The coronavirus pandemic has changed the delivery of healthcare services, creating challenges for healthcare professionals and people living with musculoskeletal conditions. Patients are increasingly required to monitor their own disease activity and report on their condition during remote or virtual consultations.
To address this, the Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis has been working on the REmote MOnitoring of Rheumatoid Arthritis (REMORA) study. REMORA is a smartphone app study that encourages people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to monitor and record their daily symptoms. It then connects this data directly into the patient’s electronic health records and makes it accessible to their clinician.
In the early stages of the study, we recognised the importance of training people with RA how to self-examine for tender and swollen joints, as these are key to tracking disease activity. During the regular Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) meetings, the PPIE group identified that the existing online resources did not meet their needs in explaining how to perform joint self-examination.
The PPIE group were clear that they wanted to develop their own video, addressing the questions and difficulties patients meet when self-examining for tender and swollen joints. The process of development and production took a few months from the initial preparation, to filming, and final editing. At all stages, our first priority was ensuring the safety of everyone involved. Most of the work around the video was coordinated remotely. For the actual filming on campus, we followed all COVID-19 safety measures and rules regarding social distancing and masks.
A number of useful materials were created to support patients while they are self-examining their joints. For example, we created a manikin (human-like model) and a table that allows people to keep track the tender and swollen joints as they go along with the video. We have also written answers to frequently asked questions.
The video on how to self-examine tender and swollen joints was released on February 3, 2021. We were delighted to see how well received it was from both patients and clinicians, receiving over 1,000 views during the first week since its launch!
We would encourage everyone with RA and their clinicians to watch and signpost others to the video. We are really keen to hear feedback from both patients and healthcare professionals through our online survey. This is really important to inform the development of a future version, incorporating feedback and (we hope) to be filmed without the need for masks.
Latest information about the REMORA study and more insights to the development of the video here.
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