title: Survey on attitudes regarding EULAR recommendations for the role of nurses involved in medical care of patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We seek to evaluate the opinions of nurses and doctors in Japan regarding EULAR recommendations for nurses' roles in the management of chronic inflammatory arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional survey within Japan. We randomly selected nurses and doctors engaged in consultation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and assessed their agreement and opinions on the feasibility of implementing EULAR recommendations, including potential barriers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  431 nurses and 128 doctors completed the questionnaire. For both nurses and doctors, levels of feasibility showed statistically significant lower results compared with those of agreement for all items. When compared between nurses and doctors, agreement showed no statistically significant differences, while nurses' answers were statistically significant lower for feasibility. Insufficient time, staff and knowledge, lack of established procedures and facilities, and lack of an education system for nurses were cited as barriers to the feasibility of implementing EULAR recommendations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first survey within Japan evaluating opinions regarding EULAR recommendations for nurses' roles. We found that while agreement was high, feasibility was generally believed to be low. We recommend further research and collaboration between medical professionals in order to implement these recommendations in Japan.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Nursing , NTT West Osaka Hospital , Osaka , Japan.
authors.forename: Mie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fusama
authors.affiliation: b Division of Allergy, Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine , NTT West Osaka Hospital , Osaka , Japan.
authors.forename: Hideko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakahara
authors.affiliation: c Department of Patient & Care and Department of Rheumatology , University of Maastricht , Maastricht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: van Eijk-Hustings
authors.affiliation: d Susan Oliver Associates , North Devon , UK , and.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.affiliation: e Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine , Keio University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000451:nursing*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000523:psychology; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000379:methods; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: EULAR recommendations; Education; Nurses’ role; Rheumatoid arthritis; Treat to target