Supporting patients to get the best from their osteoporosis treatment: a rapid realist review of what works, for whom, and in what circumstance.

Systematic reviews that examine effectiveness of interventions to improve medicines optimisation do not explain how or why they work. This realist review identified that interventions which effectively optimise medicines use in osteoporosis include opportunities to address patients' perceptions of illness and treatment and/or support primary care clinician decision making. INTRODUCTION: In people with osteoporosis, adherence to medicines is poorer than other diseases and patients report follow-up is lacking, and multiple unmet information needs. We conducted a rapid realist review to understand what contextual conditions and mechanisms enable interventions to support osteoporosis medication optimisation. METHODS: A primary search identified observational or interventional studies which aimed to improve medicines adherence or optimisation; a supplementary second search identified research of any design to gain additional insights on emerging findings. Extracted data was interrogated for patterns of context-mechanism-outcome configurations, further discussed in team meetings, informed by background literature and the Practicalities and Perception Approach as an underpinning conceptual framework. RESULTS: We identified 5 contextual timepoints for the person with osteoporosis (identifying a problem; starting medicine; continuing medicine) and the practitioner and healthcare system (making a diagnosis and giving a treatment recommendation; reviewing medicine). Interventions which support patient-informed decision making appear to influence long-term commitment to treatment. Supporting patients' practical ability to adhere (e.g. by lowering treatment burden and issuing reminders) only appears to be helpful, when combined with other approaches to address patient beliefs and concerns. However, few studies explicitly addressed patients' perceptions of illness and treatment. Supporting primary care clinician decision making and integration of primary and secondary care services also appears to be important, in improving rates of treatment initiation and adherence. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a need for further research to identify a sustainable, integrated, patient-centred, and cost- and clinically effective model of long-term care for people with osteoporosis.

Comparing medication adherence in patients receiving bisphosphonates for preventing fragility fractures: a comprehensive systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Bisphosphonates are effective in preventing fragility fractures; however, high rates of adherence are needed to preserve clinical benefits. OBJECTIVE: To investigate persistence and compliance to oral and intravenous bisphosphonates (alendronate, ibandronate, risedronate, and zoledronate). METHODS: Searches of 12 databases, unpublished sources, and trial registries were conducted, covering the period from 2000 to April 2021. Screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment (Cochrane Collaboration risk-of-bias tool 1.0 & ROBINS-I) were independently undertaken by two study authors. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies that used prescription claim databases or hospital medical records to examine patients' adherence were included. Network meta-analyses (NMA) embedded within a Bayesian framework were conducted, investigating users' likelihood in discontinuing bisphosphonate treatment. Where meta-analysis was not possible, data were synthesised using the vote-counting synthesis method. RESULTS: Fifty-nine RCTs and 43 observational studies were identified, resulting in a total population of 2,656,659 participants. Data from 59 RCTs and 24 observational studies were used to populate NMAs. Zoledronate users were the least likely to discontinue their treatment HR = 0.73 (95%CrI: 0.61, 0.88). Higher rates of compliance were observed in those receiving intravenous treatments. The paucity of data and the heterogeneity in the reported medication possession ratio thresholds precluded a NMA of compliance data. CONCLUSIONS: Users of intravenously administered bisphosphonates were found to be the most adherent to treatment among bisphosphonates' users. Patterns of adherence will permit the more precise estimation of clinical and cost-effectiveness of bisphosphonates. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020177166.

