For Patients

Overview

At the moment in the NHS, individuals who have inflammatory arthritis are regularly seen in hospital out-patient clinics to allow rheumatology teams to check in on how their arthritis is and any impact it is having on individuals. 

Some doctors, nurses and individuals with arthritis think it might be better if rather than go to hospital every 6-12 months for an out-patient appointment when you might have no issues, instead you are only seen in hospital every 24 months. In addition, patients are given information on how to contact their rheumatology team if they become unwell during this period. This is referred to as patient initiated follow up (PIFU).

The TaILOR trial aims to understand how PIFU compares to traditional care follow up in people with inflammatory arthritis. Half of those that agree to take part in the TaILOR study will have standard out-patient appointments every 6-12 months and the other half will have no planned out-patient appointments for the next 24 months.

In both groups, participants will be asked about their general health, arthritis symptoms at 4 time points over the 24 months to enable researchers to ultimately find out which is the best way for those with arthritis to be seen within the NHS.  

PIFU Infographic and example Timeline PIFU A4 Infographic Folded_Hi-res with print marks Final 160924.pdf (rheumatology.org.uk)

FAQs For Patients PIFU FAQ Document Final 160924 (1).pdf (rheumatology.org.uk) 

Video Resources to Support Patients 

Patient initiated follow-up (youtube.com)

Patient Initiated Follow up video resources translated

https://f.io/qDEWPV7m - Punjabi

https://f.io/dETpBNNn - Romanian

https://f.io/xsqGvDxr - Urdu

https://f.io/YrI35dBp - Polish

https://f.io/mnIq8PeM - Cantonese

Please Note; all resources have been developed by BSR (British Society for Rheumatology)

For more information, speak to your Rheumatology team.

 

Â