Back to trainingsA Narrow Window of Opportunity: Diagnosis and Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Underserved Populations
Earn CME from this on-demand course!
For more information, including registration, visit the Arthritis CME website.
Overview
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that is typically characterized by pain and inflammation in the small joints. If untreated, RA may introduce complications that impact the lungs, eyes, bones, and heart. Affecting an estimated 1.3 million US adults,1, 2 RA represents the most common type of autoimmune arthritis.3 Analysis of self-reported National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2005-2018 indicates a significant difference in RA prevalence among people from different races, educational levels, and poverty-income ratio groups.1
Proactively treating RA will improve the quality of life for patients with the disorder, and many patients who experience symptoms of RA will visit their primary care clinician for treatment. The New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians (NJAFP) assembled a panel of experts to improve patient outcomes by increasing primary care clinicians’ knowledge, comprehension, and performance in managing RA, especially when treating underserved populations. This website reviews current literature and guidelines and provides recommendations for using pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic modalities to develop successful, personalized management plans for patients who report symptoms of RA.
Learning Objectives
Participants who utilize the education and resources provided on this website will be able to:
Recognize signs and symptoms suggestive of RA;
Determine when to refer patients with RA to a rheumatologist;
Develop a comfort level in prescribing disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs);
Help patients understand their disease and engage in shared decision-making;
Use motivational interviewing to recognize patients’ concerns; and
Recognize and mitigate implicit bias to build a culture of equity in their practice.
References
Xu Y, Wu Q. Prevalence trend and disparities in rheumatoid arthritis among US adults, 2005-2018. J Clin Med 2021;10:3289.
Helmick CG, Felson DT, Lawrence RC, et al. Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the United States. Part I. Arthritis Rheum 2008;58:15-25.
American College of Rheumatology. 2021. Rheumatoid Arthritis. https://rheumatology.org/patients/rheumatoid-arthritis
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