Arthritis extended-role practitioners: impact on community practice (an exploratory study)

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Clinical Practice
• Therapeutic Interventions

Background:

• Inflammatory arthritis requires comprehensive management.
• The role of extended practice practitioners in arthritis care is evolving.
• Understanding practice variations is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical practice of extended role practitioners (ERPs) with experienced therapists lacking extended training.
• To identify differences in the assessment and management of inflammatory arthritis patients.
• To inform the design of future randomized controlled trials.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 58 adult patients with inflammatory arthritis.
• Comparison between charts of ERPs and experienced therapists matched by discipline, location, and referral time.
• Independent data extraction by three trained reviewers using standardized forms.

Main Results:

• ERPs were more likely to receive specific assessment referrals, treat undifferentiated arthritis, document comorbidities, and advocate for clients.
• ERPs more frequently recommended/provided exercise, educated on pain management, energy conservation, and posture, and recommended splints.
• Experienced therapists more often provided education on joint protection, community resources, and assistive devices.

Conclusions:

• Distinct practice patterns exist between ERPs and experienced therapists in inflammatory arthritis care.
• These identified practice differences are important for future research on ERP interventions.
• Further investigation is needed to evaluate the efficacy of extended role practitioner interventions.