Perceptions of arthritis glove wear of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and persistent hand pain: A nested questionnaire study within the A‐Gloves trial

Hammond, Alison; Prior, Yeliz; Adams, Jo; Firth, Jill; O'Neill, T; Hough, Yvonne

Abstract

Introduction: Arthritis gloves are prescribed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to reduce hand pain, stiffness, and improve hand function. As part of a randomised controlled trial, this study investigated participants’ perceptions of wearing arthritis gloves.
Method: Participants with RA and persistent hand pain (n=206) were randomly assigned and prescribed either loose-fitting gloves (control) or arthritis gloves (intervention), for day and/ or night wear (as per individual need). At 12-weeks, the trial follow-up questionnaire also included items about whether the gloves prescribed were: beneficial or not; if yes, the benefits experienced; any problems encountered; if they stopped wearing gloves day and/or night, and why.
Results: The questionnaire response rate was 154/206 (75%). In both groups, 73% reported gloves were beneficial (p = 0.97). There were no differences in types of benefits reported. The most common were: warmth (59% control: 54% intervention; p = 0.53); and comfort (54%: 62%; p = 0.29). Fewer reported problems with glove wear in the control group (33%), compared to the intervention group (49%); p = 0.05. In both groups, the most common daytime problem was inability to wear gloves for wet or dirty activities; and at night, gloves being too hot. Similar numbers in the control and intervention groups stopped wearing gloves either day or night (23%: 31%; p = 0.26), primarily for these reasons.
Discussion: Participants’ perceptions about wearing arthritis or loose-fitting gloves were very similar. Wearing ordinary gloves could result in similar perceived benefits to arthritis gloves.

Citation

Hammond, A., Prior, Y., Adams, J., Firth, J., O'Neill, T., & Hough, Y. (2022). Perceptions of arthritis glove wear of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and persistent hand pain: A nested questionnaire study within the A‐Gloves trial. Musculoskeletal Care, 21(2), 405-416. https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.1709

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 18, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Oct 31, 2022
• Publication Date: Oct 31, 2022
• Deposit Date: Nov 4, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 4, 2022
• Journal: Musculoskeletal Care
• Print ISSN: 1478-2189
• Electronic ISSN: 1557-0681
• Publisher: Wiley
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 405-416
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.1709
• Keywords: Nursing (miscellaneous), Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Chiropractics, Rheumatology
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.1709
• Additional Information: Projects : The effects of compression gloves on people with Rheumatoid Arthritis or Early Inflammatory Arthritis with hand pain: a multi-centre randomised placebo-controlled trial