The effect of an educational programme consisting of group and individual arthritis education for patients with polyarthritis—A randomised controlled trial

Grønning, Kjersti; Skomsvoll, Johan F.; Rannestad, Toril; Steinsbekk, Aslak

doi:10.1016/j.pec.2011.12.011

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The effect of an educational programme consisting of group and individual arthritis education for patients with polyarthritis—A randomised controlled trial☆

Kjersti Grønning
- Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital in Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway
- Corresponding author at: Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), MTFS, 7489 Trondheim, Norway. Tel.: +47 73 59 87 82; fax: +47 73 59 88 65.
Johan F. Skomsvoll
- Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital in Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
Toril Rannestad
- Research Centre for Health Promotion and Resources, Sør-Trøndelag University College, Faculty of Nursing, Norway
Aslak Steinsbekk
- Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway

Received 8 August 2011; received in revised form 13 December 2011; accepted 14 December 2011. published online 25 January 2012.
Corrected Proof

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an educational programme for patients with polyarthritis compared to usual care.

Methods

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and unspecified polyarthritis were randomised to the intervention (n=71) or usual care (n=70). The intervention consisted of three group educational sessions followed by one individual educational session. The primary outcomes were a patient's global well-being and arthritis self-efficacy. Secondary outcomes were patient activation, physical and psychological health status, educational needs and disease activity.

Results

After four months the intervention group had significantly better global well-being, 95% CI (2.3–14.1), p=0.01, and self-efficacy, 95% CI (0.2–8.1), p=0.04, than the control group. There were also trends for improved disease activity, and a statistically significant improvement in patient activation and pain in the intervention group.

Conclusion

This patient educational programme consisting of group sessions and nurse-delivered individual education has statistically significant benefits for global well-being and maintaining a level of self-efficacy in managing other symptoms in patients with polyarthritis.