Promoting physical activity in rheumatoid arthritis through a physiotherapist led behaviour change-based intervention (PIPPRA): a feasibility randomised trial

Physical activity (PA) is recommended as a key component in the management of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of a physiotherapist led, behaviour change (BC) theory-informed, intervention to promote PA in people with RA who have low levels of current PA. A feasibility randomised trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03644160) of people with RA over 18 years recruited from outpatient rheumatology clinics and classified as insufficiently physically active using the Godin-Shephard Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire. Participants were randomised to intervention group (4 BC physiotherapy sessions in 8 weeks) delivered in person/virtually or control group (PA information leaflet only). Feasibility targets (eligibility, recruitment, and refusal), protocol adherence and acceptability were measured. Health care professionals (HCPs) involved in the study and patients in the intervention and control arms were interviewed to determine acceptability. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data with SPSS (v27) with interviews analysed using content analysis using NVivo (v14). Three hundred and twenty participants were identified as potentially eligible, with n = 183 (57%) eligible to participate, of which n = 58 (32%) consented to participate. The recruitment rate was 6.4 per month. Due to the impact of COVID-19 on the study, recruitment took place over two separate phases in 2020 and 2021. Of the 25 participants completing the full study, 23 were female (mean age 60 years (SD 11.5)), with n = 11 allocated to intervention group and n = 14 to control. Intervention group participants completed 100% of sessions 1 & 2, 88% of session 3 and 81% of session 4. The study design and intervention were acceptable overall to participants, with enhancements suggested. The PIPPRA study to improve promote physical activity in people with RA who have low PA levels was feasible, acceptable and safe. Despite the impact of COVID-19 on the recruitment and retention of patients, the study provides preliminary evidence that this physiotherapist led BC intervention is feasible and a full definitive intervention should be undertaken. Health care professionals involved in the study delivery and the patient participants described a number of positive aspects to the study with some suggestions to enhance the design. These findings hence inform the design of a future efficacy-focused clinical trial.

The impact of COVID-19 on clinical research: the PIPPRA and MEDRA experience

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a significant impact on clinical research. This paper aims to provide an insight into how the COVID-19 pandemic, associated public health restrictions and international guidance on the conduct of clinical research impacted two clinical rheumatology research trials - the Physiotherapist-led Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis (PIPPRA) and the MEDiterranean diet in Rheumatoid Arthritis (MEDRA) projects.

Methods

The March 2019 public health restrictions imposed to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 occurred at a time when PIPPRA was in the process of delivering assessment and intervention on a face-to-face basis (n=48) and MEDRA had commenced recruitment. Participants in PIPPRA and MEDRA had a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, with some being immunosuppressed and thus at a higher risk for COVID-19. The decision-making processes of both trials is outlined to demonstrate the required amendments to continue in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

Amendments to PIPPRA and MEDRA trial protocols were agreed and received ethical and funder approval. Both trials switched from a face-to-face delivery to a telehealth using online platforms. The PIPPRA study was paused for five months (April-August 2020), resulting in n=33 (60%) negative deviations from assessment protocol. MEDRA switched from face-to-face to online recruitment with 20% (n=35/44) negative deviations in recruitment. Of the n=18 participants who consented to participating in a face-to-face trial, just n=2 (11%) opted to engage with telehealth delivery of the intervention. MEDRA assessment and intervention deviations were 100% as no sessions were completed as planned in 2020.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the PIPPRA and MEDRA clinical trials. Moving face-to-face clinical research to telehealth delivery may not be the panacea it is purported to be. Our experiences may be of benefit to researchers, clinicians, and funders in seeking to continue clinical research during a global pandemic.

Perceived Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity Among Adult Patients With Rheumatologic Disease

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity (PA) levels of patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) and to examine factors associated with decreased PA.

METHODS

A sample of adult patients with RMDs (n = 7,776) was identified through electronic medical records from an academic health care system in North Carolina. Invitations to participate in an online survey were sent between July 2020 and September 2020 to assess self-reported changes in PA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive statistics, age-adjusted prevalence odds ratios (PORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed to examine patient characteristics associated with decreased PA.

