you would also have to get the general practitioners on board, so that they might also participate.” (HCP 2: 07:11) |