Digital osteoarthritis, bulimia tools backed for NHS use

Guidance in the UK has cleared the way for NHS use of digital health technologies (DHTs) that can support people with osteoarthritis and the eating disorder bulimia.

The two new early value assessment (EVA) documents allow the DHTs to be deployed by the health service on a temporary basis, initially for three years, while further evidence of their benefits is gathered.

The EVA for DHTs used by people with hip and knee osteoarthritis (PDF) recommends eight products, namely: GetUBetter; Good Boost; Hinge Health; Arthro Therapeutics' Joint Academy; EQL's Phio Engage; Kineto Tech Rehab's re.flex; Sword Health's Sword Thrive; and Active Health Tech's TrackActive Me.

One other tool – Wellmind Health's Pathway Through Arthritis – needs further research before it can be used by the NHS, said health technology assessment (HTA) agency NICE.

The DHTs are all designed to help patients with mild to moderate symptoms of hip or knee osteoarthritis manage symptoms like pain and stiffness, improve their physical activity and quality of life, and reduce the burden on the NHS of managing the condition – particularly as osteoarthritis can make it harder for patients to attend appointments in person.

"People can use the digital technologies when it is convenient for them," according to NICE. "Some technologies allow healthcare professionals to remotely monitor a user's progress [and] may also allow treatment to be started when symptoms first occur."

Meanwhile, in the EVA for bulimia – an eating disorder characterised by cycles of binge eating and purging – NICE has come down in support of a digital self-help programme developed by Five Areas called Overcoming Bulimia Online – while concluding that two others, Credo Therapies' Digital CBTe and stem4's Worth Warrior, need more data to support their benefits.

"People with eating disorders can face long waits to access specialist assessment and psychological treatment. Earlier treatment can help to stop their condition becoming more severe," said NICE.

"Unguided digital self-help is a treatment option that can start as soon as an eating problem is identified in primary care or diagnosed in specialist eating disorder services," added the agency. "Clinical trial evidence shows that people with eating disorders who use Overcoming Bulimia Online have fewer binge eating episodes and less severe symptoms than people having usual waiting list care."

Earlier this month, NICE also recommended the use of eight DHTs for people with asthma, while in December it endorsed seven for cardiac rehabilitation. Access to DHTs is one way that the NHS can reach the digital transformation objectives laid out in the current 10-Year Plan.