Self-Care Education for Joint Stiffness and Functional Ability in Rheumatoid Arthritis

NCT07761767 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: 1120261455
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 110
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that may cause joint stiffness, pain, reduced mobility, and impaired functional ability. Self-care education may help patients improve their knowledge and practices related to disease management, joint protection, physical activity, exercise, energy conservation, and symptom management. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-care educational program on joint stiffness and functional ability among patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Participants will be assigned to either a study group or a control group. The study group will receive the self-care educational program in addition to routine care, while the control group will receive routine care only. Joint stiffness and functional ability will be assessed before and after implementation of the educational program.

Conditions

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Keywords

Rheumatoid Arthritis; Self-Care; Joint Stiffness; Functional Ability

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• change in joint stiffness

  Duration of morning joint stiffness will be assessed using a single-item patient-reported outcome measure. Participants will report the duration of their morning joint stiffness in minutes. Durations greater than 12 hours (720 minutes) will be recorded as 720 minutes. Higher values indicate a longer duration of morning joint stiffness. Severity of morning joint stiffness will be assessed using a single-item patient-reported outcome measure. Participants will rate the overall severity of their morning joint stiffness on a numerical rating scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no joint stiffness and 10 indicates the worst possible joint stiffness. Higher scores indicate greater severity of joint stiffness.

  Baseline and 3 months after completion of the intervention.

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• functional ability

  Baseline and 3 months after completion of the intervention.

Study Arms (2)

Self-Care Education Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in the intervention group will receive a self-care educational program designed to improve self-care practices, reduce joint stiffness, and improve functional ability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The program will include education about rheumatoid arthritis, joint protection techniques, appropriate exercises, medication use, and self-care practices.

Behavioral: self care educational program for the study group

Routine Care Group

OTHER

Participants will receive usual care without the self-care educational program.

Other: Routine care

Interventions

self care educational program for the study group BEHAVIORAL

study group Participants will receive the self-care educational program in addition to usual care.

Self-Care Education Group

Routine care OTHER

The control group will receive the routine care provided to patients with rheumatoid arthritis and will not receive the self-care educational program during the study period.

Routine Care Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• The criteria for selection were: patients" age ranged between 20-65 years old; did not have any auditory, visual or psychological problems. Patients who are able to communicate and participate in the educational program.
• Patients who agree to participate in the study.

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with severe cognitive or communication impairment. Patients with other severe musculoskeletal conditions that may affect functional ability.
• Patients who have participated in a similar self-care educational program recently.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Assiut University: lead

Related Publications (1)

• Seyam, M. H., Boghdady, E. S. G., Abo El-Ata, A. B., & Mahdy, N. E. S. (2024). Knowledge, Practices and Self-Care Management Behaviors for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients. Port Said Scientific Journal of Nursing, 11(3), 48-68.

  RESULT

Related Links

• Related Info

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Arthritis, Rheumatoid

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Arthritis; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Connective Tissue Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases

Central Study Contacts

REZK A Mohammed, MSc

CONTACT

1122883312 20+; RizkAbdullah@nursing.aswu.edu.eg

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Lecturer

Model Details: Participants will be assigned to two parallel groups: an intervention group receiving the self-care educational program and a control group receiving usual care.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 8, 2026
• First Posted: August 12, 2026
• Study Start: September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2027
• Last Updated: August 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share