Effect of Patient Education in Rheumatic Diseases

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of patient education (PE) in patients with arthritis. PE has become a task that is dictated by law in Norway, and is increasingly used as an element in the treatment of patients with chronic complaints. Our hypothesis is that - PE delivered as group education, followed by an individual nurse consultation increases the patients wellbeing an ability to cope with the disease.

Detailed Description
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There has been a rather long tradition of PE for patients with arthritis. A recent systematic review found that PE had small short-term effects on disability, joint counts, patient global assessment, psychological status and depression, but this effect disappeared on the latest time of follow up (3-14 months). A recent large British study also failed to show an effect on pain, physical functioning, or contact with primary care after 12 months, but found a significant effect on anxiety and improved the participants' perceived self efficacy. This indicates that the present forms of interventions fails to show a long term effect. One possible reason for the lack of long term effect might be that these interventions are given to groups only. Patients seem to prefer one-to-one interaction regarding information about the disease and its treatment together with emotional aspects, while education in groups are preferred for physical training and relational topics.

Official Title
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The Effect of Patient Education on Coping and Well Being in Patients With Arthritis.

Conditions
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Polyarthritis

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Patient education with individual nurse consultations


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Polyarthritis 18-80 years native Norwegian speaking able to understand and participate in the PE program Exclusion Criteria: Participated in a patient educational program the latest 12 months

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: 1<br>Patient education | Behavioral: Patient education with individual nurse consultations<br>* 3 group meetings followed by 1-2 individual nurse consultations.<br>|
| No Intervention: 2<br>Usual care | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Self efficacy |  | Baseline, 4 and 12 months | 
| Well being (Arizona Integrative Outcomes Scale) |  | Baseline, 4 and 12 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2 (affect, symptoms, social interaction, role) |  | Baseline, 4 and 12 months | 
| The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale |  | Baseline, 4 and 12 months | 
| Educational Needs Assessment Tools |  | Baseline, 4 and 12 months | 
| Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire |  | Baseline, 4 and 12 months | 
| DAS 28 score (Disease activity score) |  | Baseline, 4 and 12 months | 
| Patient Activation Measurement (PAM) |  | Baseline, 4 and 12 months | 
| Cost- benefit |  | Baseline, 4 and 12 months | 
| Physical activity |  | Baseline, 4 and 12 months | 
| Use of medications |  | Baseline, 4 and 12 months | 
| fatigue (VAS scale) |  | Baseline, 4 and 12 months | 
| Pain (VAS scale) |  | Baseline, 4 and 12 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Patient education, Nurse consultation, Arthritis, Wellbeing, Coping, Health related quality of life