2018 update of the EULAR recommendations for the role of the nurse in the management of chronic inflammatory arthritis

Abstract

  In 2012, EULAR recommendations for the role of the nurse in chronic inflammatory arthritis management were published and efforts were made to encourage implementation in each country. The level of agreement on the recommendations was high, but they were reported not to be fully implemented.

  The 2018 revised version of recommendations has been published, which incorporated higher levels of evidence and new insights. The revised version has newly added the overarching principles. It indicates that rheumatology nurses are part of a healthcare team, providing evidence-based care, and that rheumatology nursing is based on shared decision-making with the patient. In addition, eight recommendations have been proposed. The first three recommendations are based on the patient's perspective and the remaining five from the nurse's perspective. Patients are recommended to consult nurses about the support for their needs such as acquisition of knowledge and disease management during the entire course of the illness. Nurses are required to provide patients with support such as psychosocial issues for better improvement of self-assessment skills and self-efficacy, including telehealth. In addition, they also need to receive specialized nursing education to improve and continue their own knowledge and skills for playing wider roles. This updated version is intended to be more applicable and practical and, moreover, is expected to serve as a guide for rheumatic care and to be implemented widely.