Efficiency of teaching patients with early-stage rheumatoid arthritis

Education programs are an important part of the management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Objective: to develop a unified model of an education program for RA patients and to evaluate its efficiency at the early stage of the disease.Material and methods. A group education program was worked out with the support of the All-Russian public organization of the disabled “The Russian rheumatology organization “Nadezhda” (Hope)” and encompassed 4 daily classes lasting 90 min. All information was presented by a multidisciplinary team of specialists (rheumatologists, a cardiologist, a psychologist, a physiotherapist, and a physical trainer). The study included 55 patients with early RA (89.1% of women aged 18 to 62 years; the duration of the disease was 2 to 22 months); of them 25 were taught using the education program (a study group); 30 received drug therapy only (a control group). Following 3 and 6 months, the number of tender and swollen joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and pain were determined applying a 100-ml VAS, DAS28, HAQ, and RAPID3. Adherence to non-drug treatments was assessed employing a special patient questionnaire.Results. Three and six months after being taught, two patient groups showed increases in adherence to joint protection methods by 13 and 10 times (p<0.01), regular physical training by 4 and 3.25 times (p<0.01), uses of orthoses for the wrist joint by 2 times and 75% (p<0.01) and knee orthoses by 33.3 and 50.0% (p<0.01), and orthopedic insoles by 71.4 and 57.1% (p<0.01), respectively. Following 6 months, there were statistically significant differences between the two groups in most parameters (p<0.05), except for ESR, CRP, and DAS28 (p>0.05). Further more, a good response to treatment was significantly more common in these periods, as shown by the EULAR response criteria (DAS28): 56.3% versus 40% in the control group (p<0.05).Conclusion. The education program decreases the intensity of pain syndrome and improves the functional status and quality of life of patients with early RA within 6 months. Patient education enhances adherence to non-drug treatments. The highest positive result was achieved just 3 months later; it slightly tailed off at 6 months. This necessitates re-education in succeeding 3–6 months

Comprehensive rehabilitation of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis: results of 6-month program

Objective: to evaluate the efficiency of a comprehensive rehabilitation program (CRP) in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for 6 months. Subjects and methods. Sixty patients with early RA were examined. During medical therapy, 6-month CRP was implemented in 34 patients in the study group. The 2-week in-hospital stage involved ten sessions of 15-min local air cryotherapy (-60 °C) of the hands, knee or ankle joints; ten classes of 45-min therapeutic exercises (TE) under the supervision of a trainer; ten sessions of 45-min ergotherapy (training people how to therapeutically position their joints, to apply their protective methods, to lift and move things, to use assistive devices, and to do hand exercises); orthotics (working wrist orthoses, knee ones, or individual orthopedic insoles); and four 90-min educational program classes. The outpatient and domiciliary stages included 45-min TE thrice weekly; creation of a correct functional stereotype; and orthotics. Twenty-six patients received medical therapy only (a control group). The authors estimated tender joint count (TJC), swollen joint count (SJC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), joint pain on 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS), DAS28, HAQ, RAPID3, hand grip strength, average maximum knee extension and ankle flexion by the EN-TreeM movement analysis, and compliance with drug and non-drug treatments. Results. The study group showed a stably high compliance with therapy with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, less need for symptomatic agents, higher adherence to the methods of creating a correct functional stereotype, orthotics, and regular TE. Twenty-two patients completed 6-month CRP; 12 patents did not complete the treatment because of non-compliance with nondrug methods, primarily TE. Upon completion of the in-hospital stage of CRP, the study group exhibited significant positive changes in pain and functional status and no significant impact on global inflammatory activity indicators (SJC, ESR, CRP, and DAS28). After 6 months of CRP, there were reductions in TJC by 6.0+1.8 or 72.3% (p <0.01), SJC 4.0+1.2 or 74.1% (p <0.01), ESR by 58.2% (p < 0.01), CRP by 67.2% (p < 0.01), VAS pain by 70.4% (p < 0.01), DAS28 by 1.38+0.21 scores or 31.9% (p < 0.05), HAQ by 0.97+0.56 scores or 75.8% (p < 0.01), and RAPID3 by 5.98+0.92 scores or 60.1% (p < 0.01). The grip strength of a more and less affected hand increased by 44.9% (p < 0.05) and 31.3% (p < 0.05), respectively. The average maximum extension of a weaker and stronger knee joint increased by 88.7% (p < 0.01), and 67.7% (p < 0.01), respectively. The average maximum flexion of a more and less affected ankle joint rose by 81.6% (p < 0.01) and 70.2% (p < 0.01), respectively. Following 6 months, the changes in the control group were less significant, which determined significant differences between the groups in most indicators. Conclusion. Six-month CRP enhances compliance with drug and non-drug treatments, assists in controlling disease activity, and improves functional abilities, motor activity, and quality of life in patients with early RA. The main reason for CRP interruption is inadequate patient adherence to non-drug treatments

