Essential knowledge for patients with rheumatoid arthritis or spondyloarthritis: Results of a multicentric survey in France among health professionals and patients.

OBJECTIVE

Information and education are recommended for patients with inflammatory arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA). However, there is no consensus on which knowledge is essential to enhance patients' self-management. The aim of this study was to determine such knowledge.

METHODS

Based on published knowledge questionnaires (KQs) collected by a systematic literature review, a list of items was elaborated, classified in domains and sub domains. A Delphi process was performed with rheumatologists, healthcare professionals and patients in 2014-2015, selecting the items considered useful.

RESULTS

Three published KQs were analysed: 2 for RA; 1 for SpA and 5 unpublished KQs were collected. In the KQs, 90 knowledge items were mentioned for RA and 67 for SpA. The 1 Delphi round enlarged the list to 322 items for RA and 265 items for SpA. The second round selected 69 and 59 knowledge items for RA and SpA respectively, of which 36 (52%) and 34 (57%) were not present or modified from the published KQs. Key domains included treatment strategies, managing cDMARDs and bDMARDs, managing symptomatic medications. Knowledge on non-pharmacological treatment concerned pain and fatigue, physical activity, adaptative skills to personal and professional environment, patient-HP communication and shared decision-making.

CONCLUSION

The present study provides a corpus of knowledge considered essential for patients in the self-management of their arthritis. The selection of many items reflects recent emphasis on professional recommendations and the patients' perspective. Future work should lead to the development of new updated KQs for patients with inflammatory arthritis.