Effect of Patient Education in Rheumatic Diseases

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Polyarthritis
• Interventions: Behavioral: Patient education with individual nurse consultations

• Registration Number: NCT00623922
• Lead Sponsor: Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Brief Summary

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

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.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2008-02
• Study First Submitted: 2008-02-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2008-02-24
• Study First Posted: 2008-02-26
• Primary Completion: 2010-03
• Study Completion: 2010-03
• Status Verified: 2015-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-04-07
• Last Update Posted: 2015-04-08

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 141

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

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
1	Patient education with individual nurse consultations	Patient education

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Self efficacy	Baseline, 4 and 12 months
Well being (Arizona Integrative Outcomes Scale)	Baseline, 4 and 12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Educational Needs Assessment Tools	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
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
Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire	Baseline, 4 and 12 months
DAS 28 score (Disease activity score)	Baseline, 4 and 12 months
Pain (VAS scale)	Baseline, 4 and 12 months

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Norwegian University of Science and Technology and St. Olavs Hospital HF; 🇳🇴 Trondheim, Norway