Clinical efficiency of an education program for patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective: to develop an education program for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to evaluate its efficiency. Subjects and methods. The study included 43 patients with RA: 23 study group patients were trained according to an education program (Rheumatoid Arthritis Health School), 20 patients formed a control group. The education program consisted of 4 daily 90-min studies. The MDHAQ (R798—NP2) questionnaire was used to determine DAS 28, HAQ, RAPID 3 scores at baseline and following 6 months. Results. Six months after education, the study group showed reductions in DAS 28 by 1.33+0.26 scores (р < 0.05), HAQ by 0.91±0.54 (55.2%; р < 0.01), and RAPID 3 by 5.96±0.92 (49.9%; р < 0.01), anxiety level by 0.86±0.32 (54.4%; р < 0.05), depression by 0.87±0.61 (53.4%; р < 0.05), fatigability by 3.39±1.17 (47.5%; р < 0.05); sleep improved by 0.81±0.36 scores (54.7%; р < 0.05). Six months following education program participation, there was significantly more frequently a good DAS 28 response to treatment according to the EULAR criteria (52.2% versus 30.0% in the control group; р < 0.05), and the number of patients who reported health improvement increased by 8.5 times (р < 0.01). The changes in the control group were less pronounced, which determined statistically significant differences between the groups in most indicators (р < 0.05). Conclusion. The education program improves functional capacities and psychological status, assists in controlling the disease activity, and enhances the quality of life in patients with RA

Comprehensive rehabilitation of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis: results of 6-month program

Objective: to evaluate the efficiency of a comprehensive rehabilitation program (CRP) in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for 6 months. Subjects and methods. Sixty patients with early RA were examined. During medical therapy, 6-month CRP was implemented in 34 patients in the study group. The 2-week in-hospital stage involved ten sessions of 15-min local air cryotherapy (-60 °C) of the hands, knee or ankle joints; ten classes of 45-min therapeutic exercises (TE) under the supervision of a trainer; ten sessions of 45-min ergotherapy (training people how to therapeutically position their joints, to apply their protective methods, to lift and move things, to use assistive devices, and to do hand exercises); orthotics (working wrist orthoses, knee ones, or individual orthopedic insoles); and four 90-min educational program classes. The outpatient and domiciliary stages included 45-min TE thrice weekly; creation of a correct functional stereotype; and orthotics. Twenty-six patients received medical therapy only (a control group). The authors estimated tender joint count (TJC), swollen joint count (SJC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), joint pain on 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS), DAS28, HAQ, RAPID3, hand grip strength, average maximum knee extension and ankle flexion by the EN-TreeM movement analysis, and compliance with drug and non-drug treatments. Results. The study group showed a stably high compliance with therapy with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, less need for symptomatic agents, higher adherence to the methods of creating a correct functional stereotype, orthotics, and regular TE. Twenty-two patients completed 6-month CRP; 12 patents did not complete the treatment because of non-compliance with nondrug methods, primarily TE. Upon completion of the in-hospital stage of CRP, the study group exhibited significant positive changes in pain and functional status and no significant impact on global inflammatory activity indicators (SJC, ESR, CRP, and DAS28). After 6 months of CRP, there were reductions in TJC by 6.0+1.8 or 72.3% (p <0.01), SJC 4.0+1.2 or 74.1% (p <0.01), ESR by 58.2% (p < 0.01), CRP by 67.2% (p < 0.01), VAS pain by 70.4% (p < 0.01), DAS28 by 1.38+0.21 scores or 31.9% (p < 0.05), HAQ by 0.97+0.56 scores or 75.8% (p < 0.01), and RAPID3 by 5.98+0.92 scores or 60.1% (p < 0.01). The grip strength of a more and less affected hand increased by 44.9% (p < 0.05) and 31.3% (p < 0.05), respectively. The average maximum extension of a weaker and stronger knee joint increased by 88.7% (p < 0.01), and 67.7% (p < 0.01), respectively. The average maximum flexion of a more and less affected ankle joint rose by 81.6% (p < 0.01) and 70.2% (p < 0.01), respectively. Following 6 months, the changes in the control group were less significant, which determined significant differences between the groups in most indicators. Conclusion. Six-month CRP enhances compliance with drug and non-drug treatments, assists in controlling disease activity, and improves functional abilities, motor activity, and quality of life in patients with early RA. The main reason for CRP interruption is inadequate patient adherence to non-drug treatments

