{"id":1424,"date":"2024-01-31T15:25:23","date_gmt":"2024-01-31T15:25:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/writing-to-rheumatology-patients\/?page_id=1424"},"modified":"2025-05-13T12:19:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T11:19:35","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/writing-to-rheumatology-patients\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ global_module=”322″][et_pb_fullwidth_menu menu_id=”7″ submenu_direction=”downwards” fullwidth_menu=”off” module_class=”main-navigation” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_layout=”dark”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_menu][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_fullwidth_slider show_arrows=”off” show_pagination=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_position=”top_left” custom_padding=”|||” custom_css_slide_description=”animation: none!important;” custom_css_slide_title=”animation:none!important;” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover=”null” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover=”null” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover=”null” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null”][et_pb_slide heading=”Writing to Patients from Rheumatology ” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/writing-to-rheumatology-patients\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2024\/02\/reading2.png” background_position=”top_left” custom_button=”on” button_bg_color=”#27a2db” button_border_color=”#27a2db” button_use_icon=”on” button_on_hover=”on”]<\/p>\n

A research study<\/p>\n

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[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Intro” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n

Writing to Patients from Rheumatology is a research project that aims to support rheumatology healthcare professionals to write outpatient clinic letters directly to patients.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Healthcare professionals, like doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and pharmacists, see people with rheumatology conditions in the outpatient clinic. Following the appointment, the healthcare professional will usually write a letter to summarise the clinic visit.<\/p>\n

In the past, this letter would have been sent to the patient\u2019s general practitioner (GP). A copy would also have been sent to the patient for their records. This approach could cause confusion for the patients as they might not have understood the complicated medical terminology included in this type of letter.<\/p>\n

Many organisations who advise healthcare professionals on how best to communicate with patients now advise professionals to write clinic letters directly to the patients, with a copy sent to the patient\u2019s GP. Although this approach has been encouraged for more than five years, it has yet to be widely adopted.<\/p>\n

Our project aims to investigate and understand current patient and professional perspectives and practice on writing directly to patients. It will then work with patients and professionals to co-produce resources to support the rheumatology multi-disciplinary team to write directly to patients.<\/p>\n

The study is funded by the British Society for Rheumatology, with support from Versus Arthritis. It is sponsored by The University of Manchester. <\/p>\n

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On this page:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Project overview<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Take part<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Patient and public involvement<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Testimonials<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Research team<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Outputs<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. Contact us<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    Project overview<\/h2>\n

    The project has three phases, which will take place from June 2024 to August 2025.<\/p>\n

    Phase 1: Scoping<\/h3>\n

    Surveys:<\/strong> To establish patients’ current understanding of rheumatology clinic letters and the terms used in these letters, and healthcare professionals’ current clinic letter writing practice.
    Outputs: <\/strong>Knowledge of patients\u2019 current understanding of rheumatology terminology and healthcare professionals’ current practice.<\/p>\n

    Phase 2: Exploring<\/h3>\n

    Interviews and focus groups:<\/strong> To understand patients’ and healthcare professionals’ perspectives on clinic letters being written directly to patients, and preferences regarding the content and structure of such letters.
    Outputs:<\/strong>\u00a0Better understanding of patient and professional views on writing directly to patients.<\/p>\n

    Phase 3: Co-producing resources<\/h3>\n

    Co-production workshops:<\/strong> To co-produce guidance and other resources to support healthcare professionals to write clinic letters directly to patients in a way that is understandable and acceptable to patients.
    Outputs:<\/strong> Co-produced resources to support health care professionals to write directly to patients, including example letters, training resources and patient materials.<\/p>\n

    \"Diagram\"<\/p>\n

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    Take part<\/h2>\n

    Patients and healthcare professionals can take part in the Writing to Patients from Rheumatology research project.<\/p>\n

    This might involve completing a survey or being interviewed about your experiences as a patient or healthcare professional.<\/p>\n

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    Patient and public involvement<\/h2>\n

    Patient involvement is an important part of the project.<\/p>\n

    Our lead patient partner, Karen Staniland<\/a>, <\/em>has worked with members of the project team for many years, and is experienced in supporting research projects. Karen is an equal member of the research project working group.<\/p>\n

    Our patient and public involvement and engagement group<\/a> includes individuals with a range of characteristics to ensure engagement with a diversity of opinions. We have representatives from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n

    We meet every 1-2 months to discuss the project and get patients’ input into the study design, recruitment materials and processes, study questionnaires and interview guides, and the research findings. Members are paid for their time, in keeping with national guidance.<\/p>\n

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    Testimonials<\/h2>\n

    We will publish blog posts by healthcare professionals and patients talking about their experiences of writing and receiving letters about their care.<\/p>\n

    Read our first blog post by Dr Hugh Rayner about why he started writing directly to patients.<\/p>\n

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    Research team<\/h2>\n

    The Writing to Patients from Rheumatology project team comprises healthcare researchers and professionals, with involvement from our patient partners.<\/p>\n

    [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/writing-to-rheumatology-patients\/research-team\/” button_text=”More about the team” _builder_version=”3.17.6″][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text admin_label=”Back to top” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n

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    Outputs<\/h2>\n

    View outputs from the Writing to Patients from Rheumatology project.<\/p>\n

    Royal College of Physicians webinar<\/h3>\n

    Initial results from the surveys of patients and healthcare professionals were shared at a webinar hosted by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP). Dr Charlotte Sharp presented and discussed the results with fellow clinicians Dr Hugh Rayner and Dr Anne Kindelerer, and former BBC journalist, Rory Cellan-Jones.<\/p>\n