Phone-Based Intervention Aids Rheumatoid Arthritis Care

A nurse-based phone education intervention can promote shared decision making in patients with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a study published online Dec. 5 in Musculoskeletal Care.

Siobhan Farley, R.N., from the University of Vermont in Burlington, and colleagues evaluated implementation of a nurse telephone education program for patients with recently diagnosed RA as a way to promote a treat-to-target approach for clinical management. The study was conducted during November 2015 to December 2016. A toolkit was mailed to each participant, and a rheumatology clinic nurse telephoned patients to offer disease education.

The 26 participants were aged a median of 54 years (range, 22 to 78 years), and the majority were female (65 percent). Calls lasted a median length of 14.5 minutes, with a range of 8 to 23 minutes. The researchers found that patients overwhelmingly supported the nurse calls. Nearly three-quarters of patients (19) adhered their follow-up visit following a nurse call.

"We found that patients did not fully understand the implications of a diagnosis of RA, and would benefit from more education about their disease and treatment plans, and how to partner successfully with providers in their care," the authors write.

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