Application of Internet Hospitals in the Disease Management of Patients With Ulcerative Colitis: Retrospective Study

Background Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease characterized by frequent relapses, requiring long-term management and consuming substantial medical and social resources. Effective management of UC remains challenging due to the need for sustainable remission strategies, continuity of care, and access to medical services. Intelligent diagnosis refers to the use of artificial intelligence–driven algorithms to analyze patient-reported symptoms, generate diagnostic probabilities, and provide treatment recommendations through interactive tools. This approach could potentially function as a method for UC management. Objective This study aimed to analyze the diagnosis and treatment data of UC from both physical hospitals and internet hospitals, highlighting the potential benefits of the intelligent diagnosis and treatment service model offered by internet hospitals. Methods We collected data on the visits of patients with UC to the Department of Gastroenterology at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital. A total of 852 patients with UC were included between July 1, 2020, and June 31, 2023. Statistical methods, including chi-square tests for categorical variables, t tests for continuous variables, and rank-sum tests for visit numbers, were used to evaluate the medical preferences and expenses of patients with UC. Results We found that internet hospitals and physical hospitals presented different medical service models due to the different distribution of medical needs and patient groups. Patients who chose internet hospitals focused on disease consultation and prescription medication (3295/3528, 93.40%). Patients’ medical preferences gradually shifted to web-based services provided by internet hospitals. Over time, 58.57% (270/461) of patients chose either web-based services or a combination of web-based and offline services for UC diagnosis and treatment. The number of visits in the combination of web-based and offline service modes was the highest (mean 13.83, SD 11.07), and younger patients were inclined to visit internet hospitals (49.66%>34.71%). In addition, compared with physical hospitals, there was no difference in testing fees and examination fees for patients with UC in internet hospitals, but medicine fees were lower. Conclusions The intelligent diagnosis and treatment model provided by internet hospitals demonstrates the potential benefits in managing UC, including feasibility, accessibility, convenience, and economics.