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Introduction: Public and health professional involvement (PHPI) is essential in healthcare research yet uncommonly integrated into systematic reviews. We incorporated and evaluated PHPI in a mixed methods review of occupational therapy for self-management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Public partners were living with or caring for someone with RA. Our steering group comprised two public, two professionals (one occupational therapist, one rheumatologist), and one reviewer who planned the review's PHPI (August 2021). Involvement was evaluated from public and health professional (PHP) perspectives using a survey and workshops (August–October 2022) exploring reasons for involvement, challenges and learning opportunities. Results: Alongside the steering group, 16 public and 6 professionals were involved throughout the review. Five public refined the search strategy, with three assisting in subsequent review activities. PHPs helped interpret findings during three public (n = 12) and one professional workshop (n = 4). Three occupational therapists and one public co-authored (ED) publications. In evaluation, PHPs felt valued and that their involvement was well-integrated. The researchers underestimated the time required for communicating and conducting PHPI in the review. Conclusions: PHPI is worthwhile, feasible and can be integrated within a systematic review. PHP partners considered participation valuable; researchers must prioritise time to prepare and communicate PHPI activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the impact of occupational therapy (OT) on the self‐management of function, pain, fatigue, and lived experience for people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Five databases and gray literature were searched up to June 30, 2022. Three reviewers screened titles and abstracts, with two independently extracting and assessing full texts using the Cochrane risk of bias (quantitative) and Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (qualitative) tools to assess study quality. Studies were categorized into four intervention types. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) (quantitative) and GRADE‐ Confidence in Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research (qualitative) were used to assess the quality of evidence for each intervention type. Results: Of 39 eligible papers, 29 were quantitative (n = 2,029), 4 qualitative (n = 50), and 6 mixed methods (n = 896). Good evidence supports patient education and behavior change programs for improving pain and function, particularly group sessions of joint protection education, but these do not translate to long‐term improvements for RA (>24 months). Comprehensive OT had mixed evidence (limited to home OT and an arthritis gloves program), whereas limited evidence was available for qualitative insights, splints and assistive devices, and self‐management for fatigue. Conclusion: Although patient education is promising for self‐managing RA, no strong evidence was found to support OT programs for self‐managing fatigue or patient experience and long‐term effectiveness. More research is required on lived experience, and the long‐term efficacy of self‐management approaches incorporating OT, particularly timing programs to meet the individual's conditional needs (i.e., early or established RA) to build on the few studies to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Arthritis gloves are prescribed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to reduce hand pain, stiffness, and improve hand function. As part of a randomised controlled trial, this study investigated participants' perceptions of wearing arthritis gloves. Method: Participants with RA and persistent hand pain (n = 206) were randomly assigned and prescribed either loose‐fitting gloves (control) or arthritis gloves (intervention), for day and/or night wear (as per individual need). At 12‐weeks, the trial follow‐up questionnaire also included items about whether the gloves prescribed were: beneficial or not; if yes, the benefits experienced; any problems encountered; if they stopped wearing gloves day and/or night, and why. Results: The questionnaire response rate was 154/206 (75%). In both groups, 73% reported gloves were beneficial (p = 0.97). There were no differences in types of benefits reported. The most common were: warmth (59% control: 54% intervention; p = 0.53); and comfort (54%: 62%; p = 0.29). Fewer reported problems with glove wear in the control group (33%), compared to the intervention group (49%); p = 0.05. In both groups, the most common daytime problem was inability to wear gloves for wet or dirty activities; and at night, gloves being too hot. Similar numbers in the control and intervention groups stopped wearing gloves either day or night (23%: 31%; p = 0.26), primarily for these reasons. Discussion: Participants' perceptions about wearing arthritis or loose‐fitting gloves were very similar. Wearing ordinary gloves could result in similar perceived benefits to arthritis gloves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic on self‐care of individuals living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Guided by a constructivist, qualitative design, we conducted one‐to‐one in‐depth telephone