Background
Rationale for a nurse-led OA clinic and a training programme to support its delivery
Methods
The nurse-led OA clinic
Development of the training programme
1. Increase the opportunities for group discussion by reducing the amount of formal (didactic) teaching in sessions and move a considerable amount of material from face to face sessions into resources to be used on a personal basis: written papers, PowerPoint slides on CD or other media. |
2. Use an experienced clinical facilitator to lead and co-ordinate the programme, with expert contributions that could consist of a short didactic presentation with group discussion as a major component. |
3. Explore and build on the trainees’ clinical expertise from the start, supplementing this with specific knowledge about the nature of OA, its management and the role of self-management. |
5. Integrate practical application and skills development throughout the programme, particularly around the use of the OA guidebook and the OA toolkit. |
6. Dedicate one full day to developing OA specific knowledge and skills with simulated patients, ensuring adequate preparation for this component and allowing sufficient time to develop and reflect on these skills and their application to real practice, particularly with regard to returning patients and helping to address any difficulties which the patients had encountered in putting their plans into practice |
Evaluation of the final training programme
Results
Baseline characteristics of the practice nurses involved in the MOSAICS trial
Content and delivery of the final training programme
1. Demonstrate an understanding of what it means to be ‘patient centred’ when helping to support patient self- management for OA. |
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of different communication styles between the nurse & the patient on enabling patients to have an active role in self-management for OA. |
3. Demonstrate an understanding of different perspectives of self-management for OA including clinical, psychological, policy & social perspectives. |
4. Demonstrate expertise in supporting the patient through the process of goal setting. |
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the physical, psychological & social impact of OA. |
6. Demonstrate an understanding of pharmacological & non- pharmacological methods of pain management. |
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of information, exercise and weight management in the management of OA. |