• Abstract 1681: Intervention for the RA Patient and Well Partner

Abstract 1681 Psychosocial Intervention for the RA Patient and Well Partner: An Innovative Approach
A Batterman, R Horton, M Pangas, T Fields, S Paget, S Flics

Growing empirical evidence supports the widely held belief that the quality of emotional support offered by spouses or partners influences the coping abilities of RA patients. The investigators, who are with the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, offered a workshop for their patients with RA as well the partners of patients. The goal of the workshop was to provide a forum to talk about how RA stresses a relationship as well as ways to cope with RA-related stressors. Topics included:

• Emotional burden on well-partner of care-giving
• Disappointing self and others in fulfilling social and family roles
• Impact of body changes on self-esteem and intimacy
• Fear of inflicting pain during sexual intimacy

The workshop, led by two MSWs, hosted 20 patients and partners who were initially assigned to dyads. Dyads worked together to identify RA-related stressors; the group was reassembled to review stressors and develop strategies for coping and to increase positive support. Opportunities to discuss stressors in dyads also served as a model of effective communication between patients and partners.

Overall, participants reported very high satisfaction with the content of the session, as well as the support provided. Patients noted that they felt it was important for their partners to talk with other partners living with persons with RA. Partners felt they had a chance to talk with others in depth about dealing with RA. Participants noted that the workshop provided a good forum for learning how to talk with friends and family about RA as well.

Editorial Comments: Partners, spouses and family members of patients are more than passive observers to the devastating effects of RA. While providing care can be a positive experience for many, as physical and emotional demands increase over time, the burden of caregiving becomes increasingly negative. Greater negative caregiver has important consequences -- in both caregivers and patients with RA -- including declines in mental and physical health.

While many studies have evaluated the burden RA imposes, little is known about the effect of providing emotional support to caregivers as well as patients. This study adds to the growing body of literature suggesting that social support may moderate the effects of a chronic illness on the caregivers wellbeing. Support strategies, such as the patient and partner workshop, show promise in preventing or decreasing high levels of negative caregiver burden with clear benefits to both patients and their partners/families.

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