Rheumatoid Arthritis
Conditions
Keywords
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Self-Management, Internet
Brief summary
The objective of this study is to determine the effects of an arthritis self-management program and an online support community delivered via an encrypted, secure web site on psychological well-being, pain, quality of life, global health status, and social supporting in adults with RA.
Detailed description
Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States. More than 7 million persons in this country report limitations in their daily activities due to arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis alone affects 1 of every 100 persons in the US. Clinic-based self-management programs have been found to be effective in reducing both pain and disability for persons with RA. However, barriers to participation exist such as distance, time, limited transportation, and declining functional status. The Internet is widely used as a source of information about health issues and may provide an opportunity to reduce these barriers and extend consumer access to self-management approaches. It is necessary to determine the efficacy of Internet-delivered self-management programs.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALOnline Self-Management
Online Self-Management
Sponsors
U.S. Department of Education
University of Missouri-Columbia
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* 18 or more years of age * Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosed by a rheumatologist * Stable medication regimen for 3 months
Exclusion criteria
* Previous exposure to arthritis self-management programs * Uncontrolled psychiatric comorbidity * Uncontrolled medical comorbidity (e.g. active cancer)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales | baseline, 3 mos., 6 mos., 9 mos., 12 mos. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale | baseline, 3 mos., 6 mos., 9 mos., 12 mos |
| Rapid Assessment of Disease Activity in Rheumatology | baseline, 3 mos., 6 mos., 9 mos., 12 mos |
Other
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Center for Epidemiological Studies - Depression Scale | baseline, 3 mos., 6 mos., 9 mos., 12 mos |
| Social Provisions Scale | baseline, 3 mos., 6 mos., 9 mos., 12 mos |
| Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly | baseline, 3 mos., 6 mos., 9 mos., 12 mos |
| 21-point Box Scale (a pain measure) | baseline, 3 mos., 6 mos., 9 mos., 12 mos |
| UCLA Loneliness Scale | baseline, 3 mos., 6 mos., 9 mos., 12 mos |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed