Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) Musculoskeletal Diseases Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Conditions
Interventions
The purpose of this research project is to explore the effectiveness of wrist splints when prescribed for swelling of the wrist. A quantitative design will be used, as the outcome will rely on numeric
Sponsors
Record Provided by the NHSTCT Register - 2006 Update - Department of Health
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Stable DMARDs (disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs) for the preceding month (to ensure patients are not experiencing any known side effects to the prescribed medication) 2. Male/Female 18 years of age or over (children not seen in department) 3. Confirmed diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis 4. Disease duration >1 year (disease process confirmed) 5. Clinically diagnosed synovitis (swelling) of the wrist 6. Able to read, understand and complete consent form and questionnaire (as the patient will be seen in clinic and expected to complete them whilst in clinic) 7. Able to wear splints as directed (as the patient will need to fit and remove splints themselves) Patients will be attending their routine follow up rheumatology clinic and seen by their clinician. Any patient presenting with a swollen wrist who has been prescribed a wrist splint by their clinician, will be invited to speak to the researcher and the purpose of the trial fully explained. All the rheumatology clinicians in the department will be made aware of the study and will be kept informed of its progress throughout, in order to aid identification of patients. The patients will be given the appropriate written information and asked to read whilst in clinic. The researcher will be available at that time to discuss any queries. If the patients fully meet the criteria and have agreed to enrol on the trial they will be seen by an assistant and randomised to receive a standard splint or dummy splint. If they are not sure, or need more time to decide, they will be able to take all the information home and will be contacted the next day for their decision. This is to ensure that treatment is started as soon as possible regardless of whether they are involved in the trial or not.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Previous wrist or hand surgery 2. Severe deformity of the wrist or hand 3. Previous injury or fracture of the wrist or hand and disease duration < 1 year.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| To explore whether the prescribing of wrist splints for wrist swelling in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, improves grip strength (function), compared to patients not prescribed wrist splints. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Not provided at time of registration | — |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed