Telemedicine for Paediatric Rheumatic Diseases in Japan: A National Survey of Physicians’ Perspectives

Objectives This study assessed the needs, perceptions, and challenges associated with telemedicine in the treatment of oligoarticular/polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (oJIA/pJIA) and childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) in Japan. Methods A nationwide survey was conducted using Google Forms targeting members of the Japan College of Rheumatology, the Paediatric Rheumatology Association of Japan, and paediatricians affiliated with core paediatric specialty training facilities. Results Responses were received from 128 physicians with 77%, 50%, 27%, and 21% of patients travelling for more than one hour, crossing prefectural borders, coming from areas with limited specialised care, and residing in remote islands and regions, respectively. The JCR board-certified rheumatologists are more likely to treat these patients. Telemedicine was expected to reduce travel time (92.2%) and consultation time (92.2%), while concerns included patients’ preference for in-person consultations (89.8%) and perceived differences in the quality of care (86.7%). Telemedicine was supported by 71.9% of respondents for stable oJIA/pJIA cases and 76.3% for stable cSLE cases. Conclusions Many physicians support telemedicine for patients with oJIA/pJIA or cSLE who travel long distances. Further studies should explore the quality differences between telemedicine and in-person consultations.