Effects of online care on functional and psychological outcomes in patients with psoriasis: A randomized controlled trial

Background: The impact of online care on patients' functional and psychological outcomes is critical to determine yet still unknown. Objective: To evaluate how a novel online health model that facilitates physician-patient collaboration compares with in-person care for improving functional status and mental health of patients with psoriasis.Methods: This 12-month randomized controlled equivalency trial randomly assigned patients with psoriasis 1:1 to receive online or in-person care. Functional impairment and depression were assessed at baseline and at 3-month intervals using the 5-level EuroQol-5 Dimensions index and Patient Health Questionnare-9.Results: Overall, 296 patients were randomly assigned to the online or in-person groups. The between -group difference in overall improvement in the EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale was-0.002 (95% confidence interval,-2.749 to 2.745), falling within an equivalence margin of +/- 8. The between-group difference in overall improvement in the 5-level EuroQol-5 Dimensions index was 0 (95% confidence interval,-0.003 to 0.003), falling within an equivalence margin of +/- 0.1. The between-group difference in overall improvement in Patient Health Questionnare-9 score was-0.33 (95% CI,-1.20 to 0.55), falling within an equivalence margin of +/- 3.Limitations: Slightly different attrition rates between online and in-person arms (11% vs 9%), but no impact on outcomes.Conclusion: The online health model was equivalent to in-person care for reducing functional impairment and depressive symptoms in patients with psoriasis. ( J Am Acad Dermatol 2023;88:364-70.)