AB0238 Patient-centred approach to management of inflammatory arthritis was associated with improved satisfaction of care and perceived treatment benefit. (12th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Attipoe, L.; Virdee, S.; Greenan-Barrett, J.; Shah, D.; Cotton, A.; Guinto, J.; Wilton, J.; Ciurtin, C.
• Is Part Of: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. Volume 77(2018)Supplement 2
• Page Start: 1301
• Page End: 1301
• Publication Date: 2018-06-12
• Subjects: Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2018-eular.2762
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4967

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Recently, there has been a paradigm shift from a paternalistic doctor-patient relationship towards more holistic, patient-centred care aimed at promoting patient autonomy. However, the effect of patient-centred care on important clinical outcomes, like patient satisfaction and disability, is unknown. Objectives: To investigate how the various aspects of patients' experiences of the care they received for their inflammatory arthritis was correlated with disease activity and health satisfaction, and use this to guide our clinical practice. Methods: 115 questionnaires (including 51 questions, in addition to HAQ) were randomly given to patients with inflammatory arthritis who attended rheumatology outpatient clinics at University College Hospital, London between November 2014 and January 2015 (104 were returned −90% response rate). Questions were semi-structured using a Likert scale and focused on diagnosis, symptomatology, treatment history, health status and experiences of clinic attendance. The strength of association between health satisfaction and experience of care was correlated using Spearman's correlation test (p<0.05 was considered statistically significant). Results: We calculated correlations between various aspects of patients' experiences of their care with other components of the questionnaire (table 1). Conclusions: Patients who felt that they experienced a more patient-centred approach (through greater involvement in clinical decisions, emotional support and ease of contact with specialists) reported greater satisfaction and regarded their treatment as more efficacious. This suggests that clinicians who go beyond their role of medically managing inflammatory arthritis to provide more holistic care may improve patient-orientated health outcomes. Patients in older age groups find it easier to contact the department, perhaps because they have more free time to make and receive calls. As ease of contact is a strong predictor of overall patient satisfaction, employing ideas to increase accessibility for younger age groups, such as improved access beyond working hours may improve satisfaction. The positive correlation of HAQ with employment status and age is expected, as HAQ is the current gold standard measure of functional status. This reaffirms its accuracy in clinical practice as a measure of a functional ability. Further research into comparing patients' experience of their care with objective measures of disease activity is needed. Disclosure of Interest: None declared