interviews between March and October 2020 with participants with RA purposively sampled for maximum variation in age, sex and education, who were participating in one of two ongoing randomized‐controlled trials. An inductive, reflexive thematic analysis approach was used. Results: Twenty‐six participants (aged 27–73 years; 23 females) in British Columbia, Canada were interviewed. We identified three themes: (1) Adapting to maintain self‐care describes how participants took measures to continue self‐care activities while preventing virus transmissions. While spending more time at home, some participants reported improved self‐care. (2) Managing emotions describes resilience‐building strategies such as keeping perspective, positive reframing and avoiding negative thoughts. Participants described both letting go and maintaining a sense of control to accommodate difficulties and emotional responses. (3) Changing communication with health professionals outlined positive experiences of remote consultations with health professionals, particularly if good relationships had been established prepandemic. Conclusion: The insights gained may inform clinicians and researchers on ways to support the self‐care strategies of individuals with RA and other chronic illnesses during and after the COVID‐19 pandemic. The findings reveal opportunities to further examine remote consultations to optimize patient engagement and care. Patient or Public Contribution: This project is jointly designed and conducted with patient partners in British Columbia, Canada. Patient partners across the United Kingdom also played in a key role in providing interpretations of themes during data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed for pain and inflammation. NSAID complications include acute kidney injury (AKI), causing burden to patients and health services through increased morbidity, mortality, and hospital admissions. Aim: To measure the extent of NSAID prescribing in an adult population, the degree to which patients with potential higher risk of AKI were exposed to NSAIDs, and to quantify their risk of AKI. Design & setting: Retrospective 2-year closed-cohort study. Method: A retrospective cohort of adults was identified from a pseudonymised electronic primary care database in Hampshire, UK. The cohort had clinical information, prescribing data, and complete GP- and hospital-ordered biochemistry data. NSAID exposure (minimum one prescription in a 2-month period) was categorised as never, intermittent, and continuous, and first AKI using the national AKI e-alert algorithm. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to explore NSAID prescribing patterns and AKI risk. Results: The baseline population was 702 265. NSAID prescription fell from 19 364 (2.8%) to 16 251 (2.4%) over 2 years. NSAID prescribing was positively associated with older age, female sex, greater socioeconomic deprivation, and certain comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis) and negatively with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and heart failure. Among those prescribed NSAIDs, AKI was associated with older age, greater deprivation, chronic kidney disease (CKD), CVD, heart failure, diabetes, and hypertension. Conclusion: Despite generally good prescribing practice, NSAID prescribing was identified in some people at higher risk of AKI (for example, patients with CKD and older) for whom medication review and NSAID deprescribing should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale-8 (ASES-8) is one of the most commonly used scales to measure patient-reported arthritis-specific self-efficacy. However, evidence about the validity and reliability of ASES-8 in an Arabic-speaking arthritis population is lacking. This study aimed to cross-culturally adapt and assess aspects of validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the ASES-8. The ASES-8 was translated into the Arabic language using the back-translation method, and administered to 67 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Construct validation methods used exploratory factor analysis and correlating the ASES-8 scores with disease-related variables expected to be related to the arthritis self-efficacy construct. An internal consistency test was conducted. Floor and ceiling effects were considered present if more than 15% of patients achieved high (=10) and low (=1) scores on the Arabic ASES-8 for both the scale and item scores. Exploratory factor analysis demonstrated a one-factor solution (factor loadings: 0.54–0.81). ASES-8 scores were correlated with all measures assessed (r = −0.24 to −0.57 and r = 0.06–0.66), demonstrating construct validity. Internal consistency was acceptable for measures of Cronbach's alpha (0.86–0.88). The scale did not exhibit ceiling or floor effects. The Arabic version of ASES-8 is valid and reliable for evaluating self-efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale (ASES-8) questionnaire was translated and adapted for use in Arabic language. This questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating self-efficacy among Arabic individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. This will support greater use of this tool worldwide in clinical and research practices that include Arabic people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]