scholarly journals EULAR ‘points to consider’ for the conduction of workforce requirement studies in rheumatology

RMD Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. e000780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Dejaco ◽  
Polina Putrik ◽  
Julia Unger ◽  
Daniel Aletaha ◽  
Gerolamo Bianchi ◽  
...  

ObjectiveCurrent methods used for forecasting workforce requirements in rheumatology are disparate, as are the parameters incorporated into workforce projection studies. The objective of these European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR points to consider (PTC) is to guide future workforce studies in adult rheumatology in order to produce valid and reliable manpower estimates.MethodsThe EULAR Standardised Operating Procedures were followed. A multidisciplinary task force with experts including patients with rheumatic diseases from 11 EULAR countries and the USA was assembled. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to retrieve workforce models in rheumatology and other medical fields. PTC were based on expert opinion informed by the SLR, followed by group discussions with consensus obtained through informal voting. The level of agreement with the PTC was voted anonymously.ResultsA total of 10 PTC were formulated. The task force recommends models integrating supply (=workforce available in rheumatology), demand (=health services requested by the population) and need (=health services that are considered appropriate to serve the population). In general, projections of workforce requirements should consider all factors relevant for current and future workload in rheumatology inside and outside of direct patient care. Forecasts of workforce supply should consider demography and attrition of rheumatologists, as well as the effects of new developments in healthcare. Predictions of future need/demand should take demographic, sociocultural and epidemiological development of the population into account.ConclusionThese EULAR-endorsed PTC will provide guidance on the methodology and the parameters to be applied in future national and international workforce requirement studies in rheumatology.

2020 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisca Sivera ◽  
Alessia Alunno ◽  
Aurélie Najm ◽  
Tadej Avcin ◽  
Xenofon Baraliakos ◽  
...  

Background and aimStriving for harmonisation of specialty training and excellence of care in rheumatology, the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) established a task force to develop points to consider (PtCs) for the assessment of competences during rheumatology specialty training.MethodsA systematic literature review on the performance of methods for the assessment of competences in rheumatology specialty training was conducted. This was followed by focus groups in five selected countries to gather information on assessment practices and priorities. Combining the collected evidence with expert opinion, the PtCs were formulated by the multidisciplinary task force, including rheumatologists, medical educationalists, and people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The level of agreement (LoA) for each PtC was anonymously voted online.ResultsFour overarching principles and 10 PtCs were formulated. The overarching principles highlighted the importance of assessments being closely linked to the rheumatology training programme and protecting sufficient time and resources to ensure effective implementation. In the PtCs, two were related to overall assessment strategy (PtCs 1 and 5); three focused on formative assessment and portfolio (PtCs 2–4); three focused on the assessment of knowledge, skills or professionalism (PtCs 6–8); one focused on trainees at risk of failure (PtC 9); and one focused on training the trainers (PtC 10). The LoA (0–10) ranged from 8.75 to 9.9.ConclusionThese EULAR PtCs provide European guidance on assessment methods throughout rheumatology training programmes. These can be used to benchmark current practices and to develop future strategies, thereby fostering continuous improvement in rheumatology learning and, ultimately, in patient care.


2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 1326-1328 ◽  
Author(s):  
KYLE M. WALKER ◽  
JANET POPE

Objective.The European League Against Rheumatism/EULAR Scleroderma Trials and Research group (EULAR/EUSTAR) has published recommendations for the management of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Members of the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium and the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group were surveyed regarding their level of agreement with the recommendations.Methods.A survey containing the 14 EULAR/EUSTAR recommendations asked participants to indicate their level of agreement with each on a 10-point scale, from 0 (not at all) to 9 (completely agree). The survey was sent to 117 people, and 66 replies were received (56% response rate).Results.Exceptions to generally high agreement included the use of iloprost and bosentan for digital vasculopathy, methotrexate for skin involvement, and bosentan and epoprostenol for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH; all < 69% agreement, defined as ≥ 7 rating). Vasculopathy and PAH treatment had differences in agreement between North America and Europe (p < 0.006). Respondents who were EULAR/EUSTAR recommendation authors shared a similar level of agreement compared to those who were not, except for the use of proton pump inhibitors for the prevention of SSc-related gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophageal ulcers, and strictures.Conclusion.EULAR/EUSTAR recommendations were relatively well accepted among SSc experts. Overall reduced agreement may be due to the modest efficacy of some agents (such as methotrexate for the skin). Some regional disagreement is likely because of access differences.


