Educational readiness among health professionals in rheumatology: low awareness of EULAR offerings and unfamiliarity with the course content as major barriers-results of a EULAR-funded European survey

BACKGROUND

Ongoing education of health professionals in rheumatology (HPR) is critical for high-quality care. An essential factor is education readiness and a high quality of educational offerings. We explored which factors contributed to education readiness and investigated currently offered postgraduate education, including the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) offerings.

METHODS AND PARTICIPANTS

We developed an online questionnaire, translated it into 24 languages and distributed it in 30 European countries. We used natural language processing and the Latent Dirichlet Allocation to analyse the qualitative experiences of the participants as well as descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression to determine factors influencing postgraduate educational readiness. Reporting followed the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys guideline.

RESULTS

The questionnaire was accessed 3589 times, and 667 complete responses from 34 European countries were recorded. The highest educational needs were 'professional development', 'prevention and lifestyle intervention'. Older age, more working experience in rheumatology and higher education levels were positively associated with higher postgraduate educational readiness. While more than half of the HPR were familiar with EULAR as an association and the respondents reported an increased interest in the content of the educational offerings, the courses and the annual congress were poorly attended due to a lack of awareness, comparatively high costs and language barriers.

CONCLUSIONS

To promote the uptake of EULAR educational offerings, attention is needed to increase awareness among national organisations, offer accessible participation costs, and address language barriers.

Lost in Communication: Do Family Physicians Provide Patients with Information on Preventing Diet-Related Diseases?

Diet-related diseases remain leading causes of death in most developed countries around the world. The aim of the study was to compare opinions of patients and family physicians on receiving and providing recommendations about physical activity, diet and use of medication. Methods: The questionnaire study was conducted among patients of 36 primary health care clinics in Poland between September 2018 and February 2019. Patients and physicians were interviewed separately by trained researchers. Data from 509 patients and 167 family doctors were analyzed. Results: The median age of patients was 44 years (interquartile range: 29-55) and 70% were women. The majority of physicians were women (59%) and the median age was 37 years (IQR: 31-50). There was a significant difference between physicians' declarations on providing recommendations on diet (92% vs. 39%) and activity (90% vs. 37%) versus patients' declarations on receiving them. Conclusions: The results indicate that there is significant room for improvement in providing patients with proper recommendations on diet and physical activity by their family physicians. Primary care physicians should put more emphasis on clear communication of recommendations on diet and physical activity.

Online Information of COVID-19: Visibility and Characterization of Highest Positioned Websites by Google between March and April 2020-A Cross-Country Analysis

Background: The WHO has used the term “infodemic” to describe the vast amount of false and true information that was making it difficult for people to find reliable information when they needed it. The infodemic spreads faster than COVID-19 itself. The main objective of the study was to characterize and analyze content about COVID-19 returned by Google during the pandemic and compare it between countries. Methods: The study was conducted between 30 March and 27 April 2020. The information was searched through local Google websites using the “COVID-19”, “Coronavirus”, “SARS-CoV-2” and “fake news” keywords. The search was conducted in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Singapore, Spain, UK and the USA. The total number of the analyzed webpages was 685. Results: The most frequent types were News websites 47% (324/685) and Governmental 19% (131/685) while the least were Health portals 2% (17/685) and Scientific journals 5% (35/635), p < 0.001. United States and Australia had the highest share of Governmental websites. There was a positive correlation between the amount of preventive information and a number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in countries. The higher the number of tests performed, the higher was the amount of information about prevention available online. Conclusions: Online information is usually available on news and government websites and refers to prevention. There were differences between countries in types of information available online. The highest positioned (the first 20) websites for COVID-19, Coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 keywords returned by Google include true information.

AB0920-PARE WHAT WE LEARNED DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Background:

When the first official cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology in the city of Wuhan were reported by Chinese authorities to the World Health Organization (WHO) on 31st of December, 2019 nobody couldn’t imagine that only month later new disease reached Europe and so fast change lives around the world. The first case of COVID-19 in Poland has been detected on 4th March 2020 and 16 days later Polish government introduced an epidemic state connected with new law regulations and with lockdown.

Objectives:

Fast shared new coronavirus was a challenge for all. People with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) in very short time lost their sense of security. They received different information about COVID-19. One of the main information was that people with RMDs have higher risk of COVID-19. Providing real information in era of fake-news and giving of possible solutions during pandemic has become the goal of activities of patients organizations.

