Cost-effectiveness of a one-year coaching program for healthy physical activity in early rheumatoid arthritis

Use of EQ-5D-5L for Assessing Patient-Reported Outcomes in a National Register for Specialized Rehabilitation

OBJECTIVE

To compare problems reported on EQ-5D-5L dimensions, index, and EQ visual analog scale (VAS) scores in patients receiving specialized rehabilitation in Norway with general population norms.

DESIGN

Multicenter observational study.

SETTING

Five specialist rehabilitation facilities participating in a national rehabilitation register between March 11, 2020, and April 20, 2022.

PARTICIPANTS

1167 inpatients admitted (N=1167), with a mean age of 56.1 (range, 18-91) years; 43% were female.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

EQ-5D-5L dimension, index, and EQ VAS scores.

RESULTS

At admission, mean±SD EQ-5D-5L index scores were 0.48 (0.31) compared to 0.82 (0.19) for general population norms. EQ VAS scores were 51.29 (20.74) compared to 79.46 (17.53) for population norms. Together with those for the 5 dimensions, these differences were all statistically significant (P<.01). Compared to population norms, patients undergoing rehabilitation had more health states as assessed by the 5 dimensions (550 vs 156) and EQ VAS (98 vs 49). As hypothesized, EQ-5D-5L scores were associated with number of diagnoses, admission to/from secondary care, and help with completion. At discharge there were statistically significant improvements in all EQ-5D-5L scores that compare favorably with available estimates for minimal important differences.

CONCLUSIONS

The large deviations in scores at admission and score changes at discharge lend support to EQ-5D-5L application in national quality measurement. Evidence for construct validity was found through associations with number of secondary diagnoses and help with completion.

The Effect of Coaching Programs on Physical Activity and Pain in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

OBJECTIVES

Coaching programs are used to achieve continuity in physical activity and reduce pain severity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Our aim was to examine the effects of coaching programs on physical activity and pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis through randomized controlled trials.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, EBSCOhost/CINAHL Complete, Springer Link, ProQuest, and Ovid databases were searched without year limitations in English until May 2023.

REVIEW/ANALYSIS METHODS

PRISMA guideline was employed. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 3 software was used to analyze the meta-analysis data. Two researchers independently assessed the quality of the included studies using the Cochrane Collaboration tool.

RESULTS

This study included six randomized controlled trials with a total of 983 participants. It was determined that the coaching programs were effective in improving physical activity levels (95% CI = 0.14-0.39, Hedge's g = 0.27, p < .001) and reducing pain (95% CI = 0.07-0.39, Hedge's g = 0.23, p = .006) in the intervention groups compared with the control groups. It was determined that the application of coaching programs in the form of face-to-face sessions and phone calls at 7-10 sessions per year in patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis was beneficial in pain management and improving physical activity levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Face-to-face sessions and telephone interviews are recommended as part of a coaching program for the maintenance of physical activity and pain management in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Coaching programs can improve patients' functional status. There is a need to determine effective strategies by increasing awareness of the coaching programs implemented by nurses.

Cost-effectiveness of motivational counselling and text reminders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: results based on a randomised clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of an individually tailored intervention consisting of motivational counselling and text message reminders to reduce sedentary behaviour in comparison with usual lifestyle in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

RA patients (n=150) were randomised to the intervention or control group. Costs of the intervention and healthcare utilisation during a 22-month follow-up period were reported. Outcomes were objectively measured as 24 hours/7 days sitting time and self-reported Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and EQ-5D scores at baseline, and 16 weeks, 10 and 22 months after baseline. Cost-effectiveness was reported as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and statistical uncertainty presented as cost-effectiveness acceptability curves.

RESULTS

The intervention cost was estimated at €387 per participant. The mean incremental 22-month healthcare cost was €-1165 (95% bootstrap CI -5613 to 3283). An incremental 20%-point of the participants (CI 10.4% to 29.6%) reduced their daily sitting time more than 50 min and 36%-point reported better HAQ scores (change>0.22). The time-weighted health utilities (quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)) increased by 0.10 (CI 0.02 to 0.18) and 0.11 (CI 0.04 to 0.19) for EQ-5D index and EQ-VAS, respectively. The intervention dominated usual lifestyle by offering better outcomes and lower costs. With a threshold value of €30 000/QALY the intervention has a probability of 95% of being cost-effective.

