New guidance calls for more tailored care for people with multiple condition

Published by Arthritis Research UK | 28 September 2016

People with arthritis and other conditions may be able to benefit from treatment that is more personalised and individually tailored to their individual needs in future, thanks to the publication of new national guidance for NHS workers.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has made a new guideline available for healthcare professionals, GPs and physicians, highlighting the ways in which patients with complex health issues need to be put at the heart of decisions about their care, including how to decide between different medicines and treatments. Healthcare professionals will need to "be alert" to the presence of chronic pain, one of the main symptoms of arthritis.

A more personalised treatment approach

The guidance calls for healthcare providers to put together individual care plans for patients with two or more conditions - a particular priority for elderly and frail people and those taking 15 or more medications on a regular basis.

A database summarising the benefits and side effects of a number of common treatments has been created as part of this, with the aim of helping patients to prioritise appointments for different conditions - and even to decide whether certain treatments might be appropriate to stop using if they offer only a limited benefit.

Professor Mark Baker, director of the centre for guidelines at NICE, said: "Our guideline brings an important perspective to light - that it's our responsibility as healthcare professionals to deliver person-centred care, not disease-focused treatment."

What will this mean for arthritis patients?

This is likely to have a number of consequences for arthritis patients, who are often affected by multiple conditions - four out of five people with osteoarthritis, for example, have at least one other long-term condition such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease or depression.

As such, the guideline could help to ensure that doctors work together with patients to develop treatment plans that address the full range of problems affecting their quality of life, including pain and mental health issues. Currently, only around 12 per cent of people with a musculoskeletal condition say they have a written care plan, which shows there is room for more personalised treatment for greater numbers of people with arthritis and other long-term conditions.

Arthritis Research UK's view

Tracey Loftis, head of policy and public affairs at Arthritis Research UK, said: "The pain of arthritis has a massive impact on people's lives. We are pleased that NICE recognises the importance of identifying whether people with multiple conditions are living in pain.

"These guidelines ask healthcare professionals to be alert to the presence of chronic pain, which is one of the main symptoms of arthritis, when assessing patients. It is important that chronic pain is identified early on during the planning of care and support, so that treatment strategies for people with arthritis are more personalised.

"We look forward to continuing our work with healthcare professionals and relevant government bodies to ensure these guidelines are put into practice, which could help improve the quality of life of millions of people living with the pain of arthritis."

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