Survey on attitudes regarding EULAR recommendations for the role of nurses involved in medical care of patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis in Japan

Abstract

Objective: We seek to evaluate the opinions of nurses and doctors in Japan regarding EULAR recommendations for nurses’ roles in the management of chronic inflammatory arthritis.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey within Japan. We randomly selected nurses and doctors engaged in consultation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and assessed their agreement and opinions on the feasibility of implementing EULAR recommendations, including potential barriers.

Results: 431 nurses and 128 doctors completed the questionnaire. For both nurses and doctors, levels of feasibility showed statistically significant lower results compared with those of agreement for all items. When compared between nurses and doctors, agreement showed no statistically significant differences, while nurses’ answers were statistically significant lower for feasibility. Insufficient time, staff and knowledge, lack of established procedures and facilities, and lack of an education system for nurses were cited as barriers to the feasibility of implementing EULAR recommendations.

Conclusions: This is the first survey within Japan evaluating opinions regarding EULAR recommendations for nurses’ roles. We found that while agreement was high, feasibility was generally believed to be low. We recommend further research and collaboration between medical professionals in order to implement these recommendations in Japan.

Keywords:

• Education
• EULAR recommendations
• Nurses’ role
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Treat to target

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the doctors and nurses mainly involved in this study; Dr. Atsushi Kawakami and Dr. Hideki Nakamura (Nagasaki University), Dr. Masami Tsuru and Ms. Midori Suzaki, RN (PS Clinic), Dr. Kazuko Shiozawa (Kohnan Kakogawa Hospital), Dr. Atsushi Kumanogoh and Dr. Toru Hirano (Osaka University), Dr. Shigeki Makino (Osaka Medical College), Dr. Takashi Nakazawa (Osaka Saiseikai Nakatsu Hospital), Dr. Masao Yukioka and Ms. Kumiko Yukioka, RN (Yukioka Hospital), Dr. Takao Takeuchi (Hayaishi Hospital), Dr. Keiji Maeda and Ms. Kayoko Higashi, RN (NTT West Osaka Hospital), Dr. Hitoshi Goto and Dr. Kentaro Inui (Osaka City University), Dr. Shiro Ohshima and Dr. Jun Hashimoto (Osaka Minami Medical Center), Dr. Fumiaki Nishisaka (Osaka Rehabilitation Hospital), Dr. Masanori Funauchi and Dr. Hiraku Kikuchi (Kindai University), Dr. Takashi Fujimoto (Nara Medical University), Dr. Kazuhiro Hatta (Tenri Hospital), Dr. Kenshi Higami, Dr. Satomi Higami and Ms. Satomi Matsumura, RN (Higami Hospital), Ms. Miho Hirohata, RN (Shirahama Hamayu Hospital), Ms. Kayoko Sakagami, RN (Infusion Clinic), Ms. Harumi Kondo, RN (Keio University), Ms. Kaoru Tezuka, RN (St. Marianna University School of Medicine), Ms. Makiko Matsuda, RN (Kyorin University), Dr. Akira Murasawa (Niigata Rheumatic Center), Dr. Kazuhide Tanimura and Ms. Taeko Hirasawa, RN (Hokkaido Medical Center for Rheumatic Diseases). The authors also thank other doctors and nurses supporting our study.

Conflict of interest

None.