Arthritis Patients Receive Effective Care in Nurse-Led Clinics

For Release at 5:30 PM CT, Friday Oct. 25, 2002

Arthritis patients are as effectively managed in nurse-led clinics as they are in clinics led by new doctors, and they may even be more satisfied with their care, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Over a twelve-month period, researchers tracked 180 patients diagnosed with either rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, and who were treated in clinics led by rheumatology nurses or by junior doctors with limited experience in the management rheumatic diseases. The study assessed both qualitative and quantitative outcomes, including changes in physical function, perceived pain and morning stiffness, fatigue levels and overall satisfaction with care. Similar numbers of patients in both groups reported unchanged, improved or worse results at the end of the study period. Patients in the nurse led group reported improved length of fatigue, decrease in pain, increase in physical functioning, greater knowledge in self-care and overall positive levels of satisfaction compared to the clinics led by junior doctors.

"Nursing is a skilled, multi-dimensional activity that can deliver diverse benefits to the patient," said Jackie Hill, Academic and Clinical Unit of Musculoskeletal Nursing, University of Leeds and an investigator in the study. "I regard these results as just one step in the solution of a very large puzzle. Further research is needed both to identify the precise processes that deliver the results and to demonstrate that the results can be replicated elsewhere."

The American College of Rheumatology is the professional organization for rheumatologists and health professionals who share a dedication to healing, preventing disability and curing arthritis and related rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. For more information on the ACR's annual meeting, see www.rheumatology.org.