The Effect of Nursing Follow-Up by Phone on The Self-Efficacy,Pain,Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of nursing follow-up by phone on the self-efficacy status, pain, and disease activity of individuals with RA using biological agents. The study sample consisted of 64 individuals, including 32 interventions and 32 comparison groups, who met the inclusion criteria. The research was conducted in a randomized controlled experimental study design. In data collection; 'Personal Information Form', 'Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale', 'Visual Analog Scale' and 'DAS 28' score was used. Descriptive statistics (mean±sd) for numerical variables and frequency distributions for categorical variables were used to evaluate the data.

Individuals in the intervention group participating in the research; 65.6% of them were women and their mean age was 50.12 (±13.200); of the individuals in the comparison group who participated in the study, it was determined that 56.3% of them were female, their mean age was 45.97 (±11.544). There was no difference in self- efficacy, pain, and disease activity in the first evaluation before the nursing follow-up by phone between the individuals in the intervention and comparison group, and as a result of the 24-week nursing follow-up by phone of the individuals in the intervention group after the training, when compared with the individuals in the comparison group who received routine outpatient service; It was noted that there was an increase in self- efficacy, a decrease in pain severity, and a decrease in disease activity.

The self-efficacy, pain, and disease activity of individuals with a diagnosis of RA who use biological agents should be monitored regularly, training needs should be met, telenursing counseling practices should be expanded to increase the effectiveness of education and to manage the process more effectively, and arrangements should be made to enable patients to access telenursing counseling.

The study was conducted in a randomized controlled experimental study design with the aim of determining the effect of nursing follow-up by phone on the self-efficacy status, pain, and disease activity of individuals with RA using biological agents. After the power analysis to calculate the sample size of the study, a total of 64 patients were included in each group with 80% power and 5% margin of error assuming that a minimum difference of 2 points was clinically significant in pairwise comparisons made according to VAS pain scores. In the research, patients who applied nursing follow-up by phone formed the intervention group, and patients who only received routine care formed the control group.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

Having been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis for at least 1 year,

* To have received at least 3 doses of biologic agent subcutaneously within the DMARD combination treatment option,
* Not having problems in communicating,
* Having no mental problems, hearing and vision problems,
* Being 18 years or older,
* Being conscious,
* Being able to communicate by phone,
* Applying to Sivas Numune Hospital Rheumatology Polyclinic,
* No planned training by health professionals on RA and biological agent therapy before,
* Agree to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

Losing one's life during the research period,

* Termination of biological agent treatment for any reason,
* Leaving the research voluntarily.