Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39755563›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open quality2025

Effectiveness of nurse-led care in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Lin Yang, Peng Xiang, Guifang Pi, Ting Wen, Li Liu, Dan Liu

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open quality, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Massage therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.Rheumatology international · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Lin YangRheumatology and immunology department, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-6756-1683
Peng XiangDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6522-8098
Guifang PiRheumatology and immunology department, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Ting WenRheumatology and immunology department, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Li LiuTelemedicine Center, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Dan LiuRheumatology and immunology department, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China 715070705@qq.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-9631-7249

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis study sought to assess the effectiveness of nurse-led care (NLC) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

methodsWe conducted a comprehensive search of the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov databases and the references from relevant literature published prior to May 2023. Two independent reviewers assessed the studies using population/intervention/comparison/outcome/study criteria, and quantitative tools were used to gauge the methodological quality of the included studies. Independent quality assessments were carried out using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk-of-bias tool. Effect sizes were determined using mean difference (MD) or standardised mean difference (SMD) with corresponding 95% CIs.

resultsUltimately, 14 articles were included, encompassing a total of 3369 RA patients. NLC exhibited significant advantages in the primary outcome, disease activity (MD =-0.09, 95% CI (-0.17 to -0.01)), and the secondary outcome, self-efficacy (MD=0.40, 95% CI (0.03, 0.77)). In subgroup analysis, NLC was more effective in reducing disease activity compared with usual care (MD=-0.15, 95% CI (-0.26 to -0.04)), and there was no significant difference in disease activity reduction between NLC and rheumatologist-led care (MD=-0.02, 95% CI (-0.14, 0.10)). In terms of self-efficacy, no significant difference was observed between NLC and usual care (SMD=0.56, 95% CI (-0.09, 1.21)) or between NLC and rheumatologist-led care (SMD=0.20, 95% CI (-0.19, 0.59). When comparing other secondary outcomes (pain, satisfaction, quality of life, fatigue, stiffness, physical function and psychological status), the effectiveness of NLC for RA patients was similar to that of the control group, with no statistically significant differences.

conclusionsNLC proves highly effective in managing RA patients, surpassing usual care and equating to rheumatologist-led care in primary and some secondary outcomes. It may be feasible to allow nurses to participate in the disease management of some RA patients instead of doctors. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022362071.

Indexed as

Arthritis, RheumatoidHumansChronic disease managementContinuity of Patient CareLong-Term CareMETA-ANALYSIS

Identifiers

PMID39755563
PMCPMC11751805

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.