Long-term clinical and socio-economic outcomes following wrist fracture: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

A comprehensive review of studies shows that patients with wrist fracture, aged over 50 years, experience pain and functional limitation long after fracture. This is associated with increased healthcare costs, and reduced quality of life. Understanding factors that predict poor outcomes is important for future healthcare policy and planning. PURPOSE: To summarise and appraise evidence on the prognosis and long-term clinical and socio-economic outcomes following wrist fracture among adults aged 50 years and over. METHODS: Five databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, CINAHL-P and PsycINFO) were comprehensively searched (supplemented by a grey-literature search) from inception till June 2021 for prospective/retrospective cohort studies of patients (≥ 50 years) with a history of wrist fracture and reporting long-term (≥ 6 months) outcomes. Peer study selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment were conducted. A random effects meta-analysis was used to summarise estimates of pain and function outcomes. RESULTS: 78 studies (n = 688,041 patients) were included. Patients report persistent moderate to severe pain (range: 7.5%-62%) and functional limitations (range: 5.5-78%) up to 12-months or later after wrist fracture. Mean Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) score for pain and function (9 studies, n = 1759 patients) was 15.23 (95%CI 12.77, 17.69) at 6-months to 13-years follow-up. Mean disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score (9 studies, n = 1346 patients) was 13.82 (95%CI 12.71, 14.93)( at 6- to 17-months follow-up. A 10-20% increase in healthcare encounters in the first 12-months after fracture was observed. Twelve prognostic factors were associated with poor long-term outcomes. CONCLUSION: Evidence shows that a high proportion of people aged over 50 years with wrist fracture experience pain and functional limitation > 6 months after fracture. This is associated with increased healthcare costs, and reduced quality of life. Exploratory evidence was found for several candidate prognostic factors. Their predictive performance needs to be investigated further. PROSPERO: CRD42018116478.

Evaluation of quality and readability of online patient information on osteoporosis and osteoporosis drug treatment and recommendations for improvement.

Patient information is important to help patients fully participate in their healthcare. Commonly accessed osteoporosis patient information resources were identified and assessed for readability, quality, accuracy and consistency. Resources contained inconsistencies and scored low when assessed for quality and readability. We recommend optimal language and identify information gaps to address. INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this paper is to identify commonly accessed patient information resources about osteoporosis and osteoporosis drug treatment, appraise the quality and make recommendations for improvement. METHODS: Patient information resources were purposively sampled and text extracted. Data extracts underwent assessment of readability (Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level) and quality (modified International Patient Decision Aid Standards (m-IPDAS)). A thematic analysis was conducted, and keywords and phrases were used to describe osteoporosis and its treatment identified. Findings were presented to a stakeholder group who identified inaccuracies and contradictions and discussed optimal language. RESULTS: Nine patient information resources were selected, including webpages, a video and booklets (available online), from government, charity and private healthcare providers. No resource met acceptable readability scores for both measures of osteoporosis information and drug information. Quality scores from the modified IPDAS ranged from 21 to 64% (7-21/33). Thematic analysis was informed by Leventhal's Common-Sense Model of Disease. Thirteen subthemes relating to the identity, causes, timeline, consequences and controllability of osteoporosis were identified. Phrases and words from 9 subthemes were presented to the stakeholder group who identified a predominance of medical technical language, misleading terms about osteoporotic bone and treatment benefits, and contradictions about symptoms. They recommended key descriptors for providers to use to describe osteoporosis and treatment benefits. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that commonly accessed patient information resources about osteoporosis have highly variable quality, scored poorly on readability assessments and contained inconsistencies and inaccuracies. We produced practical recommendations for information providers to support improvements in understanding, relevance, balance and bias, and to address information gaps.

Identifying and managing osteoporosis before and after COVID-19: rise of the remote consultation?

