Quality standard

Quality statement 4: Information

Quality statement 4: Information

Quality statement

Adults with spondyloarthritis are given information about their condition, which healthcare professionals will be involved with their care, and how and when to get in touch with them.

Rationale

Knowing about spondyloarthritis, including the symptoms, can help people to manage their condition and know when they need support from healthcare professionals. It is important that people have information on who to contact when they need extra advice and support, such as when they have a flare, so that they can access care quickly and return to normal activities without disease progression or complications.

Quality measures

Structure

a) Evidence that written information is available for adults with spondyloarthritis about their condition, who will be involved with their care, and how and when to get in touch with them.

Data source: Local data collection, for example, information leaflets.

b) Evidence of local processes to ensure that adults with spondyloarthritis have a discussion with a healthcare professional about their condition, who will be involved with their care, and how and when to get in touch with them.

Data source: Local data collection, for example, service protocol.

Process

a) Proportion of adults with spondyloarthritis who are given written information about their condition, which healthcare professionals will be involved with their care, and how and when to get in touch with them.

Numerator – the number in the denominator who are given written information about their condition, which healthcare professionals will be involved with their care, and how and when to get in touch with them.

Denominator – the number of adults with spondyloarthritis.

Data source: Local data collection, for example, audit of electronic patient health records.

b) Proportion of adults with spondyloarthritis who have a record of a discussion about their condition, which healthcare professionals will be involved with their care, and how and when to get in touch with them.

Numerator – the number in the denominator who have a record of a discussion about their condition, which healthcare professionals will be involved with their care, and how and when to get in touch with them.

Denominator – the number of adults with spondyloarthritis.

Data source: Local data collection, for example, audit of electronic patient health records.

Outcomes

a) Adults with spondyloarthritis know how to self-manage their condition.

Data source: Local data collection, for example, survey of adults with spondyloarthritis.

b) Adults with spondyloarthritis know how to access care when they need additional support.

Data source: Local data collection, for example, survey of adults with spondyloarthritis.

What the quality statement means for different audiences

Service providers (rheumatology services) ensure that healthcare professionals have the time and resources to provide information to adults with spondyloarthritis about their condition, which healthcare professionals will be involved with their care, and how and when to get in touch with them. This might include details of a named person to contact, for example, a specialist rheumatology nurse. Providers have systems in place to ensure that people having flares can access care quickly in different settings.

Healthcare professionals (rheumatologists, specialist rheumatology nurses and specialist physiotherapists) discuss with adults with spondyloarthritis likely symptoms and how they can be managed, self-help options and which healthcare professionals will be involved with their care, and how and when to get in touch with them.

Commissioners (clinical commissioning groups) commission services that have the capacity and resources to provide adults with spondyloarthritis with information about their condition, which healthcare professionals will be involved with their care, and how and when to get in touch with them.

Adults with spondyloarthritis are given information about the condition, the symptoms they are likely to have and how they can cope with them, which healthcare professionals will be involved with their care, and how and when to get in touch with them.

Definitions of terms used in this quality statement

Information about their condition

Information that will educate people with spondyloarthritis about the condition, so they understand when to get in touch with healthcare professionals for support. This information should include:

  • what spondyloarthritis is

  • diagnosis and prognosis

  • treatment options (pharmacological and non-pharmacological), including possible side effects

  • likely symptoms and how they can be managed

  • flare episodes and extra-articular symptoms

  • self-help options.

[Adapted from NICE's guideline on spondyloarthritis, recommendation 1.3.2]