RESULTS

A total of 893 eligible participants completed the survey (mean age 57.8 ± 14.9 years, 75.8% female). The most common primary diagnoses reported among participants included rheumatoid arthritis (27.3%), osteoarthritis (16.0%), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (13.0%). More than half of participants (56.8%) reported engaging in less PA since the pandemic began. Factors associated with engaging in less PA included lower self-reported general health (POR, 2.21; CI, 1.64-2.97) and a diagnosis of SLE (POR, 1.57; CI, 1.03-2.38). Comorbidities associated with decreased PA included chronic pain (POR, 1.38; CI, 1.04-1.82), depression (POR, 1.48; CI, 1.09-2.01), and hypertension (POR, 1.44; CI, 1.10-1.90).

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated barriers to PA in patients with RMDs. There is a critical need to provide resources, support, and multifaceted programs to encourage PA in patients with RMDs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Physical activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis - an agile lifelong behaviour: a qualitative meta-synthesis

Background

Physical activity (PA) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is considered a cornerstone in the treatment. To highlight aspects involved in supporting a positive PA behaviour, it is important to understand the patients’ perceptions of the phenomenon.

Objective

The aim of this qualitative meta-synthesis was to explore and synthesise patient perceptions of PA in RA.

Methods

A purposeful search was conducted across three online databases (PubMed, CINAHL and Web of Science). The methodological quality of the included studies was appraised, and data were extracted and analysed using an interpretive inductive thematic synthesis.

Results

Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were included. PA was identified as an agile lifelong behaviour, with one main theme: The disease as a persistent catalyst for or against PA illustrating how the constant presence of the disease itself underlies the entire process of a life with or without regular PA. Seven subthemes: ‘considering aggravated symptoms’, ‘acknowledging the impact on health’, ‘becoming empowered and taking action’, ‘keeping informed to increase awareness’, ‘creating body awareness’, ‘dealing with social support’ and ‘feeling satisfied with circumstances and achievements’ were interpreted as facilitators and/or challenges.

Conclusion

This synthesis has identified PA as an agile lifelong behaviour in which the disease pervades all aspects of an individuals’ perception of PA. Placed in a theoretical context, our findings outline a model for tailoring PA support to the drivers and determinants of a certain individual, which will improve clinical practice for the benefit of both health professionals and patients with RA.

The impact of COVID-19 on clinical research: the PIPPRA and MEDRA experience

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a significant impact on clinical research. This paper aims to provide an insight into how the COVID-19 pandemic, associated public health restrictions and international guidance on the conduct of clinical research impacted two clinical rheumatology research trials - the Physiotherapist-led Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis (PIPPRA) and the MEDiterranean diet in Rheumatoid Arthritis (MEDRA) projects. Methods: The March 2019 public health restrictions imposed to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 occurred at a time when PIPPRA was in the process of delivering assessment and intervention on a face-to-face basis (n=48) and MEDRA had commenced recruitment. Participants in PIPPRA and MEDRA had a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, with some being immunosuppressed and thus at a higher risk for COVID-19. The decision-making processes of both trials is outlined to demonstrate the required amendments to continue in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Amendments to PIPPRA and MEDRA trial protocols were agreed and received ethical and funder approval. Both trials switched from a face-to-face delivery to a telehealth using online platforms. The PIPPRA study was paused for five months (April-August 2020), resulting in n=33 (60%) deviations from assessment protocol. MEDRA switched from face-to-face to online recruitment with 20% (n=35/44) deviation in recruitment. Of the n=18 participants who consented to participating in a face-to-face trial, just n=2 (11%) opted to engage with telehealth delivery of the intervention. MEDRA assessment and intervention deviations were 100% as no sessions were completed as planned in 2020. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the PIPPRA and MEDRA clinical trials. Moving face-to-face clinical research to telehealth delivery may not be the panacea it is purported to be. Our experiences may be of benefit to researchers, clinicians, and funders in seeking to continue clinical research during a global pandemic.

The effect of physical exercise on rheumatoid arthritis: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analysis

AIMS

To determine which outcomes will be improved by different exercise interventions and the evidence quality for each intervention.

DESIGN

Overview of systematic reviews and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Embase. Published from the establishment of the database to 3 September 2019.

REVIEW METHODS

AMSTAR 2 and PRISMA were used to evaluate methodological and reporting quality. Evidence quality of the effect of each intervention was assessed according to GRADE guidelines. Meta-analysis of original studies was conducted for comparison of systematic reviews and to explore the effect of different exercise interventions on the same outcome.

RESULTS

Ten systematic reviews were included in the overview. A significant improvement was seen in: aerobic exercise for aerobic capacity; strength training for erythrocyte sedimentation rate and 50-foot walking time; aerobic exercise combined with strength training for aerobic capacity, physical function, and fatigue; hand exercise for hand function.