The COVID-19 pandemic is influencing methods of healthcare delivery. In this short review, we discuss the evidence for remote healthcare delivery in the context of osteoporosis. INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly had, and will continue to have, a significant impact on the lives of people living with, and at risk of, osteoporosis and those caring for them. With osteoporosis outpatient and Fracture Liaison Services on pause, healthcare organisations have already moved to delivering new and follow-up consultations remotely, where staffing permits, by telephone or video. METHODS: In this review, we consider different models of remote care delivery, the evidence for their use, and the possible implications of COVID-19 on osteoporosis services. RESULTS: Telemedicine is a global term used to describe any use of telecommunication systems to deliver healthcare from a distance and encompasses a range of different scenarios from remote clinical data transfer to remote clinician-patient interactions. Across a range of conditions and contexts, there remains unclear evidence on the acceptability of telemedicine and the effect on healthcare costs. Within the context of osteoporosis management, there is some limited evidence to suggest telemedicine approaches are acceptable to patients but unclear evidence on whether telemedicine approaches support informed drug adherence. Gaps in the evidence pertain to the acceptability and benefits of using telemedicine in populations with hearing, cognitive, or visual impairments and in those with limited health literacy. CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need for further health service evaluation and research to address the impact of remote healthcare delivery during COVID-19 outbreak on patient care, and in the longer term, to identify acceptability and cost- and clinical-effectiveness of remote care delivery on outcomes of relevance to people living with osteoporosis.

Quality and effectiveness of osteoporosis treatment decision aids: a systematic review and environmental scan.

Decision aids (DAs) are evidence-based tools that support shared decision-making (SDM) implementation in practice; this study aimed to identify existing osteoporosis DAs and assess their quality and efficacy; and to gain feedback from a patient advisory group on findings and implications for further research. We searched multiple bibliographic databases to identify research studies from 2000 to 2019 and undertook an environmental scan (search conducted February 2019, repeated in March 2020). A pair of reviewers, working independently selected studies for inclusion, extracted data, evaluated each trial's risk of bias, and conducted DA quality assessment using the International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS). Public contributors (patients and caregivers with experience of osteoporosis and fragility fractures) participated in discussion groups to review a sample of DAs, express preferences for a new DA, and discuss plans for development of a new DA. We identified 6 studies, with high or unclear risk of bias. Across included studies, use of an osteoporosis DA was reported to result in reduced decisional conflict compared with baseline, increased SDM, and increased accuracy of patients' perceived fracture risk compared with controls. Eleven DAs were identified, of which none met the full set of IPDAS criteria for certification for minimization of bias. Public contributors expressed preferences for encounter DAs that are individualized to patients' own needs and risk. Using a systematic review and environmental scan, we identified 11 decision aids to inform patient decisions about osteoporosis treatment and 6 studies evaluating their effectiveness. Use of decision aids increased accuracy of risk perception and shared decision-making but the decision aids themselves fail to comprehensively meet international quality standards and patient needs, underpinning the need for new DA development.

An observational cohort study to produce and evaluate an improved tool to screen older women with back pain for osteoporotic vertebral fractures (Vfrac): study protocol.

The aim of this study is to produce an easy to use checklist for general practitioners to complete whenever a woman aged over 65 years with back pain seeks healthcare. This checklist will produce a binary output to determine if the patient should have a radiograph to diagnose vertebral fracture. PURPOSE: People with osteoporotic vertebral fractures are important to be identified as they are at relatively high risk of further fractures. Despite this, less than a third of people with osteoporotic vertebral fractures come to clinical attention due to various reasons including lack of clear triggers to identify who should have diagnostic spinal radiographs. This study aims to produce and evaluate a novel screening tool (Vfrac) for use in older women presenting with back pain in primary care based on clinical triggers and predictors identified previously. This tool will generate a binary output to determine if a radiograph is required. METHODS: The Vfrac study is a two-site, pragmatic, observational cohort study recruiting 1633 women aged over 65 years with self-reported back pain. Participants will be recruited from primary care in two sites. The Vfrac study will use data from two self-completed questionnaires, a simple physical examination, a lateral thoracic and lateral lumbar radiograph and information contained in medical records. RESULTS: The primary objective is to develop an easy-to-use clinical screening tool for identifying older women who are likely to have vertebral fractures. CONCLUSIONS: This article describes the protocol of the Vfrac study; ISRCTN16550671.

Risk of fragility fracture among patients with late-onset psoriasis: a UK population-based study.

