Challenges faced by nurses engaged in rheumatology care in Japan

Mie Fusama; Hideko Nakahara; Misuzu Gregg; Yuriko Kuroe; Yukitomo Urata; Kimito Kawahata; Yutaka Kawahito; Masayo Kojima; Takahiko Sugihara; Motomu Hashimoto; Takako Miyamae; Atsuko Murashima; Masaaki Mori; Nobuyuki Yajima; Toshihiro Matsui

doi:10.1093/mr/road079

Challenges faced by nurses engaged in rheumatology care in Japan

Mod Rheumatol. 2023 Aug 4:road079. doi: 10.1093/mr/road079. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing, Takarazuka University, Osaka, Japan.
² Faculty of Health Science, Osaka Yukioka College of Health Science, Osaka, Japan.
³ Graduate School of Nursing, Meio University, Nago, Japan.
⁴ RN, PhD, Kansai University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hyogo, Japan.
⁵ Department of Rheumatology, Tsugaru General Hospital, Aomori, Japan.
⁶ Department of Rheumatology and Allergology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
⁷ Inflammation and Immunology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
⁸ Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
⁹ Department of Clinical Immunology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
¹⁰ Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Institute of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
¹¹ Japan Drug Information Institute in Pregnancy, National Center for Child Health and Development, Japan.
¹² Department of Lifetime Clinical Immunology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
¹³ Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
¹⁴ Department of Rheumatology Research, Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Japan.

PMID: 37540545
DOI: 10.1093/mr/road079

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the challenges faced by nurses engaged in rheumatology care in Japan.

Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey of nurses in Japan in 2020 on challenges experienced in rheumatology care. The participants were nurses certified by the Japan Rheumatism Foundation. Participants' answers were coded and categorized based on relevant phrases and words. Content analysis was performed on the findings.

Results: Responses were collected from 162 participants, and a total of 228 issues were identified. Eighteen categories with 56 subcategories emerged from the data analysis, which were grouped into five types of challenges: (1) communication, (2) understanding, (3) expertise, (4) system, and (5) collaboration. In particular, the results highlighted deficiencies in needs-based multidisciplinary team care.

Conclusion: This study elucidated issues experienced by rheumatology nurses in clinical settings in Japan. Furthermore, this investigation revealed the necessity of patient-centered multidisciplinary team care, including health professionals, patients, and other relevant individuals. This study provided practical directions to facilitate the implementation of effective care focused on improving patients' quality of life.

Keywords: collaboration; communication; multidisciplinary team; rheumatoid arthritis; shared decision making.