com
ARD Online First, published on July 10, 2015 as 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-207171
Clinical and epidemiological research
EXTENDED REPORT
Handling editor Tore K Kvien ABSTRACT functioning, which contributes signicantly to the
Additional material is Objectives The Educational Needs Assessment Tool burden of disease.24 The primary goal of treat-
published online only. To view (ENAT) is a self-completed questionnaire, which allows ment is to suppress disease activity, thus preventing
please visit the journal online patients with arthritis to prioritise their educational structural damage and optimising function and
(http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/
annrheumdis-2014-207171).
needs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects social participation.5
1
of needs-based patient education on self-efcacy, health Patient education can be dened as planned orga-
Leeds Institute of Rheumatic outcomes and patient knowledge in people with nised learning experiences designed to support
and Musculoskeletal Medicine,
University of Leeds, Leeds, UK rheumatoid arthritis (RA). and enable people to manage life with their condi-
2
School of Healthcare, Methods Patients with RA were enrolled into this tion and optimise their health and well-being.6
University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
3
multicentre, single-blind, parallel-group, pragmatic Patient education has been recommended as an
Department of Rheumatology, randomised controlled trial. Patients were randomised to integral part of management in RA as this prepares
Barnsley Hospital NHS
Foundation Trust, Barnsley, UK
either the intervention group (IG) where patients the patient to undertake self-management activities
4
Research & Development completed ENAT, responses of which were used by the and adhere to all their treatments.68 Patient educa-
Department, Barnsley Hospital clinical nurse specialist to guide patient education; or tion needs to aim at improving patients self-
NHS Foundation Trust, control group (CG) in which they received patient efcacy as this is a predictor of self-management
Barnsley, UK education without the use of ENAT. Patients were seen and other health outcomes.912 Furthermore, there
5
School of Health and Related
Research, University of at weeks 0, 16 and 32. The primary outcome was self- is now an understanding that effective management
Shefeld, Shefeld, UK efcacy (Arthritis Self Efcacy Scale (ASES)-Pain and of chronic conditions must be based on shared
6
Department of Rheumatology, ASES-Other symptoms). Secondary outcomes were health decision-making between the patient and healthcare
Rotherham Hospital NHS status (short form of Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale providers,10 13 the principle which underlies the
Foundation Trust, Rotherham,
UK 2, AIMS2-SF) and patient knowledge questionnaire-RA. current RA treatment recommendations.5 14 15
7
Department of Rheumatology, We investigated between-group differences using In rheumatology services, provision of patient
King George Hospital, Barking analysis of covariance, adjusting for baseline variables. education is considered to be an important role of
Havering and Redbridge Results A total of 132 patients were recruited (IG=70 the rheumatology nurses8 16 17 and patients value
University Hospitals NHS Trust,
and CG=62). Their mean (SD) age was 54 (12.3) years, the education received from them.1822 This has
Ilford, UK
56 (13.3) years and disease duration 5.2 (4.9) years, been supported by nurse-led care effectiveness
Correspondence to 6.7 (8.9) years for IG and CG, respectively. There were randomised controlled trials (RCTs)2127 and
Dr M Ndosi, School of signicant between-group differences, in favour of IG at European League against Rheumatism (EULAR)
Healthcare, University of Leeds, week 32 in the primary outcomes, ASES-Pain, mean recommendations for the role of the nurse in
Baines Wing, Leeds LS2 9JT,
UK; m.e.ndosi@leeds.ac.uk difference (95% CI) 4.36 (1.17 to 7.55), t=2.72, inammatory arthritis.28 Although people with RA
p=0.008 and ASES-Other symptoms, mean difference value patient education, there may be a discrepancy
Received 17 December 2014 (95% CI) 5.84 (2.07 to 9.62), t=3.07, p=0.003. In between their perception of their educational needs
Revised 8 June 2015 secondary outcomes, the between-group differences and the perception of their providers.29 If the pro-
Accepted 9 June 2015
favoured IG in AIMS2-SF Symptoms and AIMS2-SF vided education does not match patients perceived
Affect. There were no between-group differences in other educational needs, it may not be acted upon, which
secondary outcomes. would be a waste of health service resource. The
Conclusions The results suggest that needs-based Educational Needs Assessment Tool (ENAT) is a
education helps improve patients self-efcacy and some self-completed questionnaire, which allows patients
aspects of health status. with arthritis to prioritise their educational
Trial registration number ISRCTN51523281. needs.30 The tool was developed with patients and
it has 39 items which are grouped into seven
domains: managing pain, movement, feelings, arth-
INTRODUCTION ritis process, treatments, self-help measures and
To cite: Ndosi M, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic chronic support. ENAT has been validated as a generic
Johnson D, Young T, et al.
