INSELMA - a Randomised Controlled Trial

Background: Patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) experience substantial impact of their disease despite optimal pharmacological treatment. To be able to manage these challenges effectively, patients require tailored self-management support from various professionals. We thus developed a six-month nurse-coordinated interdisciplinary self-management intervention (INSELMA), in collaboration with patients, clinicians and managers. A pilot study on the INSELMA intervention in 18 participants showed promising results. It is now relevant to test the intervention and compare it to a control group in a larger study . Objectives: The primary objective is to compare the efficacy of the INSELMA intervention to usual care (control group), on health related quality of life measured at baseline and end of intervention (6 months after baseline). Key secondary objectives are to compare the short and longer-term effect of INSELMA on changes in mental well-being, anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain, sleep, physical activity, global impact of the disease, work ability, self-efficacy for managing chronic disease and pain and health literacy relative to usual care from baseline to 6 and 12 months after baseline and on quality of life from baseline to 12 months after baseline. Method: A pragmatic randomised trial with a two-group parallel design. All participants will be randomly allocated to the intervention or usual care only . Both groups will receive usual care. The INSELMA intervention group will be assigned a coordinating rheumatology nurse who performs an initial biopsychosocial assessment. Based on the assessment, the nurse and the patient agree on which activities and goals to work towards for the following six months. The coordinating nurse can refer the patient to see a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist or social worker if needed and can help identify offers in the patients' municipality. The primary endpoint will be change in quality of life from baseline to 6 month after baseline. Key secondary outcome measures are collected to compare the effect of INSELMA on changes in mental well-being, anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain, self-efficacy for managing pain, physical function, global impact of the disease, sleep problems and acceptable symptoms relative to usual care from baseline to 6 and 12 months after baseline.