Developing predictive and preventative approaches to rheumatoid arthritis

Disease - Rheumatoid arthritis

Lead applicant - Professor Karim Raza

Organisation - University of Birmingham

Type of grant - PhD Scholarship

Status of grant - Active

Amount of the original award - £142911.34

Start date - 25 September 2017

Reference - 21560

Public Summary

What are the aims of this research?

This research aims to use surveys and interviews to increase our understanding of the views of rheumatoid arthritis patients, their relatives, carers, and healthcare professionals about approaches to predict and prevent the condition.

Why is this research important?

There is a great deal of research interest in the prediction of who is more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis and the development of treatments for people who are at high risk that will prevent the development of the condition. It is therefore important to understand the viewpoints of people who may be affected by approaches to predict and/or prevent rheumatoid arthritis to ensure that such strategies are acceptable and efficient.

The proposed research is the first of its kind to use surveys and interviews to increase understanding of the views of rheumatoid arthritis patients, their relatives and healthcare professionals about approaches to predict and/or prevent the condition. Surveys will be performed by rheumatoid arthritis patients and one of their biological children and/or full siblings which will include a range of measures that might predict different viewpoints (e.g. beliefs about the condition, literacy and numeracy, coping style, health anxiety). Additionally, an interview study will be designed and carried out to explore the views of healthcare professionals about the potential for predicting/preventing rheumatoid arthritis.

How will the finding benefit patients?

By increasing our understanding of the views of people who are likely to be affected by future preventive approaches to rheumatoid arthritis, this research will support the fast and efficient development of treatments to prevent the condition. This has the potential to benefit not only those who may be at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis and their relatives, but also the NHS and the wider economy, by contributing to a reduction in the number of individuals requiring long-term, costly treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.