Methods:

Lack of appropriate knowledge about new coronavirus forced different activities among entities acting for the benefit of patients. Our rheumatic patients organizations suspended group exercises and face to face meeting counting that it was only for 1-2 months. In social media from early March 2020 we support action “stay at home” like a warranty of safety. We tried to stay in contact with member organizations and in regional organizations with their members. We participated in action “Patient units us” organized by Minister for Patients Rights – during duty hours we had a chance to inform calling us people about different solutions connected with pandemic. Using our social media we inform people with RMDs about statement of EULAR and Polish Society for Rheumatology. After short break we are continuing works in Council of Patients Organization to the Minister for Patients Rights. Having contacts with RMDs patients we learn from them about their problems met in everyday lives.

Results:

COVID-19 pandemic interrupted typical activities of our associations. After summer holidays we could organize group exercises and real meetings only during 2 months to new wave of coronavirus. Many members resigned from participation fear of infection. For the same reason people resigned from medical consultation and examination. Following confirmed information we could share it among our followers using websites and social media. Majority of medical consultations was remotely when physician calls to patient on time of appointed visit.

Conclusion:

COVID-19 pandemic accelerated progress of e-health and of using of new technologies. On the one hand it give a challenge for people who didn’t use it before to start to do it but on the other hand digital exclusion has deepened among people who never use Internet and stay alone in pandemic times. Virtual activities of associations give a chance to keep a contact with members, increase their knowledge, dispel doubts. Some changes forced by coronavirus infection are good and will stay among us like e-prescription, e-referral, internet patients account, virtual workshops and lectures. We are concerned that teleconsultations can replace medical examination in out-patient center. It can be danger for people with inflammatory arthritis. So long break in face to face meetings in associations can be a reason of lost of members especially older. Fast learning of using of new technology in medicine and in activities of associations give an opportunity for future but nothing can replace personal contact.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

PARE0025 “RA - DON’T GIVE UP” - LIFE WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS FROM PATIENTS’ PERSPECTIVE

Background:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as chronic and progressing to disability disease decreases a quality of life of every person suffering from it. Knowledge about this influence from patient perspective is important to limit burden of RA and organize appropriate care for patients.

Objectives:

RA has input on every area of individual and social lives. Recognition of patients’ situation in daily life, professional life, participation in treatment, taking life decision gives possibilities to better understanding of diseases and starting activities to change lives with RA. Aim of research was to learn attitudes, knowledge and experiences of people living with RA.

Methods:

The study was initiated by KnowPR in partnership with Polish Rheuma Federation ‘REF’. Main researcher was Tomasz Sobierajski PhD., sociologist from Warsaw University. The first stage of the study was a workshop with patients with RA organized by REF. It was brainstorming to identify main problems, appropriate understand life with RA and discussion on questionnaire. After small pilot study on questionnaire, research was made by CAWI technique. Questionnaire had been linked on professional websites, facebook, Twitter, health forums. The data had been completed during one month - January 2019.

Results of survey were presented in booklet with comments. Opinions introducing results were done from persons represented patronages of project: minister of patient rights, president of Polish Society for Rheumatology, national consultant in rheumatology, directors of National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation. Publication was enriched by stories of people with RA living full lives. Publication was launched during press conference and disseminated in hard copies and on-line with free access.

Results:

In survey took part 619 respondents with RA - mostly women (90%). The biggest group of respondents (34%) was in age 46-60 years old. Duration of disease was different – from few months to more than 40 years. More than half of respondents are suffering from RA more than 10 years. Disease influences of every life area. Only 38% of respondents participate in decision about their treatment and took it together with rheumatologist. There are different opinions about way of taking medication. There are not differences among age groups and duration of disease in this. Majority of patients suffer from pain (73%), from limited abilities (68%) and from permanent fatigue (69%) in everyday lives. Rheumatologist has the biggest confidence among patients like a source of information about disease (73%). Other health professionals have lower confidence (35-40%). Majority of respondents (68%) note his knowledge about diseases like rather good and better. Respondents didn’t connected their decision of having a child with disease how it has been before (59%). Part of respondents had to change or resign of professional work (30%). Part of them resigned from social life and hobbies before disease. In opinion of 57% of respondents RA changed totally their lives (57%).

Conclusion:

Results of survey was used like a tool in lobbying for accessibility in newest treatment in RA. Further recognize of quality of life in RA is needed. Interviews of focus groups and individuals are planned.

References:

[1]T. Sobierajski. Codzienność z reumatoidalnym zapaleniem stawów. Warszawa 2019

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared