Rheumatoid Arthritis patients' experience of starting DMARDs v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the expectations, experiences, needs and concerns of people with Rheumatoid Arthritis starting a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD)
IRAS ID
295081
Contact name
Sarah J Ryan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Keele University
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, days
Research summary
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a long-term condition affecting around 1 in every hundred people. It causes joint pain, stiffness and swelling leading to difficulty with everyday activities such as washing, dressing, being able to work and getting around. Early treatment with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) is effective for many people. DMARDs don’t work straight away and long-term treatment is needed. DMARDs can cause side-effects such as mouth ulcers and feeling sick and so regular safety monitoring blood tests are needed to check for possible adverse effects of DMARDs.
People with Rheumatoid Arthritis receive information about DMARDs at drug counselling appointments, designed to address the benefits and possible side effects from taking DMARDs. Although there is written information for people starting DMARDs we need to understand more about what information people with Rheumatoid Arthritis want when starting DMARDs and how this should be provided. We will interview a broad range of people with Rheumatoid Arthritis before and after receiving information about DMARDs at two different Rheumatology units. This will help us understand whether current practice meets people’s needs. We will learn what information people with Rheumatoid Arthritis want and how they want to receive it, and their concerns about starting DMARDs. We will use the results to work with people with Rheumatoid Arthritis and clinicians to find ways of providing DMARD counselling that meets patient and safety requirements and supports people with RA and their clinicians to make shared treatment decisions. Understanding people’s needs and concerns will help healthcare providers to plan and deliver appropriate Rheumatology services.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/NW/0227
Date of REC Opinion
8 Sep 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion