Effect of patient-led cooperative follow-up by general practitioners and community pharmacists on osteoporosis treatment persistence.

AIM: Osteoporosis is a major risk factor for fractures. Poor persistence with osteoporosis medication hampers outcomes. This study assessed whether encouraging the formation of patient-led follow-up cooperatives between general practitioners (GPs) and community pharmacists improved medication persistence. METHODS: All consecutive patients who attended an osteoporosis patient education program were invited to participate. They were given a logbook containing questionnaires they would bring to 6-monthly visits to their GP and pharmacist. The effect of this 3-year cooperative follow-up on persistence with medication and lifestyle changes was assessed. RESULTS: In total, 121 patients (average age, 67 years; 93% female) participated. Poor cooperation between GPs and pharmacists was noted. Nevertheless, medication persistence ranged from 83% to 91% over the 6 visits. However, since patient drop-out rates were high and questionnaire return rates were low, a post-study medical chart review was performed. This confirmed that persistence was high (74%-83%) at 3 years post-enrollment, even for oral bisphosphonate-treated patients (73%-76%). However, adoption of anti-osteoporosis lifestyle changes was poor throughout the study: one- to two-thirds of the patients did not alter their diet, physical activity, or surroundings to prevent falls. CONCLUSION: One study goal, namely, to encourage GPs and pharmacists to cooperate in patient follow-up, was not achieved. However, high medication persistence was observed. This may reflect the education program, patient empowerment, personalized attention from study personnel, and being in a study. Patient-centered approaches can thus significantly increase medication persistence in osteoporosis. Ongoing education may be needed to improve patient adoption of and persistence with lifestyle changes.

Patients and spouses coping with inflammatory arthritis: Impact of communication and spousal perceived social support and burden.

OBJECTIVES: To guide Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) programs to improve patients' and spouses' perceived health, we aimed to analyze the effect of the spouse health state and patient-spouse relationship on functional impairment, mental health and self-efficacy of patients with RA or SpA. METHODS: In this observational cross-sectional study, inclusion criteria were age≥18years and diagnosis of RA or SpA. The outcome criteria were functional impairment and mental health measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 12-item version (SF-12-MCS); mental health measured by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12); and self-efficacy by the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE Scale). Caregiver-patient relationship was assessed by the Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships (PAIR) questionnaire and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS); social support by the Social Support Questionnaire-6 and spousal burden by the Zarit questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 88 patient-spouse couples were included. Patients were mostly female (n=68, 77%), with mean age 59 (SD 12.6) years; 69% had RA. On bivariate analyses, only spousal burden was associated with patients' functional impairment. Patients' mental health was associated with satisfaction with social support and the dyad relationship. Self-efficacy of patients was associated with spousal burden, satisfaction with social support, spousal anxiety/depression and the dyad relationship. On multivariate analysis, improved mental health and perceived self-efficacy of patients were associated with spousal satisfaction with social support (Beta=0.8, P=0.1 with GHQ-12) good communication in the couple (Beta=0.5, P=0.04 with SF-12-MCS and Beta=0.4, P=0.04 with GSE Scale) and low spousal-assessed burden (Beta=-0.2, P=0.003 with GSE Scale). CONCLUSION: This study has identified potential focus for intervention. It has highlighted the importance of recognizing the role of couple communication (experiencing an open and fluent exchange of ideas) in the patient's mental health and self-efficacy but also perceived satisfaction with social support of both members of the couple on the patient's mental health.

What Is Relatives' Role in Arthritis Management? A Qualitative Study of the Perceptions of Patient-Relative Dyads.

PURPOSE: The main aim of patient education is to maintain or improve quality of life. It is mostly focused on patients even if families might be included. The aim of this study was to explore patients' and relatives' perceptions and experiences about the role of relatives in disease management in chronic inflammatory arthritis in order to provide insight into how patient education programs might include relatives. METHODS: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 patients (13 with polyarthritis; 7 with spondyloarthritis) and one of their relatives (N=40). A thematic analysis following an inductive approach was carried out using the QDA-Miner Software (inter-coder agreement 0.7). RESULTS: The analysis revealed three relevant themes. The first was their perception of relatives' general roles, which included technical skills, knowledge about the disease and interpersonal skills. The other two themes dealt with their specific relationship: the dyad relationship (including the usual relationship and in the context of the disease) and the help relationship (including practical assistance and emotional help). CONCLUSION: The results show the wide-ranging role of relatives in practical and emotional support, the complexity of patient-relative interactions regarding requests for help, their relationship and ability to share difficulties. This study gives indications about how to include relatives in TPE programs and emphasizes the importance of developing interventions for patient-relative dyads regarding the practical and emotional management of the disease, as well as interactions concerning help. Those interventions should enhance patients and relatives' quality of life.

Patients and relatives coping with inflammatory arthritis: Care teamwork.

OBJECTIVE: To explore how patients and relatives experience and talk together about their life with inflammatory arthritis. DESIGN: Qualitative research. SETTING: A convenience sample was used. Participants were recruited in seven rheumatology departments in France. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis or spondyloarthritis, agreeing to participate in the study with a relative, age at least 18 years. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two psychologists conducted face-to-face interviews with 20 patient-relative dyads (40 individuals). A thematic analysis followed a general inductive approach. RESULTS: Saturation was reached after interviews with 20 dyads. The analysis revealed four main themes: (a) disease 'lived' together: a new role for the relative (providing help in physical tasks, emotional support, acting as a driving force, having a role in medical care) and communication around the disease (not focusing on the disease); (b) impact of the disease on the relationship; (c) social impact of the disease on the dyad (social isolation); (d) difficulties and needs of the relative (need to better know the disease). CONCLUSION: This study has highlighted the importance of recognizing the role of the relative in the management of inflammatory arthritis disease, especially when medical decisions are shared with professionals. A joint approach to treatment is a basis for coping with the disease. This approach supposes (a) discussions about relatives' new roles to clarify them, (b) patients' and relatives' communication skills and (c) a good understanding of each other, which can be improved by providing information on the disease and coping strategies for both the patient and the relative.

Understanding Patients' Perspectives and Educational Needs by Type of Osteoporosis in Men and Women and People with Glucocorticosteroid-Induced Osteoporosis: A Qualitative Study to Improve Disease Management.

The aim of the study was to investigate similarities and differences in health beliefs, experiences and educational needs by type of osteoporosis (OP), particularly in people with glucocorticoid-induced OP (GIOP) and men. A qualitative study was conducted via focus groups involving post-menopausal women with or without osteoporotic fractures, osteoporotic men and people with GIOP. Fifty-three participants were included in eight groups. A wide range of health beliefs was found for all types of OP. Osteoporosis was considered a natural consequence of ageing except in men or conversely a serious disease associated with risk of new fractures and disability. GIOP patients had heterogeneous knowledge of OP and reported fewer prevention behaviours, and their quality of life was affected by the causal illness. Men had difficulties coping with the loss of their functional abilities and felt that OP was a "women's" disease. Beliefs about treatments ranged from confidence to fear of adverse effects or doubt about efficacy in all types of OP. Participants were interested in physical activity, fall prevention and diet, and preferred group sessions. GIOP patients and men had an interest in face-to-face education. Men were also interested in brief information including via the Internet. Patients' beliefs about OP differed by type of OP. Specific populations such as men or people with GIOP need particular care owing to experiences and needs. Offering group sessions in educational interventions is of interest to allow for sharing experiences and also face-to-face education for men and GIOP patients or the Internet for men.

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 1st 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.