Treating rheumatoid arthritis to target: Russian version of international guidelines for patients

Objective: to assess how the Russian version of the international «treat-to-target» (T2T) recommendations can be understood by patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the extent to which they consent to their content. Material and methods. At Stage 1, the principles and recommendations of the international T2T version for patients were translated into Russian and agreed upon by the Russian Federation's Working T2T Expert Group members and one patient. At stage 2, the project was discussed and edited at a one-day conference with the participation of 15 RA patients (11 women and 4 men at the age of 28 to 64 years) from 6 regions of Russia. Consensus on its final version was achieved. At stage 3, eighty-six RA patients (77 women and 9 men at the age of 20 to 72 years with a disease duration of 3 months to 18 years) from 7 Russian regions (including 75.6% from the Central Federal District) assessed the clarity of translation of each principle (A-D) and each recommendation (1-10) into an unprofessional language and the degree of consent to its content, by using the 10-point Likert scale (0 = strongly disagree; 10 = strongly agree). Results. The consent of the patients to the translation and content of the T2T principles and recommendations was more than 8.7 scores. The mean level of translation clarity into the unprofessional language was 9.41 scores (from 8.82 scores for Recommendation No. 6 to 9.88 scores for Recommendation No. 10), that of consent to the content was 9.34% scores (from 8.76 scores for Recommendation No. 4 to 9.79 scores for Recommendation No. 10). The minimum level of consent was observed for Recommendations No. 3 (low disease activity as an alternative to remission) and No. 4 (drug therapy reconsideration frequency) was 8.85 and 8.76 scores, respectively. The consent to the content of Recommendation No. 3 was lower in the very early and early stages of the disease (7.93 scores) and higher in the extended and late stages (9.6 scores). In young patients aged 20 to 40 years, the consent to Recommendation No. 4 was higher (9.54 scores) and in those aged 41 to 72 years, that was lower (8.31 scores). There were no differences in the perception of the recommendations, depending on the level of education. The maximum level of consent to General Principle No. 1 (joint decision with a patient about treatment) and Recommendation No. 10 (patient awareness of the treatment goal and its achievement strategy) was 9.73 and 9.79 scores, respectively. Conclusion. There is a high level of consent to the content of the principles and recommendations of the Russian T2T version for patients. The content to Recommendation No. 3 increases with longer disease duration and that to Recommendation No. 4 decreases with age. In the future, it is necessary to assess a relationship between the degree of consent and the T2T recommendations and geographical indications and to reveal associations and differences in the perception of the recommendations among physicians and patients. This approach is able to remove obstacles to introduce the T2T initiative in real clinical practice and to optimize the results of RA treatment