CONCLUSION

This protocolised cost-effectiveness analysis showed that an individually tailored intervention aimed at reducing sedentary behaviour in patients with RA is improving participants' 22-month health status and reducing healthcare costs. These results suggest that the intervention should be implemented in routine rheumatology care.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT01969604.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Exercise as a multi-modal disease-modifying medicine in systemic sclerosis: An introduction by The Global Fellowship on Rehabilitation and Exercise in Systemic Sclerosis (G-FoRSS)

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a heterogeneous multisystem autoimmune disease whereby its main pathological drivers of disability and damage are vascular injury, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrosis. These mechanisms result in diffuse and diverse impairments arising from ischemic circulatory dysfunction leading to painful skin ulceration and calcinosis, neurovascular aberrations hindering gastrointestinal (GI) motility, progressive painful, incapacitating or immobilizing effects of inflammatory and fibrotic effects on the lungs, skin, articular and periarticular structures, and muscle. SSc-related impairments impede routine activities of daily living (ADLs) and disrupt three critical life areas: work, family, social/leisure, and also impact on psychological well-being. Physical activity and exercise are globally recommended; however, for connective tissue diseases, this guidance carries greater impact on inflammatory disease manifestations, recovery, and cardiovascular health. Exercise, through myogenic and vascular phenomena, naturally targets key pathogenic drivers by downregulating multiple inflammatory and fibrotic pathways in serum and tissue, while increasing circulation and vascular repair. G-FoRSS, The Global Fellowship on Rehabilitation and Exercise in Systemic Sclerosis recognizes the scientific basis of and advocates for education and research of exercise as a systemic and targeted SSc disease-modifying treatment. An overview of biophysiological mechanisms of physical activity and exercise are herein imparted for patients, clinicians, and researchers, and applied to SSc disease mechanisms, manifestations, and impairment. A preliminary guidance on exercise in SSc, a research agenda, and the current state of research and outcome measures are set forth.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Physical Therapist Management of People With Rheumatoid Arthritis

OBJECTIVE

This guideline revises the 2008 Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy guideline for physical therapy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHOD

This revised guideline was developed according to the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation tool and the Guidelines International Network standards. A multidisciplinary guideline panel formulated clinical questions based on perceived barriers in current care. For every clinical question, a narrative or systematic literature review was undertaken, where appropriate. The guideline panel formulated recommendations based on the results of the literature reviews, the values and preferences of patients and clinicians, and the acceptability, feasibility, and costs, as described in the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation evidence-to-decision framework.

RESULTS

The eventual guideline describes a comprehensive assessment based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Set for RA. It also includes a description of yellow and red flags to support direct access. Based on the assessment, 3 treatment profiles are distinguished: (1) education and exercise instructions with limited supervision, (2) education and short-term supervised exercise therapy, and (3) education and intensified supervised exercise therapy. Education includes RA-related information, advice, and self-management support. Exercises are based on recommendations concerning the desired frequency, intensity, type, and time-related characteristics of the exercises (FITT factors). Their interpretation is compliant with the individual patient's situation and with public health recommendations for health-enhancing physical activity. Recommended measurement instruments for monitoring and evaluation include the Patient-Specific Complaint instrument, Numeric Rating Scales for pain and fatigue, the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index, and the 6-minute walk test.

CONCLUSION

An evidence-based physical therapy guideline was delivered, providing ready-to-use recommendations on the assessment and treatment of patients with RA. An active implementation strategy to enhance its use in daily practice is advised.

IMPACT

This evidence-based practice guideline guides the physical therapist in the treatment of patients with RA. The cornerstones of physical therapist treatment for patients with RA are active exercise therapy in combination with education. Passive interventions such as massage, electrotherapy, thermotherapy, low-level laser therapy, ultrasound, and medical taping play a subordinate role.

Theory-informed interventions to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in rheumatoid arthritis: a critical review of the literature

Moderate-intensity physical activity (PA) is recommended for the management of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Recent evidence suggests that reducing sedentary behaviour (promoting 'sedentary breaks' and light intensity PA) may also offer potential for improving RA outcomes, independently of the benefits of moderate-intensity PA. Unfortunately, people living with RA engage in very little moderate-intensity PA, and the spend the majority of the day sedentary. Interventions to support PA and sedentary behaviour change in this population are therefore required. Psychological theory can provide a basis for the development and implementation of intervention strategies, and specify the cognitive processes or mechanisms assumed to result in behavioural change. Application of psychological theory to intervention development and evaluation, therefore, permits evaluation of "how things work", helping to identify optimal intervention strategies, and eliminate ineffective components. In this review, we provide an overview of existing PA and sedentary behaviour change interventions in RA, illustrating the extent to which current interventions have been informed by psychological theories of behaviour change. Recommendations are provided for future interventional research in this domain, serving as a reference point to encourage proper application of behavioural theories into intervention design, implementation and appraisal.

