Testing arthritis gloves in rheumatoid/inflammatory arthritis
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN25892131 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN25892131 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | CPMS 19528 |
- Submission date
- 05/09/2016
- Registration date
- 05/09/2016
- Last edited
- 10/10/2023
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Musculoskeletal Diseases
Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Arthritis is a common condition affecting around 10 million people in the UK. There are various types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis and the less common inflammatory arthritis (IA). IA is a group of conditions, inkling rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in which a person’s immune system starts to attack healthy joints, causing pain, swelling (inflammation) and stiffness in the joints. Arthritis Gloves are provided in the NHS to people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and early inflammatory arthritis (EIA). Gloves provide pressure and warmth to relieve (night and/or day) hand pain, stiffness and improve using hands in everyday activities and at work. Various arthritis gloves are also available from online and High Street stores (£5 – 35). The few small studies testing gloves’ effects found they reduced finger swelling at night, but other effects were unclear. One study found they had similar benefits to a thermal glove (which gave warmth but not pressure). The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of gloves which provide warmth and pressure and gloves which provide warmth alone on hand pain, stiffness and function of people with RA or IA.
Who can participate?
Adults with IA who have difficulty using their hands during the day, disturbed sleep, or limited use of hands when they wake up.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group are provided with correctly fitted mid-finger length Isotoner compression gloves, which give warmth and pressure. Those in the second group are given the same gloves but fitting one size too large so that they provide warmth but not pressure. Participants in both groups have their gloves fitted at a 45 minute appointment, where they also receive a wear and care glove information leaflet and a hand exercise booklet with photos of exercises (which they are encouraged to regularly perform). Within two to three weeks, the participant attends for a 15 minute glove review appointment to check fit of gloves and for advice if any problems have arisen. At the start of the study and after 12 weeks, participants in both groups complete a number of questionnaires in order to assess hand pain, stiffness and hand function. A small group of participants are also interviewed about their views on wearing the gloves.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
If this study shows that arthritis gloves are effective, then participants may benefit from relief from hand pain, stiffness, and/or swelling; improved ability to sleep (by reducing night hand pain); and improved ability to use the hands in everyday activities and at work. There are no known severe risks involved with wearing arthritis gloves, but some participants may find the gloves feel hot and/or itchy after a few hours during hot weather or that they occasionally feel too tight (causing temporary pins and needles or numbness).
Where is the study run from?
22 NHS hospitals in England and Scotland (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
April 2015 to December 2017
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (UK)
Who is the main contact?
1. Dr Yeliz Prior (public)
y.prior@salford.ac.uk
2. Prof. Alison Hammond (scientific)
a.hammond@salford.ac.uk
Contact information
Public
Centre for Health Sciences Research
L701 Allerton Building
Frederic Road
University of Salford
Salford
M6 6PU
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)161 295 0211 |
|---|---|
| y.prior@salford.ac.uk |
Scientific
Centre for Health Sciences Research
L701 Allerton Building
Frederic Road
University of Salford
Salfod
M6 6PU
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-5266-9991 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)161 295 0038 |
| a.hammond@salford.ac.uk |
Study information
| Study design | Randomized; Interventional; Design type: Treatment, Complementary Therapy |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Hospital |
| Study type | Treatment |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet |
| Scientific title | The effects of arthritis gloves on people with rheumatoid arthritis or early inflammatory arthritis with hand pain: a multicentre-randomised controlled trial |