inammatory disease characterised by joint swel- instrument for rheumatic diseases across nine
Ann Rheum Dis Published
Online First: [ please include ling, joint tenderness and destruction of synovial European countries.3133 It can be used as a clinical
Day Month Year] joints, potentially leading to severe disability and tool to guide patient education or as an outcome
doi:10.1136/annrheumdis- premature mortality.1 2 RA has a negative impact measure in research. Completion of ENAT just
2014-207171 on individuals physical and psychological before the clinical consultation enables the health
Ndosi M, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2015;0:17. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-207171 1
Copyright Article author (or their employer) 2015. Produced by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (& EULAR) under licence.
Downloaded from http://ard.bmj.com/ on April 26, 2016 - Published by group.bmj.com
professional to provide education based on the patients imme- responses were used to guide patient education. The clinical
diate priorities. nurse specialists (CNS) who provided the patient education
Recently, EULAR evidence-based recommendations for were not blinded.
patient education in inammatory arthritis have been published6
and they have recommended that content and delivery of Interventions
patient education should be individually tailored and needs- Rheumatology CNS saw all patients (CG and IG) in the clinic
based. Recent systematic reviews6 11 34 and RCTs12 21 22 have on three occasions, at weeks 0, 16 and 32. These time points
shown that tailored patient education is likely to improve health relate to the normal follow-up practice. As a part of the usual
outcomes including self-efcacy. Two of the RCTs21 22 used care, the CNS monitored disease activity, other symptoms and
ENAT as an outcome measure but not as a clinical tool to guide patient coping, adherence to treatments and side effects. Other
individual patient education. The present study is the rst RCT activities included making referrals to other health professionals,
to use ENAT as part of the intervention. The aim of this study providing psychosocial support and giving patient education
was to evaluate the effects of needs-based patient education on without the use of ENAT. Consultations in IG were similar to
self-efcacy, patient knowledge and health status ( physical func- CG except that patients completed ENAT at each clinic visit,
tion, symptoms, role/work, social interaction and psychological prior to their consultation with the CNS and their responses
status/affect). were used to direct patient education at that time. After each
consultation in both groups, the CNS completed a form to
METHODS record the patient education which has been provided.
Study design
This was a multicentre, single-blind, parallel-group, pragmatic Outcome measures
RCT conducted between April 2010 and August 2013. The trial The primary outcome was perceived self-efcacy, measured by
comprised two groups: (1) The need-based patient education the short form of the Arthritis Self Efcacy Scale (ASES)39 at
(the intervention group, IG) and (2) patient education given in week 32. The questionnaire has been validated in the UK and it
the usual way, without the use of ENAT (the control group, has two subscales ASES-Pain and ASES-Other symptoms with
CG). The study was conducted in accordance with Good score ranges 550 and 660, respectively, higher scores reect-
Clinical Practice in research and the Research Governance ing higher self-efcacy. Secondary outcomes were: (1) disease-
Framework for Health and Social Care.35 All patients gave their specic health status assessed by the short form of Arthritis
written consent after having received full information about the Impact Measurement Scale 2 (AIMS2-SF),40 which measures
study objectives and content. This trial was registered physical function, symptoms ( pain, stiffness and sleep), role,
(ISRCTN51523281) and the protocol has been published social interaction and psychological status. AIMS2-SF is a valid
elsewhere.36 and reliable measure in RA and each subscale score ranges from
0 to 10, 0 being good health status,40 and (2) patient knowledge
Participants and randomisation of their disease, measured by Patient Knowledge Questionnaire
Patients were identied from the lists of new clinic referrals at (PKQ-RA).41 PKQ-RA has been shown to be a valid, reliable
six rheumatology centres in Yorkshire, Shropshire, Coventry, and sensitive tool for measuring the acquisition of RA knowl-
Devon and London, UK. The inclusion criteria were: a positive edge following educational intervention.41 The score ranges
diagnosis of RA done by a rheumatologist, using the 1987 from 0 to 12, higher scores indicating higher level of knowl-
American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria37 or the edge. All outcomes were measured at weeks 0, 16 and 32.
