Op0005-Pare development of Conversation Aids: How to Get the Most Out of Your RMD Appointment and Advance Your Quality of Life

Abstract

BackgroundHaving a Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Disease (RMD) has a big impact on your daily life, work, relationships and quality of life. It can cause various complaints, problems and questions. Research shows that people with an RMD are often insufficiently aware that they can talk about these challenges with their RMD professional. They also don’t realize that these challenges matter when making a fitting choice for treatment. It also appears that RMD professionals do not sufficiently take into account the priorities of their patient, when a treatment choice has to be made. This is unfortunate because research shows that people who decide together with their RMD professional make better informed treatment choices. They are also more likely to adhere to their treatment or medication use. A conversation aid can help people to become aware of the most important challenges or problems in their daily lives with an RMD. These uncovered challenges and problems can set the agenda for a good conversation in the RMD consultation room. Together with the RMD professional the conversation can focus on ways to deal with or treat these challenges or problems.ObjectivesTo develop a conversation aid for people with an RMD that allows them to become aware of the most important challenges in their life with an RMD and that guides them in how to discuss these aspects with an RMD professional.MethodsIn the first step a review was made of all important aspects of a patient’s life with an RMD. The outcome measures of ICHOM for inflammatory arthritis1 and hip- and knee osteoarthritis2 formed the starting point for this review. This was complemented with additional outcomes as measured in Dutch RMD apps and patient dashboards of Dutch hospitals. In the second step, the list of outcomes was assessed by means of a survey among Dutch patients with an RMD. The third step was to discuss the complete list with important outcomes with the Dutch rheumatology department of the Bravis Medical Centre. A first draft version of the conversation aids was made. This draft version was evaluated by patientpartners of the National Association ReumaZorg Nederland (RZN) and the Bravis Medical Centre.ResultsA total of 4 conversation aids (https://reumazorgnederland.nl/samen-beslissen-gesprekskaarten/) were made. Each aid addressing a main category of challenges with an RMD. Each main category was divided into 5 sub-categories. The 4 conversation aids are:Disease: Concerning the sub-categories: Disease activity, pain, fatigue, medication & side effects and knowledge about the disease.Daily activity: Concerning the sub-categories: Work/school, personal care, household & family, mobility, and spare time.Lifestyle: Concerning the sub-categories: Activity, food, stress & relaxing, smoking, and weight.Relationships and well-being: Concerning the sub-categories: Social contacts, intimate relationships & pregnancy & wish for children, incomprehension, loneliness, and gloom.To advance Shared Decision Making (SDM), a separate conversation aid was made with tips and tricks for having a good conversation with your RMD professional:A good conversation: tips and tricks for preparing a conversation with your RMD professional. As well as tips and tricks that can be used during and after your conversation.In Figure 1 the conversation aid with main category lifestyle is presented.Figure 1.Example of the conversation aid with main category Lifestyle.ConclusionA consultation aid can advance a good conversation and therefore SDM, between people with an RMD and their RMD professional. A patient organisation can play an important role in developing a consultation aid.References[1]ICHOM, Inflammatory Arthritis: Inflammatory Arthritis – ICHOM Connect[2]ICHOM, Hip- and Knee Osteoarthritis: Hip & Knee Osteoarthritis – ICHOM ConnectAcknowledgementsThe voice of people with an RMD played a crucial role in the development of these consultation aids. We would like to thank everyone, including Bravis Medical Centre, for their feedback throughout the process.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared.