Nurses' Role in Cardiovascular Risk Assessment and Management in People with Inflammatory Arthritis: A European Perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular risk (CVR) assessment and management in patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) is recommended but European nurses' involvement in this role has not been well studied. AIM: The aim of the present study was to explore European nurses' role in assessing and managing CVR, in order to suggest topics for practice development and research in this area regarding persons with IA. METHODS: We searched Embase, Cinahl, Cochrane, PsycInfo and PubMed databases and included European articles from the past ten years if they described how nurses assess and/or manage CVR. In addition to the systematic review, we provided case studies from five different countries to illustrate national guidelines and nurses' role regarding CVR assessment and management in patients with IA. RESULTS: Thirty-three articles were included. We found that trained nurses were undertaking CVR assessment and management in different settings and groups of patients. The assessments include blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, glucose and lipid-profile, adherence to medication and behavioural risk factors (unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, alcohol and smoking). Different tools were used to calculate patients' risk. Risk management differed from brief advice to long-term follow-up. Nurses tended to take a holistic and individually tailored approach. Clinical examples of inclusion of rheumatology nurses in these tasks were scarce. CONCLUSION: Nurses undertake CVR assessment, communication and management in different types of patients. This is considered to be a highly relevant task for rheumatology nursing, especially in patients with IA. Further studies are needed to assess patients' perspective, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of nurse-led CVR. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Caring for stoma patients with arthritis and mental incapacities.

Mental incapacities in the form of dementia, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and the physical incapacities of arthritis are difficult hurdles for an older patient who has to undergo stoma surgery, irrespective of the stoma being temporary or permanent. The loss of intellectual and physical function can cause significant deterioration in the patient's ability to carry out day-to-day activities and can also manifest itself in changes in social behaviour. Caring for these patients in the community will require the nurse to adjust the patient's care accordingly, and provide a holistic and more individualised care package that includes the support of the carer or spouse. This article discusses the ways in which community nurses can help the older stoma patient and carer.

Intervenções de enfermagem para o cuidado de pacientes com artrite: revisão integrativa da literatura / Nursing interventions for the care of patients with arthritis: an integrative review / Intervenciones de enfermería para el cuidado de pacientes con artritis: revisión integradora

Esta revisão integrativa buscou analisar a produção científica relacionada aos cuidados de enfermagem para pacientes com artrite. Foram incluídos 12 estudos experimentais, randomizados e controlados, publicados nas bases de dados CINAHL, MEDLINE, SciELO e LILACS, utilizando os descritores controlados "arthritis" e "nursing". Os resultados apontaram a efetividade de musicoterapia, estimulação elétrica neuromuscular, toque terapêutico e imagem guiada associada a relaxamento, para o tratamento da dor. Ser atendido por enfermeira especialista aumentou a satisfação com o atendimento, melhorou o impacto da doença e aumento a procura por serviços de saúde. Programas educativos específicos para portadores de artrite estimularam a prática de exercícios físicos e aqueles direcionados a pessoas com problemas crônicos em geral mostraram-se efetivos para controlar a dor e a incapacidade funcional. Concluímos que existe um conjunto de intervenções que podem subsidiar a prática de enfermagem baseada em evidências junto aos idosos com artrite.

This integrative review aimed to analyze the scientific literature related to nursing care for patients with arthritis. Twelve experimental studies were included, randomized and controlled, published in CINAHL, MEDLINE, SciELO and LILACS databases, using the controlled keywords "arthritis" and "nursing". The results indicated the effectiveness of music therapy, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, therapeutic touch and guided imagery associated with relaxation, for the treatment of pain. Being treated by a specialist nurse increased satisfaction with care, improved the impact of the disease and increased the demand for health services. Specific educational programs for people with arthritis stimulated the practice of physical exercises and those targeted to people with chronic conditions in general were effective to control pain and functional disability. We conclude that there is a set of interventions that can support the practice of evidence-based nursing for the elderly people with arthritis.

Esta revisión integradora tuvo como objetivo analizar la literatura científica relacionada con los cuidados de enfermería en pacientes con artritis. Se incluyeron 12 estudios experimentales, los ensayos controlados aleatorios, publicados en las bases de datos CINAHL, MEDLINE, LILACS y SciELO, utilizando las palabras clave controladas "artritis" y "enfermería". Los resultados indican la efectividad de la musicoterapia, la estimulación eléctrica neuromuscular, toque terapéutico y la imaginación guiada asociada con la relajación, para el tratamiento del dolor. Ser tratado por una enfermera especialista aumentó la satisfacción con la atención, la mejora del impacto de la enfermedad y aumentar la demanda de servicios de salud. Los programas específicos de educación para personas con artritis estimulado ejercicios físicos y los destinados a las personas con enfermedades crónicas en general son eficaces para controlar el dolor y la discapacidad funcional. Llegamos a la conclusión de que existe un conjunto de intervenciones que pueden apoyar la práctica de la enfermería basada en la evidencia para los ancianos con artritis.

