EQPERA
EQPERA – Patients' experiences of health, care and treatment during the first year diagnosed with RA: a longitudinal qualitative study in three European countries
The aim of the project
EQPERA (European Qualitative research project on Patient-preferred outcomes in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis) is an international research project with the overall aim of prospectively exploring patients' health, consequences of disease and expectations of care and treatment for people during the first year with the disease rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is an interdisciplinary, patient-oriented research study with researchers in the professions of doctors, nurses and physiotherapists and also research partners who themselves are diagnosed with RA. Interviews are made with patients on two occasions, both after diagnosis (individual interviews) and after one year (focus group interviews). This longitudinal qualitative study is a step in developing sustainable care and implementing more targeted and person-centred interventions for people with early RA in Europe.
Project period:
- 2016–2024
Financier:
- The southern Swedish healthcare region
Partners/collaboration:
- FoU Spenshult, Halmstad
- Lund University
- Region Skåne
- Capio Movement
- University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium
- Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands
- Department of Patient & Care/Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment (KEMTA), The Netherlands
- University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Project participants:
- Ingrid Larsson, RN, PhD, Halmstad University, FoU Spenshult
- Ann Bremander, PT, PhD, Professor, University of Southern Denmark, FoU Spenshult
- Elisabet Lindqvist, MD, PhD, Lund University, Region Skåne
- Ellen Landgren, RN, Doctoral Student, Region Skåne
- Kristien Van der Elst, RN, MSc, PhD student, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium
- Rene Westhovens, MD, PhD, Professor, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium
- Elke Mathijssen, RN, MSc, PhD student, Department of Rheumatology, Sint Maartenskliniek, The Netherlands
- Johanna Vriezekolk, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Sint Maartenskliniek, The Netherlands
- Yvonne van Eijk-Hustings, PhD, MSc, BNs, RN, FEANS, Senior researcher and rheumatology nurse, Department of Patient & Care/Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment (KEMTA), Department of Rheumatology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
