Asia-Pacific initiative for rheumatology nurse education: An impact survey in China

Abstract

Background/Objective: Asia-Pacific Initiative for Rheumatology nurse Education (ASPIRE) is a faculty-led initiative established to meet the educational needs of rheumatology nurses in Asia Pacific in recognition of the expanding role of nurses in daily rheumatology clinical practice. The objective of this study is to measure the impact of ASPIRE workshop training on nurses’ levels of knowledge, confidence, attitudes and beliefs using a Before-after-control-impact (BACI) survey.

Methods: A total of 210 nurses who completed both pre- and post-surveys were included in the BACI analysis. The intervention group (n = 111) refers to nurses who attended the ASPIRE workshop training held during the China Chronic Disease Management Forum in Baotou, Inner Mongolia in September 2019 whereas the control group (n = 99) refers to Chinese nurses that have never attended the ASPIRE training. 

Results: Overall level of knowledge significantly increased by 30% (5.63 pre- vs. 8.34 post-survey; p < .001), and overall level of confidence significantly increased by 29% among nurses who attended ASPIRE training (5.83 pre- vs. 8.39 post-survey; p < .001). Nurses in the control group demonstrated no significant increase in knowledge (6.18 pre- vs. 6.50 post-survey; p = .097) or confidence (6.46 pre- vs. 6.71 post-survey; p = .169) over the same period.}

Conclusions: Nurses who attended the ASPIRE training workshop reported a significant increase in their levels of knowledge and confidence compared with a control group of nurses who have never undergone ASPIRE training. Training rheumatology nurses to acquire more in-depth knowledge and skills can help optimize their role in clinical practice to meet the greater demands of disease monitoring and long-term management of rheumatology patients.