Rheumatic Conditions

Three focus groups will be conducted with patients who have an inflammatory rheumatic condition and have been treated with steroids in the last three years to discuss the impact of steroids on their quality of life, the financial costs to them and costs to the NHS and social care. We will also ask people to give their thoughts on a general patient reported outcome (PRO) questionnaire (the EQ5D) and a steroid-specific questionnaire (the Steroid PRO).

A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Panzyga for Prevention of Major Infection in Patients with Hypogammaglobulinemia and Autoimmune or Rheumatic Conditions Receiving Treatment with B-cell Depletion Therapy

The period leading up to and following transfer from pediatric to adult care for youth with rheumatic disease is a vulnerable time leaving youth at risk of poor self-efficacy (confidence in ability to manage all aspects of their health). Adult rheumatologists face barriers in providing the complex medical, developmental and socially supportive care required for this population. Youth have expressed preference for individualized coaching during this period which involves education and support around skills and confidence-building related to their disease. The investigators have completed a feasibility trial of a Transition Coach Intervention (TCI) to help youth with rheumatic diseases gain self-efficacy and better navigate transition to adult care. The investigators will now conduct a randomized-control trial (RCT) at six centres to demonstrate TCI efficacy.