Towards a consensus for nurse education of methotrexate for people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: A scoping review

Abstract

IntroductionPatient education (PE) is a key role of nurses, which includes providing information, training, and support about methotrexate (MTX), an anchor drug in rheumatology. However, there is a wide variation in the access to rheumatology nurse consultations in Europe, and there is a lack of consensus regarding the delivery, context and timing of PE in these cases. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing research on nurse education of MTX for children/youth and adults with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs).MethodsThis scoping review was conducted in accordance with Arksey and O’Malley's framework. A search on PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus and Cochrane Database, and CINAHL, from inception until March 2022 was conducted. Articles on PE with a focus on MTX exclusively were included. Published and unpublished studies, from any world region, conducted with a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed‐methods design and focused on defined research questions, were eligible for inclusion. Broad inclusion criteria were used if a research paper on PE focused on MTX for people with RMDs (PE or patient engagement, self‐management, medication knowledge, or health literacy in patients). The reporting followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses ‐ Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA‐ScR) checklist. Two independent reviewers performed standardized data extraction and synthesis.ResultsFrom 292 references identified, the total number of studies which met the inclusion criteria was relatively small (n = 14). The results identified that knowledge of MTX improves when education by nurses is provided.ConclusionThis scoping review showed that there is no universal worldwide strategy for MTX education of children/youths and adults with RMDs. However, PE regarding MTX can be delivered in different forms, resulting in better satisfaction and adherence. More randomized controlled trials with powered samples are required.