Thank you for agreeing to take part in the National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit (NEIAA).
The NEIAA team know that coming to a specialist rheumatology service for the first time with a suspected inflammatory arthritis can be very stressful. Your support is hugely valuable, the information you provide will help improve treatment for others in similar circumstances in the future.
What is the NEIAA?
The purpose of the audit is to improve the quality of care for patients with inflammatory arthritis. The audit will assess care provided to people with new symptoms of arthritis attending rheumatology services for the first time. The audit is also assessing how this condition affects people's day to day function, mobility, sleep, wellbeing and ability to work.
How will information be gathered?
Information will be collected from the team you see in clinic. We then ask that you complete some questionnaires through this website.
What information is collected?
The audit follows patients through the first 12 months of care in rheumatology outpatient departments.
Information will be collected at the first rheumatology appointment for all patients with suspected inflammatory arthritis and 3 months later and at the end of the first year for those who have a diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis.
This information will answer these questions:
- How quickly are patients referred to specialist care by GPs and how long does it take to see a specialist in rheumatology?
- What treatment do patients with inflammatory arthritis receive in their first year and is this in line with national (NICE) guidelines?
- Do patients have access to other specialist services (physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology etc) if required?
- Do patients receive timely education about their new diagnosis to help manage their arthritis?
- Can patients access advice quickly if required?
The questionnaires we use are internationally recognised for measuring patient reported outcomes.
If you have any further questions about this important initiative, check our our FAQs, patient information sheet, privacy notice and patient resources tab.
