EULAR recommendations for patient education for people with inflammatory arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
The task force aimed to: (1) develop evidence-based recommendations for patient education (PE) for people with inflammatory arthritis, (2) identify the need for further research on PE and (3) determine health professionals' educational needs in order to provide evidence-based PE.


METHODS
A multidisciplinary task force, representing 10 European countries, formulated a definition for PE and 10 research questions that guided a systematic literature review (SLR). The results from the SLR were discussed and used as a basis for developing the recommendations, a research agenda and an educational agenda. The recommendations were categorised according to level and strength of evidence graded from A (highest) to D (lowest). Task force members rated their agreement with each recommendation from 0 (total disagreement) to 10 (total agreement).


RESULTS
Based on the SLR and expert opinions, eight recommendations were developed, four with strength A evidence. The recommendations addressed when and by whom PE should be offered, modes and methods of delivery, theoretical framework, outcomes and evaluation. A high level of agreement was achieved for all recommendations (mean range 9.4-9.8). The task force proposed a research agenda and an educational agenda.


CONCLUSIONS
The eight evidence-based and expert opinion-based recommendations for PE for people with inflammatory arthritis are intended to provide a core framework for the delivery of PE and training for health professionals in delivering PE across Europe.
Department of Rheumatology, National Advisory Unit on Rehabilitation in Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Heidi A
HA
Zangi
School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK and Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Mwidimi
M
Ndosi
Centre for Innovation and Leadership in Health Faculty of Health Sciences University of Southampton Highfield, Southampton, UK.
Jo
J
Adams
Nyborg, Denmark.
Lena
L
Andersen
Department of Psychology, University of Twente, Health & Technology, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Christina
C
Bode
Division of physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Carina
C
Boström
Department of Patient & Care/ Department of Rheumatology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands CAPHRI, School for Public Health and Primary Care, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Yvonne
Y
van Eijk-Hustings
Sorbonne Universités, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Paris, France Department of rheumatology, AP-HP, Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France.
Laure
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4528-310X
L
Gossec
Institute of Rheumatology, Prague, Czech Republic.
Jana
J
Korandová
Department of National Team, Portuguese Cycling Federation, Lisbon, Portugal.
Gabriel
G
Mendes
Institute of Physiotherapy, School of Health Professions, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland.
Karin
K
Niedermann
Institute for Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark Hospital of Southern Jutland, Aabenraa, Denmark King Christian X's Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Graasten, Denmark.
Jette
J
Primdahl
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine 3, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Michaela
M
Stoffer
Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Marieke
M
Voshaar
Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Astrid
A
van Tubergen
D026683:Advisory Committees; D001168:Arthritis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005060:Europe; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing
Arthritis; Multidisciplinary team-care; Patient perspective