Effects of Multidisciplinary Team-Based Nurse-led Transitional Care on Clinical Outcomes and Quality of Life in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of transitional care by a nurse-led multidisciplinary team (MDT) on clinical outcomes and quality of life of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

METHODS

A randomized control study design was used. Subjects were allocated randomly to an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received intensive transitional care by a nurse-led MDT, whereas the control group received routine nursing care. Disease activity, spinal mobility, comprehensive function, health service utilization, and quality of life were assessed at the baseline and at six months with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index, the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), a health service utilization questionnaire and version 2 of the Short Form-36 health survey.

RESULTS

Compared with the baseline, the BASDAI, BASFI, emergency visits, hospitalizations, hospitalization days, and bodily pain, vitality, mental health, total score, and average score of version 2 of the Short Form-36 health survey were improved in the experimental group (p < .05), whereas only bodily pain, vitality, and role-emotional were improved in the control group (p < .05). At six months, the experimental group exhibited significantly more improvement on the BASDAI, BASFI, hospitalizations, all domains except Role-physical as well as total score and average score (p < .05) compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION

A MDT-based nurse-led transitional care improves clinical outcomes and quality of life of patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Future research should be carried out on modes of follow-up and family support.