Enhanced role of nurses and other healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the care of rheumatoid arthritis and associated comorbidities

Alison Kent, Cem Gabay, R. Geenen, Ioanna Gouni-Berthold, Frank van den Hoogen, Lars Klareskog, Mikkel Ostergaard, Karel Pavelka, Joaquim Polido-Pereira, Anne Grete Semb, Magnus Skld, Alejandro Balsa, Neil Betteridge, Maya Buch, Maxime Dougados, Patrick Durez, Ennio Favalli, Guillaume Favier, Tore K. Kvien

Research output: Contribution to journalMeeting AbstractOther research output

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.
Original languageEnglish
Article numberAB1368-HPR
Pages (from-to)2147-2148
Number of pages2
JournalAnnals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Volume78
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2019
EventEULAR Annual European Congress of Rheumatology - Feria de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Duration: 12 Jun 201915 Jun 2019
https://www.congress.eular.org/

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