A STRUCTURED self-management intervention delivered alongside usual care may improve skills and quality of life in adults with newly diagnosed inflammatory arthritis, according to a multicentre randomised controlled trial protocol. The study will assess whether early, nurse led support strengthens self-management capacity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and axial spondyloarthritis, with potential implications for routine rheumatology practice.
Structured Self-Management Intervention Within Usual Care
The trial is designed as a pragmatic, multicentre randomised controlled study enrolling adults with a recent diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis. Participants are allocated to usual care alone or usual care plus a structured self-management intervention delivered by trained nurses. The intervention focuses on improving disease understanding, coping strategies, goal setting, and confidence in managing symptoms and treatment.
The primary outcome is improvement in self-management skills. Secondary outcomes include quality of life and other patient reported measures relevant to early disease adjustment. By embedding the programme within standard rheumatology services, investigators aim to evaluate effectiveness under real world clinical conditions rather than tightly controlled experimental settings.
The structured approach reflects increasing recognition that pharmacological management alone may not address the broader challenges faced by individuals adapting to a chronic inflammatory condition. Early support may influence long term engagement with care pathways and adherence to therapy.
Implications For Rheumatology Practice
Early inflammatory arthritis management increasingly prioritises shared decision making and patient activation alongside treat to target strategies. A scalable self-management intervention could complement existing clinical frameworks by promoting sustained symptom monitoring and proactive communication between patients and healthcare professionals.
Newly diagnosed patients frequently experience uncertainty, functional disruption, and psychological strain. Structured, nurse led support delivered at this stage may ease transition into long term disease management and foster confidence in self-care behaviours.
If the intervention demonstrates benefit, it could inform future service models and strengthen the role of specialist nurses within multidisciplinary rheumatology teams. As inflammatory arthritis requires ongoing monitoring and treatment adherence, enhancing self-management skills early in the disease course may translate into durable improvements in patient centred outcomes.
Reference
Effect of a self-management intervention for newly diagnosed inflammatory arthritis: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. 2025;26(1):594.
