Use of cognitive-behavioural arthritis education programmes in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis

Freeman, K; Hammond, A; Lincoln, NB

Abstract

Objective: To identify the effect of attending a cognitive-behavioural arthritis
education programme on the health status of participants with newly
diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with a control group.
Design: Randomized controlled trial.
Setting: Hospital based.
Subjects: Newly diagnosed with RA.
Intervention: Participation in either a cognitive-behavioural arthritis education
programme or a standard arthritis education programme (control group).
Sessions for both groups lasted for 2 hours per week for four weeks.
Subjects were examined at home by an assessor blinded to group allocation,
prior to and three and six months following attendance.
Outcome measures: The main outcome measure was the Physical Function
subscale of the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale Two. Other outcome
measures included erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), joint count scores,
assessments of pain and psychological status.
Results: Fifty-four subjects (mean time since diagnosis 4.5 months) took part.
Baseline analysis revealed that the control group had significantly better levels
of functional ability (U = 185; p = 0.009) and lower levels of helplessness
(U = 168; p = 0.002) prior to intervention. This difference remained unchanged
three months later. Six months following the intervention no signi�cant
differences were noted between the groups for any measure of health status.
There were no significant changes in health status over time in either group.
Conclusion: Attending a cognitive-behavioural arthritis education programme
had no significant effect on the health status of individuals newly diagnosed
with RA. The move to early use of these programmes should be examined
further, with a larger sample size and longer duration of follow-up.

Citation

Freeman, K., Hammond, A., & Lincoln, N. (2002). Use of cognitive-behavioural arthritis education programmes in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis. Clinical Rehabilitation, 16(8), 828. https://doi.org/10.1191/0269215502cr565oa

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2002
• Deposit Date: Oct 29, 2010
• Journal: Clinical Rehabilitation
• Print ISSN: 0269-2155
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 828
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1191/0269215502cr565oa
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215502cr565oa