Evaluation of the Educational Needs in Argentine Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Using the SpENAT Questionnaire. / Evaluación de las necesidades educacionales de los pacientes con artritis reumatoide mediante el cuestionario SpENAT.

BACKGROUND: The SpENAT, a Spanish version of the Educational Needs Assessment Tool, is a self-completed questionnaire that assesses educational needs (ENs) with the purpose of providing tailored and patient-centered information. It consists of 39 questions grouped into the 7 following domains: Pain management, Movement, Feelings, Arthritic process, Treatments, Self-help measures and Support system. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to describe the ENs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients using the SpENAT and to determine the main sources of information consulted by these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Multicenter, observational, cross-sectional study. We included consecutive patients≥18 years with diagnosis of RA (ACR 87/ACR-EULAR 2010). Sociodemographic data, disease characteristics and clinimetric properties were recorded. All patients completed the SpENAT and were asked about the sources employed to obtain information about their disease. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Population characteristics were described. ENs were determined as percentages of the highest possible score for each domain. Needs for each domain according to sex, years of education, disease duration, use of biologicals and functional capacity were analyzed by means of ANOVA, and bivariate comparisons were made with Student's t-test and the Bonferroni correction. Correlation between domains was determined with the Spearman correlation coefficient. We compared patients' age by source of information with Student's t-test. RESULTS: We included 496 patients from 20 centers across the country. More ENs were observed in the domains of Movement, Feelings and the Arthritic process. Patients with higher educational level (>7 years) reported more ENs in the Arthritic process and Self-help measure domains. A higher functional impairment (HAQ-A≥0.87) was associated with more ENs in every domain. Patients with high activity showed more ENs than those in remission in the domains of Pain management, Movement, Feelings, Treatments and Support system, as well as those with low activity in Self-help measures and Support system domains. All SpENAT domains showed positive correlations among each other (P<.0001), the most important being Pain management/Movement and Treatments/Arthritic process (r≥0.7). The source of information most frequently consulted was the rheumatologist (93.95%); those who made use of Internet were on average younger (P=.0004). CONCLUSION: RA patients were very interested about knowing more about their disease. High functional impairment was associated with more ENs. Patients with high disease activity had higher EN levels in almost every domain. The rheumatologist was the main source of information for the patient with RA.

Hallazgos capilaroscópicos y características clínicas en pacientes con fenómeno de Raynaud primario y secundario / Capillaroscopic findings and clinical characteristics in patients with primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon

Objetivos: describir hallazgos de videocapilaroscopía (VCP) en pacientes con fenómeno de Raynaud primario (FRP) y secundario (FRS); comparar características demográficas y clínicas entre ambos. Materiales y métodos: estudio observacional, analítico, transversal. Se documentaron edad, ocupación, tiempo de evolución del FR, enfermedad del tejido conectivo (ETC) y características capilaroscópicas. Las VCP se informaron como patrón normal, inespecífico o SD temprano, activo y tardío. Se realizó estadística descriptiva. Para variables categóricas se empleó Chi² o test exacto de Fisher; para variables continuas, t test o Man Whitney, considerando estadísticamente significativa p<0,05. Resultados: se realizaron 290 VCP. En pacientes con FRP (n:122), 18% (n:23) fue normal y 81% (n:99) con patrón inespecífico. En pacientes con FRS (n:168), 8% fue normal, 42% con patrón inespecífico y 51% con patrón SD (25% temprano, 44% activo, 31% tardío). Se hallaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas: tiempo de evolución de FR en meses (12 vs 36, p<0,01), VCP normal (18,85% vs 7,4%, p<0,01), patrón inespecífico (81,14% vs 41%, p<0,01) en pacientes con FRP vs. FRS. Conclusiones: en pacientes con FRS predominó el patrón SD, mientras que en aquellos con FRP fue superior el patrón normal e inespecífico. El FRS se asoció a mayor tiempo de evolución.

Objectives: to describe videocapillaroscopy (VCP) findings in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP) and secondary (SRP); compare demographic and clinical characteristics between both. Materials and methods: observational, analytical, cross-sectional study. Age, occupation, evolution time of RP, connective tissue disease (CTD) and capillaroscopic characteristics were documented. The VCP were reported as normal, nonspecific or early, active, and late SD pattern. Descriptive statistics were performed. Chi² or Fisher's exact test were used for categorical variables; for continuous variables t test or Man Whitney, considering statistically significant p<0.05. Results: 290 VCP were performed. In patients with PRP (n:122), 18% (n:23) were normal and 81% (n:99) non-specific. In patients with SRP (n:168), 8% were normal, 42% non-specific and 51% with SD pattern (25% early, 44% active, 31% late). We found statistically significant differences: time of evolution of RP in months (12 vs. 36, p<0.01), normal VCP (18.85% vs 7.4%, p<0.01), non-specific pattern (81.14% vs 41%, p<0.01) in patients with PRP vs SRP. Conclusions: in patients with FRS predominated the SD pattern, while in those with FRP the normal and nonspecific pattern was superior. FRS was associated with a longer evolution time.

Validación del Score de Condición de Raynaud en Argentina / Validation of Raynaud's Condition Score in Argentina

Objetivo: El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue adaptar y validar el Score de Condición de Raynaud (SCR) en pacientes con Esclerosis Sistémica (SSc) que concurren a un hospital público de Argentina. Materiales y Métodos: Para la adaptación, reumatólogos tradujeron al español la versión original en inglés. Para evaluar la validez de constructo se utilizó: Cuestionario de Capacidad Funcional HAQ (HAQ), Índice Duruöz (ID), validados al español para Argentina, Escala Visual Análoga (EVA) de Raynaud por un experto y Score de Rodnan modificado (mRSS). Para evaluar reproducibilidad, se evaluó de forma aleatoria un subgrupo de pacientes sin mediar cambios en el tratamiento ni en la condición clínica 10 días después de la evaluación basal. Resultados: Se incluyeron 35 pacientes con diagnóstico de SSc. La correlación entre SCR y EVA del médico fue de 0.89; SCR y HAQ 0.58; SCR y mRSS 0.61; SCR e ID 0.57 indicando una muy buena correlación principalmente con el EVA del médico y siendo todos estadísticamente significativos. La reproducibilidad fue de 0.998. Conclusiones: Los resultados muestran que el SCR es una herramienta confiable y válida para esta población argentina con SSc.

Objetive: The aim of our study was to adapt and validate the Raynaud's Condition Score (RCS) in patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) who attend a public hospital in Argentina. Materials and Methods: For adaptation, rheumatologists translated to Spanish the original version in English. To assess the construct validity we used: Health Assesment Questionnaire (HAQ), Duruöz´s Hand Index (DHI), spanish validation for Argentina, Raynaud Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) by an expert and Modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS). To assess reproducibility, a subgroup of patients was randomly evaluated with no changes in treatment or clinical condition ten days after the baseline evaluation. Results: A total of 35 patients with SSc were included. The correlation between RCS and Raynaud VAS by an expert was 0.89; RCS and HAQ 0.58; RCS and mRSS 0.61; RCS and DHI 0.57 indicating a very good correlation mainly between the studied Score and the Raynaud VAS and being all statistically significant. The reproducibility was 0.998. Conclusion: The results show that the RCS is a reliable and valid tool for this argentinian population with SSc.

Evaluación de las necesidades educacionales de los pacientes con artritis reumatoide mediante el cuestionario SpENAT / Evaluation of the educational needs in Argentine patients with rheumatoid arthritis using the SpENAT questionnaire

INTRODUCCIÓN: El Educational Needs Assessment Tool-versión española (SpENAT) es un cuestionario autorreportado que evalúa las necesidades educacionales (NEd) con el fin de dar información adaptada y centrada en el paciente con artritis reumatoide (AR). Comprende 39 preguntas agrupadas en 7 dominios: Manejo del dolor, Movimiento, Sentimientos, Proceso de artritis, Tratamientos, Medidas de autoayuda y Sistemas de apoyo. OBJETIVOS: Evaluar las NEd en pacientes con AR mediante el SpENAT y determinar cuáles son las principales fuentes de información a las que consultan. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio multicéntrico, observacional, analítico, de corte transversal. Se incluyeron pacientes consecutivos≥18 años con diagnóstico de AR (ACR 87 y/o ACR-EULAR 2010). Se consignaron datos demográficos, nivel educativo, características de la enfermedad y medidas clinimétricas. Todos los pacientes completaron el SpENAT y fueron interrogados acerca de las fuentes a las que acuden para obtener información de su enfermedad. ANÁLISIS ESTADÍSTICO: Se describieron las características poblacionales. Se determinaron las NEd como porcentajes del puntaje máximo posible de cada dominio. Se compararon las necesidades por dominio según sexo, años de educación, tiempo de evolución, uso de biológico y capacidad funcional mediante test de Anova y las comparaciones de a pares con prueba t de Student y corrección de Bonferroni. Se determinó correlación entre los dominios con test de Spearman. Se comparó la edad según la fuente de información con la prueba t de Student. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 496 pacientes de 20 centros de todo el país. Se observaron mayores NEd en los dominios Movimiento, Sentimientos y Proceso de artritis. Los pacientes de mayor nivel educacional (>7 años) refirieron mayores NEd en los dominios Proceso de artritis y Medidas de autoayuda. Un mayor deterioro funcional (HAQ≥0,87) se asoció con unas mayores NEd en todos los dominios. Los pacientes con alta actividad mostraron mayores NEd que los pacientes en remisión en los dominios Manejo del dolor, Movimiento, Sentimientos, Tratamientos y Sistemas de apoyo, y que los pacientes con baja actividad en los dominios Medidas de autoayuda y Sistemas de apoyo. Todos los dominios del SpENAT mostraron correlaciones positivas entre sí (p < 0,0001), siendo las más importantes Manejo del dolor/Movimiento y Tratamientos/Proceso de artritis (r≥0,7). La fuente de información más consultada fue el reumatólogo (93,95%); quienes recurrían a Internet tenían una menor edad en promedio (p = 0,0004). CONCLUSIÓN: Los pacientes con AR manifestaron un gran interés por conocer más sobre su enfermedad. Un elevado deterioro funcional se asocia con mayores NEd. Los pacientes con alta actividad de la enfermedad presentan mayores NEd en casi todos los dominios. El médico reumatólogo es la principal fuente de información del paciente con AR

BACKGROUND: The SpENAT, a Spanish version of the Educational Needs Assessment Tool, is a self-completed questionnaire that assesses educational needs (ENs) with the purpose of providing tailored and patient-centered information. It consists of 39 questions grouped into the 7 following domains: Pain management, Movement, Feelings, Arthritic process, Treatments, Self-help measures and Support system. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to describe the ENs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients using the SpENAT and to determine the main sources of information consulted by these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Multicenter, observational, cross-sectional study. We included consecutive patients≥18 years with diagnosis of RA (ACR 87/ACR-EULAR 2010). Sociodemographic data, disease characteristics and clinimetric properties were recorded. All patients completed the SpENAT and were asked about the sources employed to obtain information about their disease. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Population characteristics were described. ENs were determined as percentages of the highest possible score for each domain. Needs for each domain according to sex, years of education, disease duration, use of biologicals and functional capacity were analyzed by means of ANOVA, and bivariate comparisons were made with Student's t-test and the Bonferroni correction. Correlation between domains was determined with the Spearman correlation coefficient. We compared patients' age by source of information with Student's t-test. RESULTS: We included 496 patients from 20 centers across the country. More ENs were observed in the domains of Movement, Feelings and the Arthritic process. Patients with higher educational level (>7 years) reported more ENs in the Arthritic process and Self-help measure domains. A higher functional impairment (HAQ-A≥0.87) was associated with more ENs in every domain. Patients with high activity showed more ENs than those in remission in the domains of Pain management, Movement, Feelings, Treatments and Support system, as well as those with low activity in Self-help measures and Support system domains. All SpENAT domains showed positive correlations among each other (P<.0001), the most important being Pain management/Movement and Treatments/Arthritic process (r≥0.7). The source of information most frequently consulted was the rheumatologist (93.95%); those who made use of Internet were on average younger (P=.0004). CONCLUSION: RA patients were very interested about knowing more about their disease. High functional impairment was associated with more ENs. Patients with high disease activity had higher EN levels in almost every domain. The rheumatologist was the main source of information for the patient with RA