Evaluation of a web-based self-monitoring application (MyRA) to empower people with rheumatoid arthritis in daily life
Authors' conclusion
Despite major patient involvement throughout development, self-monitoring via MyRA did not increase patient empowerment.
Study context
- Population
- Registered patients with RA (90.1% female, mean age 51.8 [SD 11.9] years, mean disease duration 10.2 [SD 10.1] years)54 never used the application
- Participants
- 548 patients
- Exposure
- Before vs after 4 months of self-monitoring with MyRA (web-based application), used at patients' own discretion
- Subgroup A (infrequent users)n = 405reference
- Subgroup B (frequent users)n = 89
- Never usedn = 54
- Outcome
- Patient empowerment (Patient Activation Measure-13; 0-100)
- Follow-up
- 4 months
Methodological detailssingle-group, co-developed with patients, repeated measures ANOVA, post-hoc subgroup analysis by frequency of use
- Single-group
- Co-developed with patients
- Repeated measures ANOVA
- Post-hoc subgroup analysis by frequency of use
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Patient empowerment (PAM-13; 0-100), total user group · T0 vs T2 (4 months)
- Total user group, T0
- 55.8
- Total user group, T2
- 54.4
- No statistical difference after 4 months
- P = 0.09
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | Subgroup B | Subgroup A | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usability (System Usability Scale; 0-100) | 75.9 | 62.9 | P < 0.001 |
Patient empowerment (PAM-13), subgroup B (post-hoc) · T0 vs T2 (4 months)
- Subgroup B, T0
- 56.2
- Subgroup B, T2
- 53.6
- Statistically significant, though not clinically meaningful, decrease
- P = 0.04
- Post-hoc subgroup analysis
Perceived usefulness
- Subgroup B more outspoken in perceived usefulness
Frequency of use
- Never used
- 54 (9.9%)
- Infrequent users
- 405 (73.9%)
- Frequent users
- 89 (16.2%)
Original publication
Evaluation of a web-based self-monitoring application (MyRA) to empower people with rheumatoid arthritis in daily life. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 30 October 2025. doi:10.
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