This study aimed to examine fracture risk in patients with late-onset psoriasis. A cohort study was conducted using primary care records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Psoriasis patients had a 10% increased risk of fracture compared to matched controls (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.10; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04, 1.16). INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to examine fracture risk in patients with late-onset psoriasis and investigate the effect of methotrexate on fracture risk. METHODS: A cohort study was conducted using primary care records from the UK-based Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Individuals aged 40 years and over, with incident (new onset) diagnoses of psoriasis, were identified from 1990 to 2004 and followed up until 2015. For each exposed individual, up to four age-, gender-, and practice-matched controls were randomly selected. Incidence rates of fragility fracture (hip, vertebral, spine, radius or unspecified site) per 10,000 person-years were calculated and hazard rates were compared to the unexposed using Cox regression models. The risk of fracture was also estimated, within the exposed group for patients receiving/not receiving methotrexate. RESULTS: Twenty-four thousand two hundred nineteen patients with psoriasis and 94,820 controls were identified. The absolute rate of fracture in psoriasis patients was 58 per 10,000 person-years (95% CI 55, 61) and 53 per 10,000 person-years in the matched controls (CI 52, 54). Psoriasis patients had a 10% increased risk of fracture compared to their matched controls (HR = 1.10; 95% CI 1.04, 1.16). Methotrexate use was not associated with increased risk (HR = 0.91; 95% CI 0.72, 1.15). CONCLUSIONS: Identifying additional clinical factors associated with increased fracture risk is important in improving fracture risk stratification. Further work is needed to determine the relationship between age of onset of psoriasis and fracture risk, explore causative explanations, and identify if existing fracture risk stratification tools underestimate fracture risk in patients with psoriasis.

Implementing core NICE guidelines for osteoarthritis in primary care with a model consultation (MOSAICS): a cluster randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of a model osteoarthritis consultation, compared with usual care, on physical function and uptake of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) osteoarthritis recommendations, in adults ≥45 years consulting with peripheral joint pain in UK general practice. METHOD: Two-arm cluster-randomised controlled trial with baseline health survey. Eight general practices in England. PARTICIPANTS: 525 adults ≥45 years consulting for peripheral joint pain, amongst 28,443 population survey recipients. Four intervention practices delivered the model osteoarthritis consultation to patients consulting with peripheral joint pain; four control practices continued usual care. The primary clinical outcome of the trial was the SF-12 physical component score (PCS) at 6 months; the main secondary outcome was uptake of NICE core recommendations by 6 months, measured by osteoarthritis quality indicators. A Linear Mixed Model was used to analyse clinical outcome data (SF-12 PCS). Differences in quality indicator outcomes were assessed using logistic regression. RESULTS: 525 eligible participants were enrolled (mean age 67.3 years, SD 10.5; 59.6% female): 288 from intervention and 237 from control practices. There were no statistically significant differences in SF-12 PCS: mean difference at the 6-month primary endpoint was -0.37 (95% CI -2.32, 1.57). Uptake of core NICE recommendations by 6 months was statistically significantly higher in the intervention arm compared with control: e.g., increased written exercise information, 20.5% (7.9, 28.3). CONCLUSION: Whilst uptake of core NICE recommendations was increased, there was no evidence of benefit of this intervention, as delivered in this pragmatic randomised trial, on the primary outcome of physical functioning at 6 months. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN06984617.

Eight years' experience of regional audit: an assessment of its value as a clinical governance tool.

Strengthening clinical audit is crucial for improving the quality of healthcare provision. The West Midlands Rheumatology Service and Training Committee coordinates an innovative programme of regional audits and the experience of rheumatology healthcare professionals involved was surveyed. This was a questionnaire-based study in which respondents rated statements relating to regional audit on Likert scales. Out of 105 staff, 70 replied. There was consensus that results of regional audit have been robust, valid and reliable; regional audits benefit patients and units; provide educational opportunities for specialist registrars (SpRs); and are more efficient than local audit by allowing comparison between units. Opinion was divided about how well informed respondents were and how effective they are at closing the audit loop. Many units reported changes in practice. Regional audit is widely perceived to be a valuable clinical governance tool supporting significant changes to clinical practice, and an excellent training opportunity for SpRs. Recommendations for a successful regional audit scheme are described in this article.

