Abstract
Background
Long-term morbidity and mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are increased(1) due to the increased risk of comorbidities including cardiovascular disease (40-70% incidence(2); 5-12.9% prevalence(3)), diabetes (IR of 8.6 per 1000 person-years(4); 20%(5)), interstitial lung disease (7.7%(6); up to 60% (interstitial lung abnormalities in early RA)(7)) and depression (up to 200%(8); 16.8%(9)). In addition to differing health care delivery systems throughout Europe, there is also variability in the roles and responsibilities of healthcare professionals (HCPs) across and within countries(10).
Objectives
This study aimed to identify good practices within the roles of HCPs in the care of RA and associated comorbidities and to understand how these practices may be implemented in other centres.
Methods
This study interviewed multidisciplinary teams at 12 selected specialist centres across Europe (1 centre per country) and examples of HCPs who had expanded roles and responsibilities were identified. Further, the questions whether these practices improved quality of care and could be implemented in other centres were addressed.
Results This Europe-wide study identified good practice examples of enhanced roles and responsibilities for HCPs such as nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and podiatrists that varied with different categories of patients and their corresponding needs. The scope and depth of extended roles also varied between different countries and health systems.
Conclusion
Expanding the roles of HCP team members can help broaden perspectives on healthcare delivery, relieve the burden put on specialists and enable the provision of well-rounded, patient-centred holistic care that may improve quality of life for patients with RA, especially related to their associated comorbidities.
Long-term morbidity and mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are increased(1) due to the increased risk of comorbidities including cardiovascular disease (40-70% incidence(2); 5-12.9% prevalence(3)), diabetes (IR of 8.6 per 1000 person-years(4); 20%(5)), interstitial lung disease (7.7%(6); up to 60% (interstitial lung abnormalities in early RA)(7)) and depression (up to 200%(8); 16.8%(9)). In addition to differing health care delivery systems throughout Europe, there is also variability in the roles and responsibilities of healthcare professionals (HCPs) across and within countries(10).
Objectives
This study aimed to identify good practices within the roles of HCPs in the care of RA and associated comorbidities and to understand how these practices may be implemented in other centres.
Methods
This study interviewed multidisciplinary teams at 12 selected specialist centres across Europe (1 centre per country) and examples of HCPs who had expanded roles and responsibilities were identified. Further, the questions whether these practices improved quality of care and could be implemented in other centres were addressed.
Results This Europe-wide study identified good practice examples of enhanced roles and responsibilities for HCPs such as nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and podiatrists that varied with different categories of patients and their corresponding needs. The scope and depth of extended roles also varied between different countries and health systems.
Conclusion
Expanding the roles of HCP team members can help broaden perspectives on healthcare delivery, relieve the burden put on specialists and enable the provision of well-rounded, patient-centred holistic care that may improve quality of life for patients with RA, especially related to their associated comorbidities.
Original language | English |
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Article number | AB1368-HPR |
Pages (from-to) | 2147-2148 |
Number of pages | 2 |
Journal | Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases |
Volume | 78 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2019 |
Event | EULAR Annual European Congress of Rheumatology - Feria de Madrid, Madrid, Spain Duration: 12 Jun 2019 → 15 Jun 2019 https://www.congress.eular.org/ |