AB0765 Development and assessment of a structured training program for patients with systemic sclerosis. (12th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ahrens, H.; Siegert, E.; Kraft, M.; Loewy, K.; Worm, M.
• Is Part Of: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. Volume 77(2018)Supplement 2
• Page Start: 1518
• Page End: 1518
• Publication Date: 2018-06-12
• Subjects: Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2018-eular.6161
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4967

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Structured patient education programs are a key element of patient care in many chronic diseases. They are often based on the Stanford University chronic disease self-management program and aim to empower patients and to improve compliance and coping abilities. However, not in every condition self-management education programs yield the expected benefit. 1 Objectives: To develop a structured patient education program for SSc patients and to prove training-specific effects on patients' quality of life and disability. Methods: We developed a structured patient education program. The content of the program was created by a team of rheumatologists and dermatologists. The program consists of three modules focusing on general knowledge about the disease, gastrointestinal involvement, digital ulcers (DU), skin and wound care and a patient diary on disease symptoms. Patients were either included in the intervention or in the control group. Disease symptoms and severity as well as clinical parameters were assessed at baseline (intervention and control), at the follow-up visit at month 3 (intervention only) and at the final follow-up visit at month 6. In the intervention group satisfaction with the education program was analysed. Primary outcome measures were SHAQ, SF-12, BFI, SHAQ_DU. Secondary outcome measure was the satisfaction survey. For comparisons between different times analysis of variance for repeated measures was used. For description of cohorts Mann-Whitney Wilcoxon test was used. Results: 58 SSc patients were included, 27 received the educational program (intervention group) and 31 patients served as a control group. Both groups were matched regarding demographics and disease subtype. Incidence of DUs was significantly higher in patients from intervention group resulting in a more frequent administration of vasoactive therapies. SHAQ, SF-12, BFI, SHAQ_DU were comparable between control and intervention group. However, patients in the intervention group rated the training program as helpful and reported an increase in knowledge about their disease afterwards. A positive impact of the training program on SHAQ, SF-12, BFI, SHAQ_DU was observed in individual patients. Conclusions: Patients who participated in the training were overall satisfied with the program. However, no significant effects on quality of life after the intervention were observed. One reason for this finding might be the disease duration (mean 11.5 years). This needs to be further analysed in a consecutive study considering patients with shorter disease duration. Reference: [1] Warsi, et al. "Self-management Education Programs in Chronic Disease: A Systematic Review and Methodological Critique of the Literature"Archives of Internal Medicine2004. Disclosure of Interest: None declared