title: Patient involvement in the development of a handbook for moderate rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Self-management is a key recommendation for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Educational materials may support self-management, and increasingly patients are becoming involved with the development of these materials. The TITRATE trial compares the effectiveness of intensive management to standard care in patients with moderate RA across England. As part of the intensive management intervention, participants are given a handbook.
  
  
  
  The aim of this study was to develop a handbook to support the intensive management. The objectives were to: (i) involve patients in the identification of relevant information for inclusion in the TITRATE handbook; (ii) ensure the content of the handbook is acceptable and accessible.
  
  
  
  We held an audio-taped workshop with RA patients. The transcript of the workshop was analysed using thematic content analysis.
  
  
  
  Five main themes were identified as follows: 'rheumatoid arthritis treatment, perceptions of rheumatoid arthritis, the importance of individualized goals, benefits of self-management and the patient handbook'. Feedback from the workshop was incorporated into the handbook, and patients' anonymous testimonies were added.
  
  
  
  This study demonstrates that patient contribution to the development of educational material to support intensive management of RA is both feasible and valuable. A qualitative evaluation of the use and impact of the handbook with patients and practitioners is planned on completion of the TITRATE trial.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Trials Group, King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Weston Education Centre, London, UK.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prothero
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Trials Group, King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Weston Education Centre, London, UK.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Georgopoulou
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Trials Group, King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Weston Education Centre, London, UK.
authors.forename: Savia
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4953-3257
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK.
authors.forename: Ailsa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bosworth
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Physiotherapy, Division of Health and Social Care Research, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bearne
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Trials Group, King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Weston Education Centre, London, UK.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lempp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation; D012648:Self Care
keywords: intensive management; patient education; rheumatoid arthritis; self-management; user involvement