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The patient perspective of nurse‐led care in early rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review of qualitative studies with thematic analysis
Author(s) -
Sweeney AnneMarie Tetsche,
McCabe Candy,
Flurey Caroline A,
Robson Joanna C,
Berry Alice,
Richards Pamela,
Ndosi Mwidimi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of clinical nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1365-2702
pISSN - 0962-1067
DOI - 10.1111/jocn.15531
Subject(s) - cinahl , medicine , psycinfo , thematic analysis , critical appraisal , qualitative research , medline , checklist , rheumatoid arthritis , nursing , systematic review , family medicine , physical therapy , psychological intervention , alternative medicine , psychology , social science , sociology , political science , law , pathology , cognitive psychology
Management of rheumatoid arthritis has changed dramatically over the last decade and is characterised by early start of intensive treatment and tight monitoring of disease activity until remission. The role of nurse‐led care at early stage of disease is not well understood. Aims To develop an understanding of rheumatology nurse‐led care from the perspective of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. Methods A systematic review of qualitative studies, reported in line with PRISMA checklist. In March 2019, the following databases were searched: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and OpenGrey. Studies were included if they: included adults with rheumatoid arthritis; were qualitative studies with data on patients’ perspectives of nurse‐led care; and published in peer‐reviewed journals, in English, between 2010–2019. Due to few studies in early rheumatoid arthritis, inclusion was extended to adults with established rheumatoid arthritis. Two reviewers screened abstracts and full texts. Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool was used for quality assessment. Thematic synthesis was conducted according to the framework of Thomas and Harden (2008). Results The search identified 1034 records. After screening and assessing for eligibility, eight qualitative studies were included in the review (133 patients). Three themes were identified from the synthesis. Nurse‐led care was seen to provide professional expertise in planning and delivery of care. A person‐centred approach was used combined with good communication skills, thus creating a positive therapeutic environment. Nurse‐led care was described as providing a sense of empowerment and psychological support. Conclusion Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are supportive of nurse‐led care. They value its professionalism and person‐centred approach which provide a sense of security and confidence. Relevance to Clinical Practice The findings outline ingredients of nurse‐led care that are important to patients. These can inform nurses’ professional development plans, service improvement and the competence framework for rheumatology nursing.