Piloting education days for patients with early rheumatoid arthritis and their partners: a multidisciplinary approach.

OBJECTIVES: To develop, pilot, refine and reassess an education day presented by a rheumatology multidisciplinary team (MDT) for recently diagnosed (less than six months) rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and their partners/carers. METHODS: A patient education day was developed drawing on an assessment of local patient educational needs and preferences and input from a rheumatology MDT. Feedback from the first education day (2004) (Day 1; 12 patients; age range 19-63 years (median 46); 10 of whom were accompanied by a partner) informed the development of a second education day (2005) (Day 2; 19 patients; age range 36-75 years (median 57.5); 13 of whom were accompanied by a partner). Participants completed evaluation forms on both days and at follow-up between six and seven weeks later, rating each session on a 5-point scale on dimensions of 'informative', 'useful', 'interesting' and 'enjoyable'. A global rating of the day's 'usefulness' was completed at the end of each day on a 10-point scale. Participants were asked to write comments on each session and on aspects of the entire day. RA knowledge, and general and RA-specific self-efficacy were also measured on day 2 (and at follow-up) using the 12-item Patient Knowledge Questionnaire, the 10-item generalized self-efficacy scale and a four-item RA-specific self-efficacy scale. Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies were used in the analysis. RESULTS: Ratings for individual sessions were all high, with no session being rated below 4 out of 5 (1 = 'totally disagree' to 5 = 'totally agree') on both days. The majority of patients (84%) and their partners (57%) responded to the follow-up. Many had used the information package distributed on the day. Some patients and their partners reported positive changes in RA management. Although patient knowledge did not increase significantly (medians 11 at both time points, p = 0.054) (Day 2), RA self-efficacy improved (baseline 11 and 14, respectively), suggesting that patients were more confident in managing their condition (p = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: The development of this 'local' education and information intervention was carried out in line with Medical Research Council guidelines, and the lessons learned from Day 1 informed further development for Day 2. A one-day format for education of early RA involving the rheumatology MDT was rated highly by participants and warrants further examination. Although this study was a small 'local' intervention, its strengths are that it informs the possibility of wider developments of this kind using a MDT.

Audits of the prevention and treatment of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis in outpatients with rheumatic diseases in the West Midlands.

The management of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis in rheumatology outpatients in the West Midlands was audited in relation to the 2002 Royal College of Physicians (RCP) Guidelines and re-audited in relation to the 1998 National Osteoporosis Society (NOS) Guidance. Practice was assessed from prospective data on all follow-up patients over a 2-week period in 13 rheumatology units. Data were analysed on 2,609 patients. Of the 626 patients fulfilling criteria for assessment against the RCP Guidelines, 351 (56.1%) were treated appropriately. The results do not allow for availability of, or wait for, DEXA scanning. Of 197 patients fulfilling the criteria for assessment against the NOS Guidance, 137 (69.5%) were treated appropriately, compared to 63% in a similar audit undertaken in 2000. Regional audit may facilitate clinical governance. These audits will inform discussion on both improving local practice and strengthening cases for improved osteoporosis services.

Sri Lankan health care provision and medical education: a discussion.

My elective was spent at a teaching hospital in Galle, in Sri Lanka. My time was spent shadowing final year students in the specialties of general medicine and paediatrics. This period provided me with much food for thought in comparing and contrasting the health service in Sri Lanka with that of the UK and also considering the differences in the style of medical education. In addition, during my stay, I was able to gain some appreciation of the political and organisational problems faced by a country in the midst of a civil war. In this report, I have attempted to integrate an account of my observations with a discussion of the thoughts and emotions that I experienced while working in a developing country. Studying in Sri Lanka facilitated my appreciation of facets of British health care and medical education that I had not previously considered. However, fewer resources do not necessarily mean poorer patient care: could Britain have something to learn from the Sri Lankan Health Service?