The use of an interactive self-management care booklet by patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a comparison of two distribution strategies
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN22703067 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN22703067 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | 676-RA-ZORGWIJZER |
- Submission date
- 21/03/2017
- Registration date
- 27/03/2017
- Last edited
- 28/03/2018
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Musculoskeletal Diseases
Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. Patients with RA experience pain, fatigue, and limitations in daily activities and participation. Apart from the consequences of the disease, patients with RA deal with different treatments and a variety of healthcare providers during the course of their illness. Therefore, supporting RA patients in self-managing their disease is important. One strategy to enhance self-management is the use of an interactive care booklet. A care booklet can provide patients with information on their disease, treatment options and what they can do for themselves. Additionally, it includes tools for monitoring symptoms, preparing for consultations, and recording treatment targets and medication. Although the use of a care booklet can be beneficial, not a lot of patients use a care booklet. However, little is known about the best strategies to introduce a care booklet to patients. Therefore the aim of this study is to compare two different distribution strategies: unsolicited supply (unsolicited mailing of the care booklet free of charge to the home-address of patients) and supply on demand (mailing a letter about the care booklet to the home address of patients with the option to order the booklet free of charge by sending back a reply card).
Who can participate?
Patients aged 18 and over with rheumatoid arthritis who have a future scheduled visit with a rheumatologist in one of the participating hospitals
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to be sent the care booklet (unsolicited supply) or to be sent an information letter with the option to order the care booklet (supply on demand). Participants can choose for themselves if they want to order and/or use the care booklet. Four months later, some of the participants are sent a questionnaire asking whether they have used the care booklet in the past 4 months.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no direct benefits or risks to those taking part. Receiving the care booklet for free can be seen as a benefit.
Where is the study run from?
1. Sint Maartenskliniek Hospital (Netherlands)
2. Leids University Medical Center (Netherlands)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2013 to June 2014
Who is funding the study?
The Dutch Arthritis Foundation (Reumafonds) (Netherlands)
Who is the main contact?
1. Miss Aniek Claassen
2. Dr Cornelia van den Ende
Contact information
Scientific
PO Box 9011
Nijmegen
6500 GM
Netherlands
Scientific
PO Box 9011
Nijmegen
6500 GM
Netherlands
Study information
| Study design | Multicenter randomised trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Hospital |
| Study type | Treatment |
| Participant information sheet | ISRCTN22703067_PIS_23Mar17_Dutch.pdf |
| Scientific title | The use of an interactive self-management care booklet by patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a multicenter, randomised comparison of two distribution strategies |
| Study acronym | ZORGWIJZER RA |
| Study hypothesis | It is hypothesized that the method of distribution of a care-booklet, unsolicited supply (i.e. sending a care-booklet without being requested) versus supply on demand (i.e. offering the option to order a care booklet), affects the use of the care-booklet. Patients who are offered the option to order a care booklet are expected to be better motivated to use this care booklet than patients who receive the care booklet unsolicited. |
| Ethics approval(s) | The Institutional Review Board of the University Medical Centre, Nijmegen (11/07/2013, ref: 2013/292) and the Medical Ethics Review Committee of the University Medical Centre, Leiden (07/11/2013, ref: P13.202), The Netherlands, both reviewed the study protocol. An exemption was obtained, as ethical approval for this type of study is not required under Dutch law. |
| Condition | Rheumatoid arthritis |
| Intervention | A care booklet for patients with RA was developed. The RA care booklet is a patient-held booklet with information about RA, living with RA and self-management of RA. It covers the following topics: symptoms and complaints, general health, medication, healthcare providers, daily activities, work, leisure time and environment. With respect to self-management the following questions are included: “what do I want to achieve?”, “what can I do?”, “how can I stay physically active?”, “how can I take it easy on myself?” and, “what do I would like to discuss with healthcare providers?”. The care booklet also incorporates a separate booklet, the RA care pass (‘zorgpas RA’), where patients can describe personal information about their medical history, medication use, healthcare providers, results of laboratory and physical examinations (i.e. Disease Activity Score (DAS28-Score)), complaints and symptoms, treatment goals and preparing for an appointment with the healthcare provider. Participants are randomised to one of two distribution strategies: 1. Unsolicited mailing of the care booklet free of charge to the home-address of patients accompanied by an introductory letter on behalf of the medical head of the Department of Rheumatology 2. Distribution on demand: mailing an introductory letter about the care booklet on behalf of the medical head of the Department of Rheumatology to the home-address of patients with the option to order the booklet and pass free of charge. Patients can order the RA care booklet and care pass by sending back a reply card. Participants are assessed at a single time endpoint 4 month after baseline. Patients are asked whether they used the care booklet in the past 4 months. Answer-options include: “no”, “yes, I read (parts of) the care booklet”, “yes, I made notes in the care pass”, “yes, I discussed (parts of) the care booklet/pass with my healthcare provider”, “yes, I used the care booklet in a different way, namely….”. Multiple answers are possible. Patients who answer “no”, or state that they did not receive or order the care booklet are classified as “non-users”. Patients answering 1 or more of the “yes” answers are classified as “users”. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | Self-reported use of the RA care booklet, assessed using a questionnaire at 4 months follow-up |
| Secondary outcome measures | Assessed using a questionnaire at 4-months follow-up: 1. Clinical characteristics including disease duration (years since diagnosis) and medication use (NSAIDs, corticosteroids, DMARDs, biologicals, other) 2. Disease activity, measured using the Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Index (RADAI) 3. Limitations in activities, measured using the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index 4. Self-efficacy, measured using the Dutch General Self-efficacy Scale 5. Illness perceptions, measured using the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire 6. Educational needs, measured using the Dutch version of the Educational Needs Assessment Tool |
| Overall study start date | 01/09/2013 |
| Overall study end date | 01/06/2014 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 372 |
| Participant inclusion criteria | 1. Diagnosed with RA 2. Aged ≥18 years old 3. Having a future scheduled visit with a rheumatologist |
| Participant exclusion criteria | Patients from the LUMC hospital who are participating in another ongoing study |
| Recruitment start date | 01/09/2013 |
| Recruitment end date | 01/02/2014 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Netherlands
Study participating centre
Ubbergen (Nijmegen)
6574 NA
Netherlands
Sponsor information
Hospital/treatment centre
PO Box 9011
Nijmegen
6500 GM
Netherlands
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/0454gfp30 |
|---|
Funders
Funder type
Charity
Private sector organisation / Trusts, charities, foundations (both public and private)
- Location
- Netherlands
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 31/12/2017 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Planned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Dr Cornelia van den Ende |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | 23/03/2017 | 27/03/2017 | No | Yes | |
| Results article | results | 27/03/2018 | Yes | No |
Additional files
- ISRCTN22703067_PIS_23Mar17_Dutch.pdf
- Uploaded 27/03/2017
Editorial Notes
28/03/2018: Publication reference added.
27/03/2017: Participant information sheet uploaded.
