AB1338\u2005PATIENT EDUCATION IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS: ADDRESSING AN UNMET NEED

Abstract

Background: Patient education should be integral to the care of people with inflammatory arthritis [1]. Research suggests that the majority of patients with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) would like to receive education about their condition [2]. There are limited studies in PsA but randomised controlled trials in rheumatoid arthritis have demonstrated that patient education improves compliance to medication [3], disease specific knowledge [4] and coping mechanisms [5]. In our department, patient education in PsA was recognised as an unmet need. Objectives: To pilot an educational session for PsA patients, to assess whether this improved patients’ understanding of their condition, and to determine whether an education programme would be a useful adjunct to patient care. Methods: Adult PsA patients attending their rheumatology clinic appointments were asked to complete a short survey on whether they would be interested in attending an education session and the aspects they would like to have covered. Those who expressed interest were invited to attend a 2.5 hour multidisciplinary team (MDT) session which covered 1) a general overview of PsA; 2) medications used in PsA; 3) the role of physiotherapy and occupational therapy; 4) flares and self management. Patients were asked to evaluate their knowledge or understanding before and after each topic covered, on the same day, using a series of 1-10 Likert scales. They were specifically asked whether they found the education session helpful; whether they would recommend it to other PsA patients; whether they would be interested in developing a PsA patient support group. Results: 25 patients were invited to the session and 9 patients attended. There were 5 males and 4 females, across a wide range of age categories. There were statistically significant improvements in all topics covered, including a mean improvement of 120% in how well informed patients felt about PsA in general (p<0.0001); a mean improvement of 79% in confidence in accessing help from the MDT (p<0.01); a mean improvement of 211% in how well informed patients were about medications available (p<0.0001); a mean improvement of 86% in confidence in self-managing a flare (p<0.0001). All patients found the session helpful overall and all patients stated they would recommend it to others. Several patients expressed interest in developing a PsA patient support group. Conclusion: All PsA patients demonstrated a greater awareness and understanding of their condition following a 2.5 hour education session. This study indicates that an education programme is a useful and important adjunct to patient care and supports extending this to the wider PsA patient population. References [1] Zangi HA, Ndosi M, Adams J, Andersen L, Bode C, Bostrom C, et al. EULAR recommendations for patient education for people with inflammatory arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2015; 74(6):954-62 [2] Dragoi RG, Ndosi M, Sadlonova M, Hill J, Duer M, Graninger W, et al. Patient education, disease activity and physical function: can we be more targeted? A cross sectional study among people with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and hand osteoarthritis. Arthritis Res Ther. 2013;15(5):R156 [3] Ravindran V & Jadhav R. The effect of rheumatoid arthritis disease education on adherence to medications and follow up in Kerala, India. J Rheumatol. 2013;40(8):1460-61 [4] Lovisi Neto BE, Jennings F, Barros Ohashi C, Silva PG & Natour J. Evaluation of the efficacy of an educational programme for rheumatoid arthritis patients. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2009;27(1):28-34 [5] Giraudet-Le Quintrec J, Mayoux-Benhamou A, Ravaud P, Champion K, Dernis E, Zerkak, et al. Effect of a collective educational program for patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective 12-month randomized controlled trial. J Rheumatol. 2007;34(8):1684–91. Disclosure of Interests: Keziah Austin: None declared, Nia Jones: None declared, Roopa Prasad Consultant for: Was on an Advisory Board for a pharmaceutical company meeting several years ago (unrelated to current abstract submission)., Speakers bureau: Speaker fees for a national psoriatic arthritis meeting in 2017 (unrelated to current abstract submission).