| Study hypothesis | Hypothesis: The intervention gloves (as delivered in routine clinical care by OTs) compared to alternate gloves, do not affect hand pain, stiffness and function of people with RA or IA. Primary objective: To assess whether there is a clinically important difference in self-reported dominant hand pain during activity during the day between patients with RA or IA receiving intervention gloves delivered by clinical rheumatology occupational therapists in addition to usual care; compared to patients receiving alternate gloves delivered by clinical rheumatology occupational therapists plus usual care, in order to assess their clinical benefit to the patient. Secondary objectives: 1. Compare differences between these two groups for secondary outcomes of self-reported non- dominant hand pain during activity; dominant and non-dominant nocturnal hand pain, hand pain during the day at rest, hand stiffness, hand joint swelling, hand function, disability, adherence, and NHS costs, in order to assess their clinical benefit to the patient and cost-effectiveness to the NHS 2. Explore participants’ views of: the effects of arthritis (intervention and placebo) gloves on hand symptoms, function, and their daily lives; acceptability of glove wear; and how and when they prefer to use these |
| Ethics approval(s) | North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2, 05/08/2015, ref: 15/NS/0077 |
| Condition | Specialty: Musculoskeletal disorders, Primary sub-specialty: Metabolic bone disease |
| Intervention | Participants will be randomised into two treatment arms following completion of the baseline questionnaire, using a web-based system managed by Lancashire Clinical Trials Unit. Intervention group: Participants will receive correctly fitted mid-finger length Isotoner compression gloves. Control group: Participants receive mid-finger length Jobskin classic oedema gloves fitted at least one size too large so that they provide warmth but not therapeutic levels of compression. Intervention and alternate gloves will be fitted by Rheumatology occupational therapists who have attended the study training programme. Participants attend for one approximately 45 minute appointment in which gloves are fitted and provided, along with a standardised wear and care glove information leaflet. Participants are advised to wear the gloves either during the day and/ or at night, dependent on their clinical needs and as determined by the occupational therapists (OTs) fitting the gloves. Gloves are not worn continuously. Participants are also advised to regularly perform hand exercise and a hand exercise booklet with photos of exercises is provided. Additionally, they are given brief advice on joint protection and the Arthritis Research UK booklet "Looking After Your Joints when you have arthritis" is provided. Within two to three weeks, the participant attends for a 15 minute glove review appointment to check fit of gloves and for advice if any problems have arisen. If it is normal OT department policy for glove reviews, alternately a telephone review can be conducted or participants asked to contact the OT if problems arise. Participants are followed up after 12 weeks of glove wear. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | Dominant Hand Pain during activity is measured using a 0-10 numerical rating scale (NRS) at baseline and 12 weeks. Anchor points used are No Pain to Severe Pain |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. Non-dominant hand pain during activity; dominant and non-dominant hand pain at rest in the day, at rest in the night measured using a 0-10 numerical rating scale at baseline and 12 weeks. 2. Hand stiffness is measured using a 0-10 numerical rating scale (NRS) at baseline and 12 weeks 3. Self-reported hand condition is measured using a five point rating scale of very severe/severe/moderate/good/very good at baseline and 12 weeks 4. Hand Function is measured using the Measure of Activity Performance of the Hand (MAPHAND) and the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) at baseline and 12 weeks 5. Disability is measured using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (20 items of daily function) at baseline and 12 weeks 6. Health economic analysis is undertaken using the EQ5D-3L and a health resource use questionnaire at 12 weeks 7. Glove wear is measured through: 7.1. Questionnaire items at 12 weeks about: frequency and duration of glove wear during the day and/ or at night in the last 4 weeks; any benefits and/or problems resulting from glove wear 7.2. Qualitative interviews conducted with sub-sample of participants to explore their’ views on: benefits or negative effects of glove wear (including at work for those employed); glove appearance, quality, comfort, ease of applying; willingness to buy gloves in future at 12 weeks |
