328998
A Nurses' Toolkit for RA
Early detection and effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can help reduce joint and organ damage, loss of movement & medical costs. A group of nurses, public health practitioners & other healthcare professionals was assembled to address the gaps between the needs of RA patients and what healthcare providers offer to improve their quality of life. Within two years a Toolkit was designed.
Methods
A Nurses’ Workgroup conducted three focus groups and one-on-one interviews with nurses & patients to identify both their needs from 2012-2014.
Results
In June 2014, a pilot version with downloadable tools was launched and pilot-tested in four clinical settings. It encompasses an overview of RA, 14 tools with instructions and resources divided in three phases. Phase I: Prior to diagnosis: an early inflammatory arthritis detection tool. Phase II: DAS28 & RAPID3 assessments, DMARDS & Biologics, common co-morbidities & DASS-21 assessments. Phase III: non-pharmacologic.
Feedback was analyzed after the pilot phase was completed in November 2014 and the format was enhanced to redesign the Toolkit as an info-site for the expected launch date- July 2015.
Long-term outcomes will include lower disease activity, improved rates of remission, decreased hospitalizations & improved quality of life.
Conclusion
This Toolkit enables healthcare providers in clinical settings to digitally access the evidence-based tools needed for RA patients.
Highlights & learning objectives are to help identify and screen for the top three most common co-morbidities for RA, differentiate RA from the other 100+ rheumatic diseases & discuss the clinical gaps in RA treatments.
Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and preventionCommunication and informatics
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related nursing
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Identify and screen for the top three most common co-morbidities in 50+ rheumatoid arthritis patients by the second year of the Toolkit's launch.
Differentiate RA from the other 100+ rheumatic diseases and discuss the needs, goals and clinical gaps in the treatment of RA by the second pilot of the Toolkit.
Keyword(s): Chronic Disease Management and Care, Research
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been involved in the research and implementation of the 'Nurses' Toolkit for RA'. I've worked closely with the grant writer, the involved healthcare providers along with the principal lead on this project.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.