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Rheumatology Advance Access originally published online on January 31, 2006
Rheumatology 2006 45(7):868-873; doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kel008
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Current provision of rheumatology education for undergraduate nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy students in the UK

C. Almeida, B. Clarke1, A. O'Brien2, A. Hammond3, S. Ryan4, L. Kay5 and S. Hewlett1

Academic Rheumatology, University of Bristol, 1 School of Adult Nursing, University of the West of England, Bristol, 2 School of Health and Rehabilitation, Keele University, Keele, 3 Rheumatology Unit, Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, Derby, 4 Rheumatology Department, Haywood Hospital Stole on Trent and 5 Rheumatology Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne, Freeman Hospital, UK.

Correspondence to: S. Hewlett, University of the West of England, Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Bristol BS16 1DD, UK. E-mail: Sarah.Hewlett{at}bristol.ac.uk

Objectives. Rheumatological conditions are common and all health professionals (HPs) therefore need sufficient knowledge and skills to manage patients safely and effectively. The aim of this study was to examine current undergraduate education in rheumatology for HPs in the UK.

Methods. A questionnaire was sent to curriculum organizers and clinical placement officers for all undergraduate courses in adult nursing, occupational therapy (OT) and physiotherapy (PT) in the UK to ascertain the nature and amount of rheumatology theory and clinical exposure provided.

Results. Of the 47 adult nursing, 26 OT and 30 PT undergraduate courses surveyed, 85–90% responded. Overall, rheumatology teaching is 5–10 h over 3 yr. Nursing students receive moderate/in-depth teaching on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in only 52% of courses (OT 91%, PT 96%) and on osteoarthritis (OA) in 63% (OT 91%, PT 92%). Clinical experience of RA is probably/definitely available in only 56% of nursing courses (OT 72%, PT 88%), with similar results in OA. Overall, nursing students receive the least rheumatology exposure, particularly in psychosocial issues and symptom management, while PT students receive the most. OT students have limited opportunities for clinical exposure to psychosocial and joint protection issues. Use of local rheumatology clinical HP experts is variable (18–93%) and cross-disciplinary exposure is limited (0–36%). Many educators consider their rheumatology training to be insufficient (nursing 50%, PT 42%, OT 24%).

Conclusions. Rheumatology training for undergraduate HPs is limited in key areas and often fails to take advantage of local clinical expertise, with nursing students particularly restricted. Clinical HP experts should consider novel methods of addressing these shortfalls within the limited curriculum time available.

KEY WORDS: Rheumatology, Education, Undergraduate, Health professionals, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy


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S. Hewlett, B. Clarke, A. O'Brien, A. Hammond, S. Ryan, L. Kay, P. Richards, and C. Almeida
Rheumatology education for undergraduate nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy students in the UK: standards, challenges and solutions
Rheumatology, July 1, 2008; 47(7): 1025 - 1030.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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