Effect of a Self-Management Intervention for Patients Newly Diagnosed With Inflammatory Arthritis: The NISMA Trial

Summary

Background:

In patients newly diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis, a self-management intervention is anticipated to enhance self-management skills, thereby improving patient function, well-being, and survival. The primary objective of the trial is to investigate the short-term efficacy of the NISMA intervention and usual care, compared to usual care alone (control group), on self-management skills and techniques in patients newly diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis.

Method:

This study aims to test the efficacy of the "Newly diagnosed with Inflammatory arthritis - a Self-MAnagement intervention" (NISMA) through a multicenter pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT). The trial will involve 130 patients newly diagnosed with IA from three Danish hospitals. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the NISMA intervention group or a control group receiving usual care. The NISMA intervention includes three mandatory individual sessions with a nurse, supplemented by two optional group sessions over 12 months.

Primary outcomes will be measured using the Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ), focusing on the "skill and technique acquisition" domain. Secondary outcomes include other heiQ domains, quality of life, loneliness, physical function, pain intensity, pain, self-efficacy, anxiety and depression, fatigue, patient global assessment, disease activity, and medication adherence. Data will be collected at baseline, 12 months, and 18 months post-baseline.

Discussion:

This RCT will provide essential insights into the effectiveness of a targeted self-management intervention for patients newly diagnosed with IA. The NISMA intervention, developed following the Medical Research Council Framework for complex interventions, aims to improve self-management skills and overall QoL. By addressing the unique challenges faced by newly diagnosed patients, this study seeks to enhance the initial management of IA, aligning with the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommendations for self-management support. If successful, the NISMA intervention could represent a significant advancement in the non-pharmacological management of IA, offering a comprehensive, patient-centered approach that addresses both physical and psychological needs.

Conditions

• Inflammatory Arthritis

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Newly diagnosed with Inflammatory arthritis - a Self-MAnagement intervention (NISMA)

The NISMA intervention is a flexible intervention and comprises three mandatory individual sessions with a nurse, supplemented by two optional group sessions over a period of 12 months, to provide comprehensive support tailored to each participant's needs. The intervention is grounded in the theoretical framework Social Cognitive Theory and inspired by the questioning techniques in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). These methods play a crucial role in helping participants enhance their self-efficacy. The key components of our approach include: a person-centered approach by addressing challenges identified by each participant to foster self-efficacy through targeted problem-solving and goal-setting. This is utilized by interviewing techniques derived from ACT to assist participants in accepting and committing to self-management. The program is designed to last between 6-12 months, allowing for gradual skill development and adaptation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Hospital Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg

  collaborator OTHER

• Aarhus University Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Glostrup University Hospital, Copenhagen

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Bente A Esbensen · Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases. COPECARE

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

120 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-12-09

Primary Completion

2027-05-30

Completion

2028-05-30

Countries

• Denmark

Study Locations