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Purpose: To provide a learning resource and assessment tool to allow GPs to gain informal accreditation for a programme of collaborative management of patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease.
Background: Many rheumatology services currently lack the resources to provide the level of monitoring and management needed to achieve optimal long-term outcomes. Management of patients with inflammatory arthritis is usually undertaken in a collaboration between primary and secondary care but there is wide variation in the level of interest and expertise in rheumatic disease among GPs, many preferring to leave care in the hands of the rheumatology service, others having a good understanding but lacking the working relationship with the service to fully integrate care. A productive collaboration requires mutual trust in the skills and clarification of the roles of the participants. Completion of this module will not provide a formal qualification; it is designed to allow the acquisition and demonstration of a level of skill that will give confidence to the GP and, for the rheumatologist, confidence in the GP.
Scope: The scope of the course is restricted to the essential skills needed to monitor patients with inflammatory arthritis who will normally be taking DMARDs and biological therapies. It is covered in four sections.
1. Overview of principles of management of chronic inflammatory arthritis 2. Assessment and documentation of disease activity in inflammatory arthritis 3. Monitoring of toxicity and appropriate adjustment of DMARDs 4. Management of a flare
Learning resources: Most of the knowledge required to complete the module is provided in the text of each section. In addition, concise monographs on the topics that are appropriate to local practice conditions as well as links to resources on the internet are provided. These will remain available for future reference to act as an aide memoire for clinical practice.
Assessment: In order to ensure that the information provided has been understood and that the relevant knowledge has been acquired, each section includes an assessment worksheet which is submitted for marking. This involves short answers to questions related to case histories and some multi-choice questions. The questions and answers are derived from information in the sections and relevant monographs. If any answer reflects a lack of understanding the candidate will be advised of this and invited to resubmit those answers. Finding the correct answers will require the user to read the course material. The questions and answers will generally address the key learning objectives of each topic. Your responses will be reviewed by the authors of the questions and will not be seen by anyone else.
Accreditation: Completion of this module will provide a demonstration of a certain level of knowledge and understanding of long-term management of inflammatory arthritis such as would be suitable to run a DMARD monitoring clinic in primary care in collaboration with a rheumatologist, or to work along side a rheumatologist in a satellite clinic.
CME: CME points will be available to those who complete the module assessments.
Access: Users of the module will be required to register (free of charge) and will have access via username and password. This will allow monitoring and tracking of use of the module for audit and course development purposes.
Development: This module was developed with the support of an unrestricted educational grant from AbbVie Limited. The sponsor had no influence over the content. Advice on development was obtained from the Department of General Practice, University of Otago Wellington, and input on the content was obtained from various New Zealand General Practitioners. |
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