CONCLUSIONS

For the maximum benefit of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, different exercise methods should be selected according to the symptoms. For RA patients, any exercise is better than no exercise, but the intensity, frequency, and period of exercise for better results are not determined.

IMPACT

What problem did the study address is which outcomes will be improved by different exercise interventions. For maximum benefit for RA patients, different exercise methods should be selected according to symptoms. The research summarized the evidence of exercise rehabilitation of RA and will help RA patients or their caregivers choose the appropriate type of exercise, which will play a positive role on the rehabilitation of patients with RA.

"A Necessary Investment in Future Health": Perceptions of Physical Activity Maintenance Among People With Rheumatoid Arthritis

OBJECTIVE

A few studies with a qualitative design have addressed physical activity (PA) maintenance in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but none of them focused specifically on maintenance of PA according to public health recommendations. The purpose of this study was to describe perceptions of PA maintenance during the second year of an outsourced 2-year support program among people with RA.

METHODS

For this descriptive design with a qualitative inductive approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 participants with RA (3 men and 15 women). Variation in age, disease duration, activity limitation, pain, levels of PA, and PA maintenance was targeted through strategic sampling. Qualitative content analysis was used, and a pattern of theme, subthemes, and categories was constructed based on the participants' perceptions of PA maintenance.

RESULTS

A main overarching theme, "A necessary investment in future health"-with 3 subthemes of dedication, awareness, and affinity-was identified as participants' perceptions of PA maintenance. Eight categories further described are a changed mindset, habits, commitments, monitoring, insights in PA, health gains, social support, and PA context.

CONCLUSIONS

PA according to public health recommendations was perceived as a true investment in future health and wellness requiring dedication, awareness, and affinity. To promote PA maintenance, physical therapists working with people with chronic conditions should consider strengthening these prerequisites by targeting patients' negative attitudes to PA, supporting their creation of PA habits to incorporate in daily routines, introducing monitoring of PA intensity, supporting development of PA self-regulation skills, and providing suitable gym facilities with the possibility of peer support.

Physical Ability and Quality of Life in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Brief Comparison

Background Patients with rheumatic disease are assumed to have low muscle performance, but few studies have been performed to prove this.

Objective To investigate and compare muscle performance in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and detect its correlation with disease activity, physical function level and quality of life.

Patients and Methods Fifty RA patients, 50 SLE patients and 50 healthy controls were recruited for this observational, cross-sectional study. Muscle performance tests for the upper and lower limbs and the fatigue severity score were recorded. Assessments of the physical activity level using the frequency intensity time index and quality of life using the SF36 questionnaire were performed. The study was conducted over 4 months from January to April 2019.

Results SLE patients showed better results of muscle performance than RA patients; however, both had lower results as compared to control. Disease activity was correlated to muscle performance tests in both diseases, except for the 30-second chair stand test in SLE (p=0.247). All domains of SF36 had a significant correlation with the performance tests in SLE (p≤0.05); however, only domains of physical function correlated with the tests in the RA group.

Conclusion RA patients tend to have a lower muscle performance and physical activity level as compared to SLE patients and control.

Development and initial validation of a questionnaire to assess facilitators and barriers to physical activity for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis and/or psoriatic arthritis

To develop and validate a self-administered questionnaire to identify in people with Inflammatory arthritis (IA) Facilitators And Barriers to Physical activity (PA): the IFAB questionnaire. The development of the questionnaire included a systematic review of barriers and facilitators to PA to identify key themes, face validity assessment by 11 experts, and cognitive debriefing with 14 patients. The psychometric properties of the questionnaire were assessed by convergent validity (Spearman correlation) against the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (mHAQ), the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire subscale for PA and the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, internal consistency (Cronbach α) in 63 IA patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Reliability and feasibility were assessed in 32 IA patients. The questionnaire comprises 10 items: 4 assessing either barriers or facilitators, 3 assessing barriers, and 3 assessing facilitators. The items are related to psychological status (N = 6), social support (N = 2), disease (N = 1), environmental factors (N = 1). The validation study included 63 patients: 26 RA, 24 axSpA, 13 PsA; with mean age 52.8 (standard deviation 16.5) years, mean disease duration 12.5 (12.3) years, and 53% of women. The questionnaire was correlated (rho = 0.24) with mHAQ. Internal consistency (Cronbach α 0.69) and reliability (interclass coefficient 0.79 [95% confidence interval 0.59; 0.88]) were satisfactory, as was feasibility (missing data 12%, mean completion time < 5 min). The questionnaire allows the assessment of barriers and facilitators to PA in patients with IA. This questionnaire may guide targeted interventions to increase levels of PA in these patients.

