Ngianga Ii Kandala

Achievement of NICE quality standards for patients with new presentation of inflammatory arthritis: observations from the National Clinical Audit for Rheumatoid and Early Inflammatory Arthritis

Objectives. A national audit was performed assessing the early management of suspected inflammatory arthritis by English and Welsh rheumatology units. The aim of this audit was to measure the performance of rheumatology services against National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) quality standards (QSs) for the management of early inflammatory arthritis benchmarked to regional and national comparators for the first time in the UK. Methods. All individuals >16 years of age presenting to rheumatology services in England and Wales with suspected new-onset inflammatory arthritis were included in the audit. Information was collected against six NICE QSs that pertain to early inflammatory arthritis management. Results. We present national data for the 6354 patients recruited from 1 February 2014 to 31 January 2015; 97% of trusts and health boards in England and Wales participated in this audit. Only 17% of patients were referred by their general practitioner within 3 days of first presentation. Specialist rheumatology assessment occurred within 3 weeks of referral in 38% of patients. The target of DMARD initiation within 6 weeks of referral was achieved in 53% of RA patients; 36% were treated with combination DMARDs and 82% with steroids within the first 3 months of specialist care. Fifty-nine per cent of patients received structured education on their arthritis within 1 month of diagnosis. In total, 91% of patients had a treatment target set; the agreed target was achieved within 3 months of specialist review in only 27% of patients. Access to urgent advice via a telephone helpline was reported to be available in 96% of trusts. Conclusion. The audit has highlighted gaps between NICE standards and delivery of care, as well as substantial geographic variability.

Patient- and clinician-reported outcomes for patients with new presentation of inflammatory arthritis: observations from the National Clinical Audit for Rheumatoid and Early Inflammatory Arthritis.

Objectives. Our aim was to conduct a national audit assessing the impact and experience of early management of inflammatory arthritis by English and Welsh rheumatology units. The audit enables rheumatology services to measure for the first time their performance, patient outcomes and experience, benchmarked to regional and national comparators. Methods. All individuals >16 years of age presenting to English and Welsh rheumatology services with suspected new-onset inflammatory arthritis were included in the audit. Clinician- and patient-derived outcome and patient-reported experience measures were collected. Results. Data are presented for the 6354 patients recruited from 1 February 2014 to 31 January 2015. Ninety-seven per cent of English and Welsh trusts participated. At the first specialist assessment, the 28-joint DAS (DAS28) was calculated for 2659 (91%) RA patients [mean DAS28 was 5.0 and mean Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease (RAID) score was 5.6]. After 3 months of specialist care, the mean DAS28 was 3.5 and slightly >60% achieved a meaningful DAS28 reduction. The average RAID score and reduction in RAID score were 3.6 and 2.4, respectively. Of the working patients ages 16–65 years providing data, 7, 5, 16 and 37% reported that they were unable to work, needed frequent time off work, occasionally and rarely needed time off work due to their arthritis, respectively; only 42% reported being asked about their work. Seventy-eight per cent of RA patients providing data agreed with the statement ‘Overall in the last 3 months I have had a good experience of care for my arthritis’; <2% disagreed. Conclusion. This audit demonstrates that most RA patients have severe disease at the time of presentation to rheumatology services and that a significant number continue to have high disease activity after 3 months of specialist care. There is a clear need for the National Health Service to develop better systems for capturing, coding and integrating information from outpatient clinics, including measures of patient experience and outcome and measures of ability to work.

The first national clinical audit for rheumatoid arthritis

The first national audit for rheumatoid and early inflammatory arthritis has benchmarked care for the first 3 months of follow-up activity from first presentation to a rheumatology service. Access to care, management of early rheumatoid arthritis and support for self care were measured against National Institute for Health and Care Excellence quality standards; impact of early arthritis and experience of care were measured using patient-reported outcome and experience measures. The results demonstrate delays in referral and accessing specialist care and the need for service improvement in treating to target, suppression of high levels of disease activity and support for self-care. Improvements in patient-reported outcomes within 3 months and high levels of overall satisfaction were reported but these results were affected by low response rates. This article presents a summary of the national data from the audit and discusses the implications for nursing practice.

A comparison of formalin and GEWF in fixation of colorectal carcinoma specimens: rates of lymph node retrieval and effect on TNM staging.

Aims The Royal College of Pathologists recommend that a median of at least 12 lymph nodes should be harvested during pathological staging of colorectal cancer. It is not always easy to harvest the required number, especially in patients with rectal cancer receiving neoadjuvant therapy. Lymph node revealing solutions, for example, GEWF, may improve nodal yield. GEWF is safe, cheap and easy to use. Methods In a controlled trial, lymph node yields were compared after secondary specimen dissection following either 24 h of further fixation in formalin (n=101) or GEWF immersion (n=99). The number, size and tumour status of additional lymph nodes identified were compared between groups. Twenty-seven cases that received long-course neoadjuvant therapy were also assessed. Results Median lymph node yield at primary dissection met national standards overall (19) but also in the long-course neoadjuvant therapy group (13). Lymph nodes were smaller in neoadjuvant cases compared with non-neoadjuvant cases (mean size range 1.3–5.6 mm vs 1.5–8.9 mm). The use of further fixation and GEWF detected more nodes at secondary dissection. The mean number of additional nodes harvested was greater with formalin (8.3) than GEWF (7.3). There was no significant difference in the mean size of the additional lymph nodes detected between groups (point estimate 1.02; 95% CI −0.58 to 2.63; p=0.211). Upstaging triggering adjunct chemotherapy occurred in 1% (2/200) of cases. Conclusions The routine use of adjunct techniques to identify additional lymph nodes is unnecessary with underlying high-quality dissection practice. Emphasis should be placed upon education and training, spending appropriate time dissecting and ensuring specimens are sufficiently fixed beforehand.

AB1010 Achievement of Nice Quality Standards for Patients with New Presentation of Inflammatory Arthritis: Results from The Uk National Clinical Audit for Rheumatoid and Early Inflammatory Arthritis

Background The national audit office reported variation in the quality of services for patients with Inflammatory Arthritis (IA) in the UK in 2009. The Health Quality Improvement Partnership funded a national audit to explore this further. Objectives We set out to assesses whether trusts in England & Wales are achieving the 7 quality standards (QS) published by the National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE). Methods All individuals >16 years presenting to specialist rheumatology services in England & Wales with suspected new onset IA were recruited. Clinician & patient derived data were collected against all NICE QS over the 1st 3 months of specialist care. Results 6,354 patients were recruited nationally from 1 February 2014 to 31 January 2015. 94% of trusts/health submitted data. Patients were predominantly female (66%); white British (79%); and of working age (70%). At recruitment 46% had a diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA); 16% undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis (EIA). Only 17% of patients were referred by their general practitioner (GP) within 3 days of first presentation (QS1); median time interval 34 days. Over 25% waited >3 months. 12% of referrals had no indication that EIA was suspected. Specialist assessment occurred <3 weeks of referral for 38% (QS2). The median time interval was 4 weeks, >25% of patients waited >7 weeks. Higher staffing levels (>1 consultant/100,000 population) & the presence of EIA clinics were associated with shorter waiting times (odds ratio (95%CI) 1.3 (1.1–1.4) & 1.6 (1.4–1.7) respectively). Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) initiation within 6 weeks of referral (QS3) was achieved in 53% of RA patients; 36% were treated with combination DMARDs & 82% with steroids. Clinicians reported that 59% of patients received structured education (QS4). Treat to target plans were set for 91% of patients. These targets were achieved in only 27% (QS5). Almost all trusts reported access to urgent advice (QS6) & incorporated annual review services (QS7). Conclusions This audit has enabled English & Welsh rheumatology services to measure their performance against NICE QS for the early management of IA & RA, benchmarked to regional & national comparators for the first time. The findings clearly demonstrate where improvement is needed. Delays in referral from primary care as well as delays in offering a first appointment in secondary care have been identified as key barriers to effective early arthritis care. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Socio-Demographic Determinants of Anaemia in Children in Uganda: A Multilevel Analysis

Background: Anaemia is a worldwide public health problem. Recently it affected two billion people (WHO. (2008). Worldwide prevalence of anaemia 1993–2005, WHO Global database. Geneva: World Health Organisation) which accounts for about 25 % of the world population. It appears to be not only a major cause of pre- and post-partum morbidities and mortalities in developing countries but also it affects the physical and cognition development of children and its impact in increasing children’s risk of getting other infections is of major concern. Although the immediate biological causes of anaemia are well documented, socioeconomic factors associated with anaemia and the fact that anaemia differs markedly between individuals, within households and communities have rarely been explored.