Evaluation of a multidisciplinary care model to improve quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QOL) is an important patient-reported domain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The uptake of multidisciplinary team (MDT) care in RA is generally low, due to initial high demand for resources. We hypothesised that whilst pharmacological treatments are effective in controlling disease activity, a multipronged intervention in an MDT may have a positive impact on HR-QOL. METHODS: This was a single-centre randomized parallel group, single-blind controlled trial of MDT vs. usual care in an established RA clinic. Data were collected through face-to-face questionnaires, medical records review, and joint counts by a blinded assessor at 0, 3 and 6 months. Adult RA patients were randomly assigned in a single visit to a 6-member MDT (rheumatologist, nurse, social worker, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, and podiatrist) or usual care. MDT providers prescribed medications and counselled patients on managing flares, medication adherence, coping, joint protection, exercise, footwear. The primary outcome was minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in HR-QOL (increase in European QOL-5-Dimension-3-Level, EQ-5D-3L by 0.1) at six months. RESULTS: 140 patients (86.3% female, 53.4% Chinese, median (IQR) age 56.6 (46.7, 62.4) years); 70 were randomized to each arm. Median (IQR) disease duration was 5.5 (2.4, 11.0) years and disease activity in 28 joints (DAS28) was 2.87 (2.08, 3.66). 123 patients completed the study. Twenty-six (40.6%) MDT vs. 23 (34.3%) usual care patients achieved an MCID in EQ-5D-3L, OR 1.3 (0.6, 2.7). In multivariable logistic regression, baseline EQ-5D-3L was the only predictor of achieving MCID. There was more disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug escalation in MDT (34.4% vs. 19.4%). Patients with high disease activity were more likely to achieve MCID in the MDT arm. CONCLUSIONS: A single visit by stable patients with low disease activity to an MDT failed to achieve MCID in the EQ-5D-3L; however, did achieve small but significant improvements in the EQ-5D-3L, DAS28, pain, coping and self-efficacy. To be sustainable, MDT care should be targeted at patients with high disease activity or those with a new diagnosis of RA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03099668.

Validation of the Chinese Manchester foot pain and disability index (C-MFPDI) among patients with inflammatory arthritis.

BACKGROUND: The Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index (MFPDI) is a patient-reported outcome tool used to measure foot pain and foot-related disability. The English version of the MFPDI has been successfully translated into other European languages, but there was no Chinese version to use in Chinese-speaking communities. The cross-sectional correlational study aimed to translate the MFPDI from English into simplified Chinese (C-MFPDI) and to test its psychometric properties among people with inflammatory arthritis in Singapore. METHODS: The MFPDI was translated from English into Chinese using a forward-backward translation framework and was administered to 100 Chinese-speaking people with inflammatory arthritis. From the original 100 participants, 30 participants re-evaluated the C-MFPDI after 2 weeks. A Visual Analogue Scale and the Taiwan Chinese Foot Function Index in simplified Chinese were used to evaluate concurrent validity with the C-MFPDI. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the Chinese version of the European Quality of Life-5 Dimension to test construct validity. RESULTS: The C-MFPDI had a high translation equivalent rate (96.3%) and content validity index (0.92), good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.90) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.87). The concurrent validity of the C-MFPDI was demonstrated to be acceptable through its significantly moderate to strong positive correlations with the Taiwan Chinese Foot Function Index (r = 0.62-0.72, p < 0.01) and Visual Analogue Scale foot pain (r = 0.65, p < 0.01). The C-MFPDI total scores were moderately negatively associated with Chinese European Quality of Life-5 Dimension utility scores (r = - 0.40, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The C-MFPDI had good psychometric properties. The C-MFPDI can be used to assess disabling foot pain, impairment and disability in Chinese-speaking people with inflammatory arthritis.

Evaluating the outcomes of a podiatry-led assessment service in a public hospital orthopaedic unit.

BACKGROUND: In Australia, the demand for foot and ankle orthopaedic services in public health settings currently outweighs capacity. Introducing experienced allied health professionals into orthopaedic units to initiate the triage, assessment and management of patients has been proposed to help meet demand. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of introducing a podiatry-led assessment service in a public hospital orthopaedic unit. The outcomes of interest were determining: the proportion of patients discharged without requiring an orthopaedic appointment, agreement in diagnosis between the patient referral and the assessing podiatrist, the proportion of foot and ankle conditions presenting to the service, and the proportion of each condition to require an orthopaedic appointment. METHODS: This study audited the first 100 patients to receive an appointment at a new podiatry-led assessment service. The podiatrist triaged 'Category 3' referrals consisting of musculoskeletal foot and ankle conditions and appointments were provided for those considered likely to benefit from non-surgical management. Following assessment, patients were referred to an appropriate healthcare professional or were discharged. At the initial appointment or following a period of care, patients were discharged if non-surgical management was successful, surgery was not indicated, patients did not want surgery, and if patient's failed to attend their appointments. All other patients were referred for an orthopaedic consultation as indicated. RESULTS: Ninety-five of the 100 patients (69 females and 31 males; mean age 51.9, SD 16.4 years) attended their appointment at the podiatry-led assessment service. The 95 referrals contained a total of 107 diagnoses, of which the podiatrist agreed with the diagnosis stated on the referral in 56 cases (Kappa =0.49, SE = 0.05). Overall, 34 of the 100 patients were referred to an orthopaedic surgeon and the remaining 66 patients were discharged from the orthopaedic waiting list without requiring an orthopaedic consultation. CONCLUSIONS: Two-thirds of patients who had an appointment at the podiatry-led assessment service were discharged without requiring a surgical consultation. The introduction of a podiatry-led service assists with timely provision of patient care and ensures those with the greatest need for orthopaedic surgery have improved access to specialist care.