This is a plain English summary of an original research article. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and reviewer(s) at the time of publication.
Fatigue can be one of the most difficult symptoms to cope with for people with rheumatoid arthritis and this study found that group cognitive behavioural courses may help.
This NIHR-funded study compared six weekly group sessions plus a booster session with a single brief one-to-one meeting. Both groups also received an educational booklet. It took place in seven UK hospitals and was co-delivered by pairs of trained rheumatology nurses and occupational therapists.
The group sessions caused a small reduction in the impact of fatigue which was still evident after two years. The course was well-received by participants, with more than 80% expressing satisfaction with it and saying they would recommend it to others.
Those members of the rheumatology team delivering the courses also found the additional training they had received beneficial in other areas of their practice. This is a promising intervention that could be more widely implemented to reduce the emotional and practical problems associated with fatigue.
Why was this study needed?
Rheumatoid arthritis affects around 400,000 people in the UK. Women are affected two to four times more often than men. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue, mainly the joints, causing inflammation, pain, swelling and stiffness. A more generalised symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is fatigue.
While there is no universal definition of fatigue, there is general agreement that it comprises a lack of or decreased energy, and physical or mental exhaustion. Fatigue is a significant problem for more than 50% of people with rheumatoid arthritis and can be an enduring presence in their lives.
Group-based cognitive behavioural therapy programmes have been successful in reducing multiple sclerosis fatigue. This study explores the potential for groups run by rheumatology nurses and occupational therapists using cognitive behavioural approaches to reduce levels of rheumatoid arthritis fatigue.
What did this study do?
This randomised controlled trial took place in seven UK hospitals. It compared a group cognitive behavioural course and provision of the Arthritis Research UK fatigue booklet, against a five-minute one-to-one consultation on fatigue and provision of the booklet. The cognitive behavioural course, delivered by rheumatology nurses and occupational therapists, was provided in six weekly two-hour sessions plus a consolidation session for one hour in week 14.
The course consisted of exploratory questioning, goal-setting and peer-support towards fatigue-related behaviour, and underpinning thoughts and feelings.
The average age of the 333 participants was around 60 years old and 80% were female. They had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis for an average of 10 years.
Fatigue was measured using the Bristol Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue Numerical Rating Scale (BRAF scale), which runs from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating worse fatigue.
The results are likely to be relevant and reliable as this was a pragmatic trial in an NHS setting.
What did it find?
- At week 26, fatigue impact reduced more in those attending the group sessions, with BRAF scores reducing from 7.10 to 5.74 compared with 7.23 to 6.36 for the control group (adjusted mean difference [aMD] -0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.11 to -0.06). This difference in fatigue impact scores was still apparent at two years (aMD -0.49, 95% CI -0.83 to -0.14).
- The difference in fatigue impact BRAF scores between the groups increased over successive courses, suggesting therapist learning over time (first course cohort aMD -0.37 and last course cohort aMD -0.82).
- Group sessions also slightly improved emotional fatigue by 26 weeks on the BRAF-Multidimensional Questionnaire (BRAF-MDQ emotional fatigue, scale 0 to 12) compared with the control group (aMD -0.91, 95% CI -1.58 to -0.23). This improvement was sustained at two years (aMD -0.90, 95% CI -1.44 to -0.37).
- Living with fatigue also improved a little more for those who attended group sessions according to the BRAF-MDQ living score (scale 0 to 21) compared with the control group at 26 weeks (aMD -1.19, 95% CI -2.17 to -0.21) and two years (aMD -0.93, 95% CI -1.75 to -0.10).
- There was no difference in other outcomes such as pain, disability, quality of life, anxiety, depression or valued life activities. However, group sessions were highly appreciated by participants, with 89% scoring it 8 or more out of 10 for satisfaction and 96% indicating they would recommend it to others. The staff leading the courses also felt that taking part had improved their wider clinical practice.
What does current guidance say on this issue?
The NICE 2018 guideline on managing rheumatoid arthritis in adults recommends periodic assessment of the effects of rheumatoid arthritis, including fatigue, on patients’ lives. It recommends that multidisciplinary teams help people manage their condition.
The guidelines focus on symptom control and non-pharmacological management for joint protection rather than the quality of life issues such as control and management of fatigue, for which there is no specific advice.
What are the implications?
In the absence of clinical psychologists as part of rheumatology teams, it is feasible for cognitive behavioural courses to be successfully delivered by rheumatology nurses and occupational therapists to relieve the impact of rheumatoid arthritis fatigue.
Though the impact may be modest, there is a lack of other available interventions to improve fatigue, which can be debilitating for people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Each hospital delivered four consecutive courses over two years. Results appear to have improved over time as the therapists gained experience, so the overall results may underestimate the full impact that could be achieved.
Citation and Funding
Hewlett S, Almeida C, Ambler N et al. Group cognitive behavioural programme to reduce the impact of rheumatoid arthritis fatigue: the RAFT RCT with economic and qualitative evaluations. Health Technol Assess. 2019;23(57).
Hewlett S, Almeida C, Ambler N et al. Reducing arthritis fatigue impact: two-year randomised controlled trial of cognitive behavioural approaches by rheumatology teams (RAFT). Ann Rheum Dis. 2019;78:465-72.
This project was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme (project number 11/112/01).
Bibliography
Arthritis Foundation. Fighting the fatigue of RA. Atlanta [GA]: Arthritis Foundation; 2017.
NHS website. Rheumatoid arthritis: overview. London: Department of Health and Social Care; updated 2019.
NICE. Rheumatoid arthritis in adults: management. NG100. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; 2018.
Versus Arthritis. What is rheumatoid arthritis? Chesterfield: Versus Arthritis; 2018.
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