| Overall study start date | 01/09/2013 |
| Overall study end date | 02/03/2018 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | Planned Sample Size: 176; UK Sample Size: 176 |
| Total final enrolment | 206 |
| Participant inclusion criteria | 1. Adults (i.e. aged ≥18 years) with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) or Inflammatory Arthritis (IA: i.e. persistent synovitis in the hands with no other known cause but not yet meeting criteria for RA) diagnosed by a Rheumatology Consultant. Participants can have other hand conditions resulting from RA/ IA, e.g. hand osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, mild-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome. 2. Answering YES to the following agreed criteria for glove provision (devised by Rheumatology occupational therapists in North-West England): Do you have persistent pain in the finger and/or knuckle joints causing you at least one of the following: 2.1. Difficulty using hands during the day 2.2. Disturbed sleep 2.3. Limited ability to use your hands on waking/in the morning 3. Willing to wear arthritis gloves 4. Able to read and understand English? 5. Able to provide informed consent |
| Participant exclusion criteria | 1. Having any other diagnosed rheumatic conditions, such as gout, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, connective tissue disorders (systemic lupus, systemic sclerosis), resulting in inflammatory arthritis in the hand/s 2. Severe Raynaud’s disease or other circulatory disturbances in the hand 3. Severe neuropathies (nerve damage) in the hand 4. Severe hand deformities meaning putting gloves on and off is too difficult 5. Any contraindication (e.g. eczema, infections, broken skin) meaning glove wear could potentially pose an infection risk to the patient 6. Previously worn arthritis gloves (received either from occupational therapy, or bought themselves, as they will be aware the placebo gloves are insufficiently close fitting) 7. Not able to provide informed consent DEFERRED ENTRY: If the participant has had an intramuscular (IM) or intra-articular (IA) steroid injection, or started on oral steroids, in the last 6 weeks; but are eligible in all other respects. Study entry will be deferred until 6 weeks after the IM or IA injection/ start of oral steroids, has steroids usually are effective within 6 weeks. (Steroids could be a confounding variable if the gloves are provided at the same time). |
| Recruitment start date | 01/02/2016 |
| Recruitment end date | 30/04/2017 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- England
- Scotland
- United Kingdom
Study participating centres
Crewe
CW1 4QJ
United Kingdom
Northwich
CW8 1AW
United Kingdom
Macclesfield
SK10 3BL
United Kingdom
St Helens
WA10 3DA
United Kingdom
New Radcliffe Street
Oldham
OL1 1NL
United Kingdom
Southport
PR8 6PN
United Kingdom
Hexham
NE46 1QJ
United Kingdom
Barnstaple
EX31 4JB
United Kingdom
Trafford
M41 5SL
United Kingdom
Sheffield
S10 2JF
United Kingdom
Cannock
WS11 5XY
United Kingdom
Glasgow
G42 9TY
United Kingdom
Glasgow
G12 0YN
United Kingdom
Glasgow
G21 3UW
United Kingdom
Scunthorpe
DN15 7BH
United Kingdom
Grimsby
DN33 2BA
United Kingdom
Sutton-in-Ashfield
NG17 4JL
United Kingdom
Manchester
M8 5RB
United Kingdom
Rochdale
OL12 0NB
United Kingdom
St Albans
AL3 5PN
United Kingdom
Burslem
Stoke-on-Trent
ST6 7AG
United Kingdom
Leeds
LS7 4SA
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Hospital/treatment centre
Centre for Health Sciences Research
Allerton Building
Frederick Road
Salford
M6 6PU
England
United Kingdom
| Website | http://www.salford.ac.uk/health-sciences/research/research-programmes/rehabilitation-research |
|---|---|
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/01tmqtf75 |
Funders
Funder type
Government
Government organisation / National government
- Alternative name(s)
- National Institute for Health Research, NIHR Research, NIHRresearch, NIHR - National Institute for Health Research, NIHR (The National Institute for Health and Care Research), NIHR
- Location
- United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 31/03/2019 |
|---|---|
| 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 in circa March 2019. |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol article | protocol | 30/05/2017 | Yes | No | |
| Results article | results | 08/01/2021 | 11/01/2021 | Yes | No |
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No | ||
| Other publications | qualitative results | 12/02/2022 | 10/10/2023 | Yes | No |
| Other publications | questionnaire study results | 31/10/2022 | 10/10/2023 | Yes | No |
Editorial Notes
10/10/2023: Publication references added.
11/01/2021: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The total final enrolment was added.
05/06/2017: Publication reference added.
