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BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT article

Front. Glob. Womens Health
Sec. Maternal Health
Volume 5 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fgwh.2024.1504095
This article is part of the Research Topic Reproductive Issues In Lupus, Antiphospholipid Syndrome And Other Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases: Highlights From RheumaPreg2023 View all 13 articles

A holistic approach is needed for women with an inflammatory arthritis in the different phases around pregnancy; The results of the CAPRI study

Provisionally accepted
Anneke J. Van Anneke J. Van Hetty M. Wintjes Hetty M. Wintjes Esther Röder Esther Röder Hieronymus T.W. Smeele Hieronymus T.W. Smeele Laura J.C. Kranenburg - van Koppen Laura J.C. Kranenburg - van Koppen Radboud J.E.M. Dolhain Radboud J.E.M. Dolhain Luis Fernando Perez-Garcia Luis Fernando Perez-Garcia *
  • Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Women with inflammatory arthritis (IA) face significant challenges throughout preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum phases, including concerns about disease management and medication safety.The Reproductive Rheumatology care pathway at Erasmus University Medical-Center integrates specialized care from rheumatologists and specialized nurses to address both medical, nursing, practical and emotional needs during these phases.This study evaluates patient satisfaction, identifies unmet needs, and explores opportunities for enhancing support within this integrated care model.This was a cross-sectional study. We designed a customized questionnaire for women 18 years and older who were treated following the Reproductive Rheumatology care pathway and had given birth between 2019-2021. These women were invited to fill in the questionnaire.The survey assessed satisfaction with care, challenges experienced, and information needs across preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum phases. Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests were used for data analysis.Participants reported high satisfaction with care, rating rheumatologists an average of 8.8/10 and specialized nurses 9.2/10. While 78.9% experienced no major issues, some faced problems such as managing disease flares and difficulties around conception. Information needs varied by phase: preconception needs focused on medication safety and fertility, while pregnancy and postpartum concerns included disease management and emotional support. Specialized nurses were pivotal in offering personalized care and practical advice.The integrated Reproductive Rheumatology care pathway effectively supports women with IA through their reproductive journey.Despite high satisfaction, improvements could be made in personalized care and addressing challenges related to confidence and help acceptance.Future research should investigate the long-term impact of such care pathways on reproductive outcomes and patient wellbeing.

    Keywords: Inflammatory arthritis, Pregnancy, Reproductive rheumatology, Patient Satisfaction, Specialized nurse, Integrated care pathway

    Received: 07 Oct 2024; Accepted: 31 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Van, Wintjes, Röder, Smeele, Kranenburg - van Koppen, Dolhain and Perez-Garcia. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Luis Fernando Perez-Garcia, Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.