[Nursing interventions for the care of patients with arthritis: an integrative review]. / Intervenções de enfermagem para o cuidado de pacientes com artrite: revisão integrativa da literatura.

This integrative review aimed to analyze the scientific literature related to nursing care for patients with arthritis. Twelve experimental studies were included, randomized and controlled, published in CINAHL, MEDLINE, SciELO and LILACS databases, using the controlled keywords "arthritis" and "nursing". The results indicated the effectiveness of music therapy, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, therapeutic touch and guided imagery associated with relaxation, for the treatment of pain. Being treated by a specialist nurse increased satisfaction with care, improved the impact of the disease and increased the demand for health services. Specific educational programs for people with arthritis stimulated the practice of physical exercises and those targeted to people with chronic conditions in general were effective to control pain and functional disability. We conclude that there is a set of interventions that can support the practice of evidence-based nursing for the elderly people with arthritis.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients with arthritis.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use in patients with arthritis, the types of complementary and alternative medicine used, pertinent socio-demographic factors associated with complementary and alternative medicine use and its perceived efficacy. BACKGROUND: Arthritis is a major health issue, and the use of complementary and alternative medicine among patients with arthritis is common. DESIGN: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. METHODS: Data were obtained from 250 patients with arthritis at the physiotherapy and immunology clinics Atatürk University Hospital in eastern Turkey between May-July 2005 using a questionnaire developed specifically for this study. The instrument included questions on socio-demographic information, disease specifics and complementary and alternative medicine usage. RESULTS: Seventy-six per cent of participants reported use of at least one form of complementary and alternative medicine in the previous year. Complementary and alternative medicine users and non-users were not significantly different in most socio-demographic characteristics including age, gender, marital status and education level with the exception of economic status. We categorised treatment into six complementary and alternative medicine categories: 62.6% of patients used thermal therapies; 41.5% used oral herbal therapies; 40.5% used hot therapies; 32.6% used externally applied (skin) therapies; 28.4% used massage and 12.6% used cold therapies. All forms of complementary and alternative medicine except thermal and oral herbal therapies were perceived as very effective by more than half of study participants. CONCLUSIONS: Complementary and alternative medicine therapy is widely used by patients with arthritis and has perceived beneficial effects. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: It is important for nurses and other health care professionals to be knowledgeable about the use of complementary and alternative medicine therapies when providing care to patients with arthritis because of possible interactions with other treatments, delays in seeking care and the potential for poor quality products. It is also essential for health professionals to discuss treatment options with patients and to monitor treatment efficacy.

Arthritis and sexuality.

More than 120 kinds of arthritis exist. This article focuses on the more common types of musculoskeletal disorders, which are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoporosis. Because of the pain, fatigue, and joint stiffness associated with arthritis, physical intimacy may be difficult. These symptoms can be ameliorated during sexual activity by good communication between the partners, timing medication, and experimenting with different positions. Clients may need to be taught to be creative and to be willing to experiment. Learning the relaxation response, in addition to fantasizing and guided imagery, can enhance the sexual experience for people who have arthritis.

Physical activity barriers and program preferences among indigent internal medicine patients with arthritis.

The study purpose was to determine, among indigent arthritis patients, physical activity barriers, program preference frequencies and demographic associations. A structured interview of 223 indigent, internal medicine clinic patients with self-reported arthritis was administered in a cross-sectional study design. The two most frequently reported barriers included bad health (52%) and pain (51%). The majority preferred to exercise alone (54%), close to home (76%), and in the early morning/evening (83%). The preferred method of receiving exercise information was by video or audio tape. Frequency of reported barriers was significantly associated with age, ethnicity, and gender; specific program preferences were significantly associated with age and gender only. Exercise programs for indigent patients with arthritis should be home-based with flexible scheduling. Educational material should include both video and audio tape formats. Future interventions should consider barriers related to poor health and pain while remaining responsive to age, gender, and ethnic differences. Nurses can play a pivotal role in such interventions.

Treating arthritis the holistic way. Orthodox and complementary treatments.

Complementary therapies are increasing in popularity and can be used to treat a variety of complaints. They have been successfully used alongside orthodox treatment to control the symptoms of arthritis.

Nonpharmacologic pain management in arthritis.

This article has presented the critical elements of arthritic pain, the role of nonpharmacologic pain management, and a selection of techniques for therapeutic pain management. The author believes that these techniques are particularly suited to nursing intervention. Nursing is concerned with the total person and nonpharmacological techniques involve the total person in developing self-help coping strategies. The nurse interested in pursuing nonpharmacologic pain management techniques will find the outline, with explanation of "Skill Training: Summary of Training for Role Playing" to be particularly helpful. Further reading will enable the nurse to become familiar with and to pursue interventions of particular interest.