Understanding exercise promotion in rheumatic diseases: A qualitative study among physical therapists

Background: Physical therapists have unique expertise in planning, prescribing, and supporting exercise for patients with rheumatic diseases. Promoting exercise can be a challenge, but descriptions of physical therapists' experiences within the field of rheumatology are limited.Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe ways of understanding exercise promotion among physical therapists working in rheumatology.Design and Method: A phenomenographic approach was used to analyze semi-structured interviews with 25 physical therapists working primarily within the field of rheumatology from eight different physical therapy departments at hospitals across Sweden.Results: Four ways of understanding exercise promotion were identified. These were named: exercise promotion as information and monitoring of the behavior, as facilitation of skills building, as co-creation of awareness, and as the development of independence and self-reflection.Conclusion: Physical therapists in rheumatology understand exercise promotion in various ways that differ with respect to comprehensiveness and patient-centeredness. The physical therapists' use of behavior change techniques serves different purposes in exercise promotion, varying from external control to self-management. The present results might thus be used to develop awareness, knowledge, and skills for more deliberate exercise promotion among physical therapists working with patients having rheumatic diseases.

Aspects of exercise with person-centred guidance influencing the transition to independent exercise: a qualitative interview study among older adults with rheumatoid arthritis

Background

Besides being health enhancing and disease preventing, exercise is also an important part of the management of chronic conditions, including the inflammatory joint disease rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, older adults with RA present a lower level of physical activity than healthy older adults. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore aspects of participation in moderate- to high-intensity exercise with person-centred guidance influencing the transition to independent exercise for older adults with RA.

Methods

A qualitative interview study was conducted. In-depth interviews with 16 adults with RA aged between 68 and 75 years, who had taken part in the intervention arm of a randomized controlled trial performing moderate- to- high-intensity exercise with person-centred guidance, were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

The analysis resulted in six main categories: A feasible opportunity to adopt exercise, Experiencing positive effects of exercise, Contextual factors affect the experience of exercise, Developing knowledge and thinking, Finding one’s way, and Managing barriers for exercise. The exercise with person-centred guidance was described as a feasible opportunity to start exercising as a basis for the transition to independent exercise. They described developing knowledge and thinking about exercise during the intervention enabling them to manage the transition to independent exercise. Finding one’s own way for exercise became important for sustaining independent exercise. Lastly, barriers for exercise and strategies for overcoming these were described. Reduced physical health, both temporary and permanent, was described as a considerable barrier for exercise.

Conclusion

The participants described several aspects of participating in exercise that influenced and facilitated their transition to independent exercise. The exercise was experienced as manageable and positive, by a careful introduction and development of an individual exercise routine in partnership with a physiotherapist. This seems to have favored the development of self-efficacy, with importance for future independent exercise. Reduced physical health, both temporary and permanent, was described as a considerable barrier for exercise. The personal process of trying to make the exercise one’s own, and developing knowledge about exercise and new thoughts about oneself, seemed to prepare the participants for managing independent exercise and overcoming barriers.

2018 EULAR recommendations for physical activity in people with inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis

Regular physical activity (PA) is increasingly promoted for people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases as well as the general population. We evaluated if the public health recommendations for PA are applicable for people with inflammatory arthritis (iA; Rheumatoid Arthritis and Spondyloarthritis) and osteoarthritis (hip/knee OA) in order to develop evidence-based recommendations for advice and guidance on PA in clinical practice. The EULAR standardised operating procedures for the development of recommendations were followed. A task force (TF) (including rheumatologists, other medical specialists and physicians, health professionals, patient-representatives, methodologists) from 16 countries met twice. In the first TF meeting, 13 research questions to support a systematic literature review (SLR) were identified and defined. In the second meeting, the SLR evidence was presented and discussed before the recommendations, research agenda and education agenda were formulated. The TF developed and agreed on four overarching principles and 10 recommendations for PA in people with iA and OA. The mean level of agreement between the TF members ranged between 9.8 and 8.8. Given the evidence for its effectiveness, feasibility and safety, PA is advocated as integral part of standard care throughout the course of these diseases. Finally, the TF agreed on related research and education agendas. Evidence and expert opinion inform these recommendations to provide guidance in the development, conduct and evaluation of PA-interventions and promotion in people with iA and OA. It is advised that these recommendations should be implemented considering individual needs and national health systems.