Identifying barriers to smoking cessation in rheumatoid arthritis

The identification of barriers to smoking cessation in rheumatoid arthritis by focus groups

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12611001045909

Enrollment

Registered

2011-10-05

Start date

2012-03-14

Completion date

2013-04-15

Last updated

2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

Rheumatoid arthritis is a common chronic disease resulting in joint damage requiring joint replacement surgery, disability and increased mortality due to cardiovascular disease. Smoking has recently been shown to be a powerful environmental risk factor for onset of RA. Smoking also results in worse disease outcomes and reduces the efficacy of medications used to treat RA. These effects, together with the increase in cardiovascular deaths make smoking cessation the most important modifiable lifestyle factor in RA. Such lifestyle changes are particularly difficult for patients living with the stress of a painful chronic disease. This project will explore the knowledge and beliefs of patients with RA in relation to smoking as it affects their condition. Specific arthritis related factors that contribute to difficulties with smoking cessation will be explored. A RA-specific smoking cessation programme will then be developed based on the findings and piloted in patients with RA with the help of Arthritis New Zealand.

Interventions

Focus groups will be undertaken to identify barriers to smoking cessation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Focus groups will be structured discussion groups lasting 2-3 hours. A varity of questionnaire will also be completed by each particpant including Health Assessmetn Questionnaire (HAQ), Arthritis Self-efficacy Scale, Percieved Stress Scale, Self efficacy scale, smoking history and the HADs depression and anxiety score. Participants will take part in one focus group and complete the qu

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

I. Male or female, aged >18yrs, with a diagnosis of RA as defined by the 2010 ACR/EULAR Criteria for RA II. Able and willing to give written informed consent and to adhere to the requirements of the study. III. Current or past smoker.

Exclusion criteria

Unable to give informed consent

Outcome results