AB0881-HPR EVALUATION OF NURSING CARE PLANS FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS: NURSING 2.0 PROJECT

Abstract

Background: A better quality of care for chronic patients is only obtainable through multidisciplinary teams. In recent years, rheumatology nurses have been involved in the remote monitoring of aged Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients, as their high levels of multi-morbidity and disability make routine contacts too complex for patients and caregivers. Nursing health care should be evidence-based and organized to optimize the professionals' time. Objectives: To develop a pilot study of two Nursing Care Plans (NCP) in Rheumatology consultations for Rheumatoid arthritis patients, exploring the satisfaction, disease activity, adherence and quality of life of the patients. Methods: This is a non-randomised interventional study. All the stablished RA patients attending our clinics were offered one of the care plans, based on clinic characteristics, functional status, social needs, social support, preferences and health literacy. They are focused on three fundamental axes: adaptation, adherence and safety of the patient. We evaluated the two NCP that were created: (1) Elderly established RA face to face/phone visit, (2) Active young established RA face to face/phone visit. The study included a first baseline visit and a second visit at six months. Outcomes were adherence to treatment: using the Morisky Green questionnaire, disease activity; through the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), patient satisfaction; using the LOPSS questionnaire and quality of life: using the EUROQOL 5D questionnaire, Visual analog scale of the attention received and Visual analog scale of the care received. Final visit were compared to baseline visit in both groups. The paired Wilcoxon or McNemar test were used. Results: We included 48 patients, 16 from the NCP 1 and 32 from the NCP 2. All patients except one from the NCP 2 were followed-up and ended the study. The mean age of the participants was 56 years. 77.5% were women. 30.6% had an active smoking habit. 46% had universitary studies. 53.1 had an active labor situation. Regarding the main outcomes: a)Disease activity, a slight decrease in activity was observed between baseline and 6 months, but without statistically significant differences. b) Quality of life, we detected some improvement in all care plans in the EQ-index and in the Visual analog scale (VAE) but there were no statistically significant variations. c) Therapeutic adherence, we show the results in the Morinsky Green questionnaire. We obtained statistical significant decrease in the percentage of patients that forgot to take their prescribed medications after 6 months (p=0.04), and we also saw an increase in the percentage of patients taking medications at established times (up to 100% in all groups). d) Patient satisfaction with NCP obtained at the end of study, we used the LOPPS questionnaire. We obtained at six months a punctuation less than 1.5 (ordinal scale that 1 is good 5 is bad). e) Satisfaction of the care received by patients over the phone assessed at the end of study, it was almost 100%, being 75% of the patients scores 9 or over. f) Satisfaction with the care plans assessed at the end of study, the score given by patients was almost 90%, being 75% of the patients scores 8 or over. Conclusion: After applying the NCP in both groups, we found positive results after 6 months and mainly regarding the therapeutic adherence. The program was well evaluated by the patients in terms of satisfaction of the care provided.