AB1351 DO WE NEED A PATIENT PEER MENTOR PROGRAM IN DAILY PRACTICE FOR PATIENTS WITH EARLY RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND IF SO, HOW SHOULD THIS BE ORGANIZED?
Authors: Kristien Van der Elst, Lore Bangels, Lianne Peerlings, Lies De Caluwé, Ilse Langers, Veerle Stouten, Diederik De Cock, Rene Westhovens, Patrick Verschueren
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2019)

<h3>Background:</h3> Management and support by an interdisciplinary rheumatology team are essential for achieving optimal disease outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Nevertheless, health professionals generally do not experience the disease themselves, and patients may have specific educational needs that can only be provided by other patients having gone through the same experience. Furthermore, patients with RA may benefit most from such additional care interventions in the early disease stage when they are particularly faced with threats to their normal life. Peer mentoring has been studied and successfully implemented in other chronic conditions, however, this is rather a new care concept in the field of rheumatology. <h3>Objectives:</h3> Among four key stakeholders in the management of early RA, we aimed (1) to uncover the current experience with, need for and attitude towards implementing peer mentoring in the care for patients with early RA in Flanders; (2) to gather ideas for the content and format of a peer mentor program. <h3>Methods:</h3> We conducted an explorative qualitative focus group study. In total, five focus groups were organized to capture the perspective of each of the following stakeholders: patients with early RA (n=10), representatives of patient organizations (n=5), rheumatologists (n=10) and rheumatology nurses (n=5). Data were analyzed using the constant comparison method as presented in the Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven. Two patient research partners helped to analyze and interpret the data. <h3>Results:</h3> Most stakeholders perceived a potential need for peer mentoring in early RA. However, they underscored that this would be largely person and disease phase dependent suggesting that peer mentoring should be presented as an option to patients, rather than a standard of care. The additional value of peer mentors would be foremost situated in providing disease perspective and a sense of recognition to newly diagnosed patients. For some stakeholders, it was difficult to get a clear picture of such a program, which made it difficult for them to formulate an opinion on a specific format. The health professionals particularly mentioned the current lack of a formal framework for collaborating with patient experts, and the need for carefully selected and well-trained peer mentors. Stakeholders shared the view that the development of a peer mentor program and its integration within the current care context should ideally take place in co-operation with and under supervision of health professionals. <h3>Conclusion:</h3> Our results underline that peer mentoring in early RA holds potential for certain patients under certain circumstances, yet a clear framework for all stakeholders is a prerequisite to ensure a chance for success of this complex intervention. Future research should thus focus on unfolding the facilitators and barriers of collaborating with patient experts in the daily care of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. <h3>Acknowledgement:</h3> This work was supported by Fonds Wetenschappelijk Reuma Onderzoek (FWRO). <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> Kristien Van der Elst: None declared, Lore Bangels: None declared, Lianne Peerlings: None declared, Lies De Caluwé: None declared, Ilse Langers: None declared, Veerle Stouten: None declared, Diederik De Cock: None declared, Rene Westhovens Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Consultant for: Celltrion, Galapagos-Gilead, Patrick Verschueren Grant/research support from: Unrestricted Pfizer Grant for Early RA research