The impact of COVID-19 on self-management behaviours and healthcare access for people with inflammatory arthritis

TY - JOUR

T1 - The impact of COVID-19 on self-management behaviours and healthcare access for people with inflammatory arthritis

AU - Caton, Emma

AU - Chaplin, Hema

AU - Carpenter, Lewis

AU - Sweeney, Melissa

AU - Tung, Hsiu Yen

AU - de Souza, Savia

AU - Galloway, James

AU - Nikiphorou, Elena

AU - Norton, Sam

N1 - Funding Information: Funding was provided by MQ and Versus Arthritis Fellowship (jointly funded) (Grant No. MQ16IP18). Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).

PY - 2021/10/1

Y1 - 2021/10/1

N2 - Background: Inflammatory arthritis (IA) patients have been identified as at greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19. It is likely that lockdown restrictions (enforced by the UK government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic) and subsequent changes made to healthcare provision could impact patients’ abilities to effectively manage their condition. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore the impact of COVID-19 on self-management behaviours and healthcare access for people with IA. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 IA patients in June-July 2020, with nine follow-up interviews in November 2020. Interview schedules were developed with a Patient Research Partner and explored participants’ experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviews were conducted via telephone and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Participants were aged between 24 and 79 years (mean = 50.1, SD = 15.8), largely female (71%) and White British (86%). Four initial themes were identified: (1) Impact of COVID-19 on medication adherence, (2) Impact of COVID-19 on physical activity, (3) Impact of COVID-19 on diet, and (4) Impact of COVID-19 on healthcare access and delivery. Subthemes focused on positive and negative changes made to these areas, as well as behaviours which remained consistent. Follow-up interviews highlighted differences in participants’ experiences during the two lockdown periods. Conclusion: COVID-19 has affected patients’ abilities to manage their IA. Healthcare professionals need to recognise the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on patient self-management and healthcare access to ensure that adequate understanding and support is available to patients who may have inadequate disease control as a result.

AB - Background: Inflammatory arthritis (IA) patients have been identified as at greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19. It is likely that lockdown restrictions (enforced by the UK government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic) and subsequent changes made to healthcare provision could impact patients’ abilities to effectively manage their condition. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore the impact of COVID-19 on self-management behaviours and healthcare access for people with IA. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 IA patients in June-July 2020, with nine follow-up interviews in November 2020. Interview schedules were developed with a Patient Research Partner and explored participants’ experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviews were conducted via telephone and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Participants were aged between 24 and 79 years (mean = 50.1, SD = 15.8), largely female (71%) and White British (86%). Four initial themes were identified: (1) Impact of COVID-19 on medication adherence, (2) Impact of COVID-19 on physical activity, (3) Impact of COVID-19 on diet, and (4) Impact of COVID-19 on healthcare access and delivery. Subthemes focused on positive and negative changes made to these areas, as well as behaviours which remained consistent. Follow-up interviews highlighted differences in participants’ experiences during the two lockdown periods. Conclusion: COVID-19 has affected patients’ abilities to manage their IA. Healthcare professionals need to recognise the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on patient self-management and healthcare access to ensure that adequate understanding and support is available to patients who may have inadequate disease control as a result.

KW - COVID-19

KW - Healthcare access

KW - Inflammatory arthritis

KW - Qualitative

KW - Self-management

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85117296993&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1186/s41927-021-00231-1

DO - 10.1186/s41927-021-00231-1

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85117296993

SN - 2520-1026

VL - 5

JO - BMC Rheumatology

JF - BMC Rheumatology

IS - 1

M1 - 58

ER -