Until now there has not been a self-management programme available which is tailored to the specific needs of people with Rheumatoid Arthritis. self management uk, former EPP CIC and NRAS wanted to be able to provide a disease specific self management programme and began a partnership to bring such a programme to market.
We piloted three courses to work through the ideas and then in early 2010 three further pilots were held in incorporating feedback from participants and tutors who took part and these further pilots. The results of the evaluation which showed increased and sustained self efficacy were published at Eular 2011 in London and at the London based launch of the Programme in July 2011, presented by Jacqui Pollock and Ailsa Bosworth Chief Executive of NRAS.
One of the key differences with this programme, apart from the fact that it is disease specific, is that it is being run by a health professional in rheumatology working with a person living with the disease in equal partnership. RA is a complex disease and we felt that when it came to issues such as pain management, flare management, medicines management, that these would be better delivered by a health professional currently working in a rheumatology clinic setting, treating people with RA, enabling the peer tutor to role model other important aspects of living with RA such as pacing and dealing with emotional consequences.
Pat Holmes, Jacqui Pollock and Tracey (Tutor) delivered tutor training to a number of Rheumatology Health Professionals and Patients living with RA in Brighton in August, and the team aim to hold their first local courses this year. Further Tutor Training is planned in Scotland during November.