2010 ACR/EULAR criteria38 and age 18 years or older. The Attempts were made to follow-up all randomised participants
exclusion criteria were: suffering from a severe mental health with incomplete data, by telephone and letters with follow-up
problem and inability to complete questionnaire unaided. questionnaires. Additionally, although in this study, ENAT was
Patients who fullled the inclusion criteria were sent a study used as a clinical tool and not as an outcome measure, we ana-
invitation letter with patient information sheet by post. At each lysed ENAT scores of IG aiming to assess possible trends in
centre, patients were approached by a recruiter (a research nurse patients educational needs over time.
or a research associate) who was not involved in giving study
interventions. Those who agreed to participate were asked to Sample size calculation
attend their usual clinic appointment and their written consent The sample size calculation was based on the clinically meaning-
was sought at this visit. Following informed consent, patients ful change in the ASES (ASES-Pain and ASES-Other symptoms)
were randomised on a 1:1 basis to either the needs-based educa- scores.39 Assuming a mean difference of 5.5 (SD=10.0) as
tion group or the usual care group. The randomisation was by being clinically meaningful for the ASES-Pain and ASES-Other
block randomisation done by computer generated random symptoms scales with a 5% signicance level and 80% power,
numbers. The results of the randomisation were held at each 52 patients were needed per arm of the trial (total=104). To
centre in sealed in brown envelopes. allow for a 25% dropout rate, 130 patients were recruited.
cases.42 Age, gender, treatment group and baseline PKQ, Figure 1 presents the patient ow chart and table 1 presents the
ASES-Pain and ASES-Other symptoms scores and AIMS2-SF patient characteristics (and baseline values of outcome measures)
symptoms, affect, physical and social scores were included in by treatment group.
the imputation model. All analyses were then undertaken on an
intention-to-treat basis except for the AIMS2-SF work data, Group differences in the interventions
which followed a complete case analysis approach. A conserva- The interventions undertaken by both groups are summarised in
tive complete case analysis of all data was also undertaken to the online supplementary table S1. At week 16, there were no
assess the effect of the missing data. Summary statistics are pre- signicant differences between the two groups in the number of
sented as means and 95% CIs for continuous variables and interventions. At week 32, patients under CG were more likely
numbers and percentages for categories. Differences between to have medication or dosage changes than IG. Predictably,
treatment groups were investigated using 2 test (Fishers exact more patients under CG received patient education on drug
test if the expected cell counts were less than ve) or t test for therapy than those in the ENAT group. There were no signi-
categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Repeated cant differences between the two groups in the mean consult-
measures analysis of variance was used to look for trends over ation times and number of referrals to other healthcare workers.
time. All analyses were adjusted for baseline values using ana-
lysis of covariance. Bonferroni correction was applied to the
p values for the primary outcomes ASES-Pain and ASES-Other Patient outcomes in the follow-up period
symptoms in order to avoid type I errors due to multiple Table 2 presents the between-group differences after adjusting
testing.43 Thus for the primary outcome measures p<0.025 was for baseline values using analysis of covariance in self-efcacy
regarded as statistically signicant and p<0.05 was regarded as (ASES) and health status (AIMS2-SF) outcomes at week 16 and
statistically signicant for all other tests. STATA V.1244 was used week 32. Table 3 presents the mean score changes over time for
for all analyses. self-efcacy, health status and patients knowledge of their RA
over the whole follow-up period (results of repeated measure
analysis of variance).
RESULTS
Participant characteristics and baseline scores by treatment Self-efcacy
group At week 16 there were no signicant between-group differences
A total of 132 patients were entered into the study (CG, 62 and in the ASES scores. At week 32 however, mean scores for
IG, 70). Of the 132 patients who entered the study; 128 (97%) ASES-Pain and ASES-Other symptoms were higher for IG than
completed the questionnaires at baseline (60 (97%) CG, 68 CG; ASES-Pain mean difference=4.36, 95% CI 1.17 to 7.55;
(97%) IG), 116 (88%) at week 16 (53 (85%) CG, 63 (90%) IG) t=2.72, p=0.008; ASES-Other symptoms mean differ-
and 102 (77%) at week 32 (47 (76%) CG, 55 (79%) IG). ence=5.84, 95% CI 2.07 to 9.62; t=3.07, p=0.003
Figure 1 Study ow chart/*shared care, Clinical Nurse Specialist care was transferred to the primary care by the hospital.
Table 2 Follow-up data for self-efficacy and health status and between-group differences after adjusting for baseline values using analysis of
covariance (results of intention-to-treat analyses)
Mean difference
Control group (N=60) Intervention group (N=68)
Domaintime point (range) Mean (95% CI) Mean (95% CI) ENAT-usual care (95% CI) T-statistic (p value)
Table 3 Mean score changes (95% CI) in the outcome measures over time*
Week 0 Week 16 Week 32
Control group (N=60) Mean (95% CI) Mean (95% CI) Mean (95% CI) F2,118 (p value)
Intervention group (N=68) Mean (95% CI) Mean (95% CI) Mean (95% CI) F2,134 (p value)
0 vs week 16 x23 =5.12, p=0.163; week 0 vs week 32x23 =8.06, measure, this was the rst RCT to assess its effects on patients
p=0.045). The ENAT domain scores dropped between week 0 outcomes. This pragmatic study has demonstrated the effects of
and week 16. Repeated measures analysis revealed signicant using ENAT as a template from which to give need-based
decrease in all ENAT domain scores (except feelings) and the patient education in normal clinical settings. In this study,
total ENAT score. although both groups were provided with patient education by
an experienced CNS and had the same consultation duration,
DISCUSSION IG saw signicant improvements in self-efcacy and some
While ENAT has been validated in several countries across aspects of health status compared with CG at 32 weeks
Europe3133 and it has been used in research as an outcome follow-up. This suggests that the needs-based education adds
Table 4 Change in educational needs assessment tool (ENAT) scores* over time
Week 0 (N=68) Week 16 (N=68) Week 32 (N=68)
ENAT domains (score range)* Mean*(95% CI) Mean* (95% CI) Mean* (95% CI) F2,107 (p value)
Managing pain (018) 13.3 (12.4 to 14.2) 12.2 (11.1 to 13.3) 11.5 (10.5 to 12.5) 8.07 (0.001)
Movement (015) 11.0 (10.3 to 11.7) 10.0 (9.1 to 10.9) 9.9 (9.1 to 10.7) 3.16 (0.046)
Feelings (012) 7.7 (6.9 to 8.5) 6.9 (6.0 to 7.9) 6.9 (6.1 to 7.7) 2.09 (0.129)
Arthritis process (021) 16.0 (15.1 to 17.0) 14.2 (13.0 to 15.3) 14.2 (13.0 to 15.4) 6.23 (0.003)
Treatments (021) 15.4 (14.3 to 16.5) 14.5 (13.4 to 15.5) 13.7 (12.6 to 14.8) 3.46 (0.035)
Self-help measures (018) 12.6 (11.6 to 13.6) 11.3 (10.2 to 12.4) 10.7 (9.6 to 11.9) 8.02 (0.001)
Support (012) 7.9 (7.3 to 8.5) 7.3 (6.5 to 8.1) 6.5 (5.8 to 7.3) 5.93 (0.004)
Total ENAT score (0117) 83.9 (79.2 to 88.6) 76.3 (70.4 to 82.3) 73.8 (67.8 to 79.7) 7.53 (0.001)
*The ENAT domain scores are Rasch-transformed values, see scoring guide in the online supplementary material.
value to this provision by improving self-efcacy and by ensur- changes in the AIMS2-SF subscales are large enough to be clin-
ing that patients priority educational needs are being met. ically signicant. Third, the effectiveness of individual patient
Self-efcacy is important for people with arthritis who are education may be inuenced by how CNS relate to their
expected to undertake self-management activities and adhere to patients. Since we did not measure this factor, and given that
different therapeutic interventions in addition to their family both interventions were provided by the same CNS, there may
roles and work. In chronic disease, self-efcacy has been shown be a potential risk of performance bias by the intervention pro-
to mediate the effects of education onto other outcomes such as viders. Lastly, since the practitioners participating in this study
pain, physical health status and mental health status and were all CNS running nurse-led clinics, we do not know if
health-related quality of life.9 11 12 This is likely to explain the ENAT would have had the same effects in rheumatologist-led
improvement in the AIMS2-SF symptoms and AIMS2-SF affect clinics. Since rheumatologists clinics are characterised by
that was seen in IG. In a 5-year observational study, Brekke problem-based interaction style and provision of factual biomed-
et al9 found signicant correlations between changes in self- ical information,46 47 it is plausible to expect at least the same
efcacy and changes in AIMS2-Symptoms and AIMS2-Affect results from the use of ENAT in their consultations.
but not the AIMS2-Physical or AIMS2-Social subscales. It is In conclusion, since targeted education is recommended as an
perhaps not surprising that our 6-month study did not show integral part of management of RA,6 8 ENAT is a worthy tool
improvements in these subscales. which should be given serious consideration as a template upon
The results on overall patient knowledge were interesting as which to guide individualised patient education. The results of
there were no signicant between-group differences in the mean this RCT suggest that need-based education helps improve
PKQ scores at any time point. However, the PKQ scores within patients self-efcacy and some aspects of health status. Further
IG increased signicantly, coupled with a decrease in their research is required to determine the time in the RA trajectory
ENAT scores, which suggests that patients specic educational where focused, patient-centred education has its maximum
needs were being met. It is worth pointing out here that ENAT effects. Future developments of ENAT will ensure that the tool
is meant to assess patients educational needs, not knowledge, remains current and useful in connecting patients to available
therefore the use of ENAT may not result in an increase in the resources and services.
overall knowledge about RA. It is hoped that the clinician will
use their own assessment skills in addition to ENAT as a simple Acknowledgements The authors thank all the patients who participated in this
tool to objectively address areas that are of greatest need from study. The authors thank Sheena Hennell for permission to use the PKQ and Francis
the patients point of view. Once the clinician has addressed Guillemin for permission to use AIMS2-SF. The authors thank the following
patients priority educational needs, other important aspects of participating investigators, practitioners and administrative staff for their help in
patient recruitment process and acquisition of data: Caroline Rooke, Karen Bruce
patient education can be introduced such as need for switching from Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Susan Elsey from Rotherham NHS
drugs or cardiovascular risks. Foundation Trust; Ayman Askari, A Alansari, Jayne Edwards, Julie Huxley, Susan
Qualitative study of patients views and clinical usability of Morris, Mark Garton, Robin Butler and Catherine Whittall from The Robert Jones
ENAT has demonstrated patients and nurses acceptability of and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust; Christine Dixon, Melanie Stone,
Katrina Greeneld, Elaine Wren and Julie Easterbrook from South Devon Healthcare
the tool.45 Patients completion of ENAT enables them to think NHS Foundation Trust; Andreas Georgiou, Diana Simeon from King George Hospital,
of questions which they would not have otherwise considered, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust; Shirish Dubey,
this helps them to objectively and effectively identify their own Kaushik Chaudhuri, Sab Kular and Vivian Montgomery from University Hospitals
educational needs and helps the clinicians to target areas that Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. The authors thank members of the Steering
are often overlooked but important to patients such as sexual Committee and the study support team. The trial steering committee (independent
members) comprises: Dr Michael Green, Dr Jill Firth, Tony Murray, Pat Armstrong
activity and support groups. This needs-based approach is likely and Jean Allen. The study support team comprises: Helen Greenwood and Helen
to ensure that patients educational needs are being met effect- Jones. The authors thank the National Institute for Health Research for funding this
ively and that they are enabled to self-manage their disease and study and the UK Clinical Research Network for providing infrastructure support in
maximise their coping strategies. all participating NHS trust hospitals.
This study had four main strengths. First, being a pragmatic Contributors AA, BH, CH, JH, MN and TY participated in the study conception
RCT implies that the effects of ENAT demonstrated in this and design, drafted the article and revised it critically for important intellectual
content. DJ, JM and ER participated in the study conception and design,
study have taken into account everyday clinical practice, contributed to acquisition of data, drafted the article and revised it critically for
meaning that it is feasible to use ENAT in normal clinical set- important intellectual content. All coauthors approved the nal version of the
tings and expect similar results. Second, being a multicentre manuscripts to be published. DJ and TY had full access to all of the data in the
study, the results are applicable to more than just one centre. study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the
data analysis.
Third, being a single-blind ( participants) RCT helped reduce
biased responses. Lastly, undertaking an intention-to-treat ana- Funding This paper presents independent research funded by the National Institute
of Health Research (NIHR) under its Research-for-Patient-Benet grant (grant
lysis with multiple imputations for the missing values, helped to
number PB-PG-0408-16106). The views expressed are those of the authors and not
reduce bias in the assessment of treatment effects. The excep- necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health. The study was
tion to this approach was the AIMS2-SF work data which was adopted by the UKCLRN Portfolio (number 9230) and Barnsley Hospital NHS
not imputed. Foundation Trust acknowledges the support of the National Institute for Health
This study had four main limitations. First, the follow-up Research, through the Comprehensive Clinical Research Network.
period was only 6 months and since RA is a variable disease a Competing interests All authors have completed the Unied Competing Interests
longer follow-up period would have been desirable in order to form at http://www.icmje.org/coi_disclosure.pdf (available from the corresponding
author) and report a research grant from National Institute for Health Research
reect the long-term effects of needs-based education. However, (NIHR) during the conduct of the study; no nancial relationships with any
it is expected that changes in self-efcacy especially early in the organisations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous
disease may contribute towards long-term effects in health out- 3 years; no other relationships or activities that could appear to have inuenced the
comes.9 Second, although the between-group differences in submitted work.
both ASES subscales were highly signicant at week 32, the pre- Ethics approval The ethics approval was obtained from South Yorkshire Research
hypothesised difference36 of 5.5 was not reached in the Ethics Committee (Ref: 10/H1310/8).
ASES-Pain subscale and we do not know if the associated Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
These include:
Notes