The Brighton musculoskeletal Patient-Reported Outcome Measure (BmPROM): An assessment of validity, reliability, and responsiveness

Background

In response for the need of a freely available, stand‐alone, validated outcome measure for use within musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy practice, sensitive enough to measure clinical effectiveness, we developed an MSK patient reported outcome measure.

Objectives

This study examined the validity and reliability of the newly developed Brighton musculoskeletal Patient‐Reported Outcome Measure (BmPROM) within physiotherapy outpatient settings.

Methods

Two hundred twenty‐four patients attending physiotherapy outpatient departments in South East England with an MSK condition participated in this study. The BmPROM was assessed for user friendliness (rated feedback, N = 224), reliability (internal consistency and test–retest reliability, n = 42), validity (internal and external construct validity, N = 224), and responsiveness (internal, n = 25).

Results

Exploratory factor analysis indicated that a two‐factor model provides a good fit to the data. Factors were representative of “Functionality” and “Wellbeing”. Correlations observed between the BmPROM and SF‐36 domains provided evidence of convergent validity. Reliability results indicated that both subscales were internally consistent with alphas above the acceptable limits for both “Functionality” (α = .85, 95% CI [.81, .88]) and ‘Wellbeing’ (α = .80, 95% CI [.75, .84]). Test–retest analyses (n = 42) demonstrated a high degree of reliability between “Functionality” (ICC = .84; 95% CI [.72, .91]) and “Wellbeing” scores (ICC = .84; 95% CI [.72, .91]). Further examination of test–retest reliability through the Bland–Altman analysis demonstrated that the difference between “Functionality” and “Wellbeing” test scores did not vary as a function of absolute test score. Large treatment effect sizes were found for both subscales (Functionality d = 1.10; Wellbeing 1.03).

Conclusion

The BmPROM is a reliable and valid outcome measure for use in evaluating physiotherapy treatment of MSK conditions.

Understanding knee osteoarthritis from the patients' perspective: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

No studies of Health Coach Interventions for knee OA sufferers that include patients' perspectives have been published. The study assesses current clinical practice and primary care professionals' advice from the patients' perspective, in order to obtain a participative design for a complex intervention based on coaching psychology. Moreover, wants to analyse the experiences, perceptions, cognitive evaluation, values, emotions, beliefs and coping strategies of patients with knee osteoarthritis, and secondly the impact of these factors in the Self-management of this condition.

METHODS

It is an interpretative qualitative study. The study included patients with diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis (OA) from 4 primary health care centres in Barcelona. A theoretical sampling based on a prior definition of participants' characteristics was carried out. Ten semi-structured interviews with knee OA patients were carried out. A content thematic analysis was performed following a mixed-strategy text codification in Lazarus framework and in emerging codes from the data.

RESULTS

The results are structured in two blocks: Experiences and perceptions of informants and Experiences of knee osteoarthritis according to the Lazarus model. Regarding experiences and perceptions of informants: Some participants reported that the information was mostly provided by health professionals. Informants know which food they should eat to lose weight and the benefits of weight loss. Moreover, participants explained that they like walking but that sometimes it is difficult to put into practice. Regarding experiences of knee osteoarthritis according Lazarus model: Cognitive evaluation is influenced by cognitive distortions such as obligation, guilt, dramatization and catastrophism.

VALUES

Family is the value most associated with wellbeing. Helping others is another recurring value. Emotions: Most participants explain that they feel anxiety, irritability or sadness. Beliefs: To some, physiotherapy helps them feel less pain. However, others explain that it is of no use to them. Participants are aware of the association overweight- pain. Coping strategies: The strategies for coping with emotions aim to reduce psychological distress (anxiety, sadness, anger) and some are more active than others.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights that patients with knee osteoarthritis require a person-centered approach that provides them with strategies to overcome the psychological distress caused by this condition.