title: SCORE study: quality indicators for rheumatology nursing clinics.
abstract: Nursing clinics in rheumatology (NCR) are organizational care models that provide care centred within the scope of nurses abilities. To analyse patients differences in the knowledge of the disease, adherence to the treatment, quality indicators of the Rheumatology Departments included quality perceived by the patients with and without NCR. National multicenter observational prospective cohort study 1 year follow-up, comparing patients attending rheumatology services with and without NCR. NCR was defined by the presence of: (1) office itself; (2) at least one dedicated nurse; (3) its own appointment schedule, and (4) phone. Variables included were (baseline and 12 months) Batalla, Haynes-Sackett, Morisky-Green and quality perceived tests. In addition, another specific questionnaire was drawn up to collect the healthcare, teaching and research activities of each Rheumatology Department. A total of 393 patients were included; 181 NCR and 212 not NCR, corresponding to 39 units, 21 with NCR and 18 without NCR (age 53 ± 11.8 vs 56 ± 13.5 years). Significant differences in favour of the NCR group were found in Haynes-Sackett (p = 0.033) and Morisky-Green (p = 0.03) tests in the basal visit. Significant differences were found in questions about "the courtesy and/or kindness received by the nurse", being "good or very good" in greater proportion in the NCR group. The publications from the last 5 years were significantly higher in the NCR group in both, national (p = 0.04) and international (p = 0.03) journals. A higher research activity and quality perceived by the patients are observed in the Rheumatology Departments with NCR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Infanta Sofía, San Sebastián de los Reyes (Madrid), Universidad Europea, Paseo de Europa 34, San Sebastián de los Reyes, 28702, Madrid, Spain. santiago.munoz@salud.madrid.org.
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2758-2085
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Fernández
authors.affiliation: Independent researcher in the field of Health Services Research, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ma Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Almodóvar
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Clinical Management Unit, Institute for Biomedical Research in Malaga (Instituto de Investigación biomédica de Málaga, IBIMA), Hospital Regional de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cano-García
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Section, Hospital de Sagunto, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fortea
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Department Research Unit, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina Patricia
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Alcañiz-Escandell
authors.affiliation: Hospital General de Vic, Vic, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: José R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cebrián
authors.affiliation: Independent researcher in the field of Health Services Research, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lázaro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses' / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000451:nursing*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Ankylosing spondylitis; Health services research; Nursing; Quality indicators; Rheumatoid arthritis