Publication: THE EFFECT OF PATIENT EDUCATION ON OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: AN UMBRELLA REVIEW
Loading...
Date
2024-04-18
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type
Abstract
Abstract
Background:
According to the World Health Organization in 2019, 18 million people worldwide were living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Self-management education is intended to allow persons with RA to manage some aspects of their disease independently, such as function, mental health, pain management, and quality of life. The purpose of this umbrella review was to clarify the efficacy of patient education on function, pain, self-efficacy, and quality of life of those with RA.
Methods:
A review of existing literature was conducted following the JBI Manual and PRISMA guidelines, utilizing the PICO question ‘In adults with RA, does patient education compared to no education affect the outcomes of function, pain, self-efficacy, and quality of life?’. The following databases were searched: ERIC, Medline/PubMED, Cochrane, Ovid, and CINAHL. A total of 220 articles were initially selected. After abstract and full article screening by the 5 researchers, a total of 9 systematic reviews were included.
Results:
The most consistent evidence in support of patient education was for the outcomes of reducing pain and depression in patients with RA. Self-management techniques demonstrated strong evidence for the improvement of joint pain. Under quality of life, specifically for depression, there was moderate evidence in support of patient education.
Conclusion:
Although there was evidence suggesting patient education had positive effects on depression and pain, gaps in the literature remained. Limitations to this study included possible missed article extraction due to words/phrases searched, inherent bias in appraisal and article selection, reporting of existing reviews, and nonconformity of outcome measures utilized in the literature. Recommendations included a focus on patient education techniques for those with pain and depression as their dominant symptoms. Further research was suggested regarding the effect of education on quality of life and function, as well as the efficacy of specific modes of education available.