LAUSR

Background In 2011 EULAR first published European recommendations for the potential role of nurses in the management of patients with rheumatic diseases.1 Since then, the EULAR recommendations were well disseminated and positively evaluated both across Europe and the United States (US).2 Objectives To assess new evidence for the role of nurses in the management of chronic inflammatory arthritis (CIA) obtained since the 2011 EULAR recommendations. Methods A systematic literature search was performed for the time between 1/2010 and 9/2016 based on the PRISMA guidelines, using the search strategies and eligibility criteria and categorising evidence as did the EULAR taskforce. Results A total of 44 articles and 10 abstracts were identified fulfilling the eligibility and exclusion criteria. Strong new evidence exists for recommendation 3 with nurse-led telephone services to enhance continuity of care and to provide ongoing support (evidence level 3), and – at least in part – for recommendation 6, that nurses should promote self-efficacy (evidence level 1B) and empowerment (evidence level 2B), but sense of control was not studied. Some new evidence also exists for recommendations 7 and 8 (level 2B). Conclusions This literature review reveals new evidence for a role of nurses in managing CIA-patients especially with RA and in stable and low disease activity, and thus further supports the existing 2011 EULAR-recommendations. References [1] van Eijk-Hustings Y, van Tubergen A, Boström C, et al. (2012) EULAR recommendations for the role of the nurse in the management of chronic inflammatory arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis71:13–19 [2] van Eijk-Hustings Y, Ndosi M, Buss B, et al. (2014) Dissemination and evaluation of the European League Against Rheumatism recommendations for the role of the nurse in the management of chronic inflammatory arthritis: results of a multinational survey among nurses, rheumatologists and patients. Rheumatology53:1491–96 Acknowledgements - Disclosure of Interest None declared