Messages to health care professionals

People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) had important messages that they wanted to convey to doctors, nurses, and other health workers:

• Don't neglect the special needs of young people with RA
• Be aware of 'the person behind the patient' and take a holistic approach to disease management
• Remember that people are all different
• Don't treat patients as numbers
• Don't describe patients as 'rheumatoids'
• Give patients plenty of information, explaining medications and procedures about to be performed (see 'Finding information about RA')
• Don't use jargon that patients don't understand
• Listen to your patients and involve them in decisions at every stage
• Understand that continuity of care is very important to patients with RA

Patients should be involved in treatment decisions at every stage and continuity of care is important.

• Remember that patients may forget what they have been told. It is useful to have the phone number of a nurse to call

Patients may forget what they have been told so it helps to have the phone number of a nurse to be reminded and get advice.

• Tender loving care is important
• Don't be too rough when examining patients

Health workers need to be gentle and to allow plenty of time for the consultation.

• Don't rush the consultation - allow enough time for each patient
• Tell patients about the social support and financial benefits that are available
• Be truthful and tell patients that there isn't a cure for RA though much can be done to help to control the condition and make it more manageable
• Try not to frighten them with worst case scenarios
• If a clinic is running late give patients information and apologise for delays
• Increase public awareness of RA and keep people informed through the media on research and developments in treatment
• Involve patients in NHS decisions on how services are provided

Last reviewed August 2010.