2011 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne van Eijk-Hustings ◽  
Astrid van Tubergen ◽  
Carina Boström ◽  
Elena Braychenko ◽  
Beate Buss ◽  
...  

ObjectivesThe authors aim to develop European League Against Rheumatism recommendations for the role of the nurse in the management of patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis, to identify a research agenda and to determine an educational agenda.MethodsA task force made up of a multidisciplinary expert panel including nurses, rheumatologists, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, psychologist, epidemiologist and patient representatives, representing 14 European countries, carried out the development of the recommendations, following the European League Against Rheumatism standardised operating procedures.The task force met twice. In the first meeting, the aims of the task force were defined, and eight research questions were developed. This was followed by a comprehensive, systematic literature search. In the second meeting, the results from the literature review were presented to the task force that subsequently formulated the recommendations, research agenda and educational agenda.ResultsIn total, 10 recommendations were formulated. Seven recommendations covered the contribution of nurses to care and management: education, satisfaction with care, access to care, disease management, psychosocial support, self-management and efficiency of care. Three recommendations focused on professional support for nurses: availability of guidelines or protocols, access to education and encouragement to undertake extended roles. The strength of the recommendations varied from A to C, dependent on the category of evidence (1A–3), and a high level of agreement was achieved. Additionally, the task force agreed upon 10 topics for future research and an educational agenda.Conclusion10 recommendations for the role of the nurse in the management of chronic inflammatory arthritis were developed using a combination of evidence-based and expert consensus approach.


2008 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 310-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Mukhtyar ◽  
L Guillevin ◽  
M C Cid ◽  
B Dasgupta ◽  
K de Groot ◽  
...  

Objectives:To develop European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the management of small and medium vessel vasculitis.Methods:An expert group (consisting of 10 rheumatologists, 3 nephrologists, 2 immunologists, 2 internists representing 8 European countries and the USA, a clinical epidemiologist and a representative from a drug regulatory agency) identified 10 topics for a systematic literature search using a modified Delphi technique. In accordance with standardised EULAR operating procedures, recommendations were derived for the management of small and medium vessel vasculitis. In the absence of evidence, recommendations were formulated on the basis of a consensus opinion.Results:In all, 15 recommendations were made for the management of small and medium vessel vasculitis. The strength of recommendations was restricted by low quality of evidence and by EULAR standardised operating procedures.Conclusions:On the basis of evidence and expert consensus, recommendations have been made for the evaluation, investigation, treatment and monitoring of patients with small and medium vessel vasculitis for use in everyday clinical practice.


2019 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard Hellmich ◽  
Ana Agueda ◽  
Sara Monti ◽  
Frank Buttgereit ◽  
Hubert de Boysson ◽  
...  

BackgroundSince the publication of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the management of large vessel vasculitis (LVV) in 2009, several relevant randomised clinical trials and cohort analyses have been published, which have the potential to change clinical care and therefore supporting the need to update the original recommendations.MethodsUsing EULAR standardised operating procedures for EULAR-endorsed recommendations, the EULAR task force undertook a systematic literature review and sought opinion from 20 experts from 13 countries. We modified existing recommendations and created new recommendations.ResultsThree overarching principles and 10 recommendations were formulated. We recommend that a suspected diagnosis of LVV should be confirmed by imaging or histology. High dose glucocorticoid therapy (40–60 mg/day prednisone-equivalent) should be initiated immediately for induction of remission in active giant cell arteritis (GCA) or Takayasu arteritis (TAK). We recommend adjunctive therapy in selected patients with GCA (refractory or relapsing disease, presence of an increased risk for glucocorticoid-related adverse events or complications) using tocilizumab. Methotrexate may be used as an alternative. Non-biological glucocorticoid-sparing agents should be given in combination with glucocorticoids in all patients with TAK and biological agents may be used in refractory or relapsing patients. We no longer recommend the routine use of antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy for treatment of LVV unless it is indicated for other reasons.ConclusionsWe have updated the recommendations for the management of LVV to facilitate the translation of current scientific evidence and expert opinion into better management and improved outcome of patients in clinical practice.


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