The effect of continuous care on self-management and disease activity of patients with ankylosing spondylitis after discharge.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the impact of continuous care post-discharge on self-management and disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

METHODS

The study was conducted at Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing, China, from January 2021 to August 2023, and comprised ankylosing spondylitis who were divided into control group A receiving routine care, and experimental group B receiving continuous care. Data on demographics, outpatient follow-up visits, self-management, and exercise compliance were collected and compared between the groups. Data was analysed using SPSS 25.

RESULTS

Of the 78 patients, 39(50%) were in group A; 21(53.8%) males and 18(46.2%) females with mean age 37.36±9.48 years. There were 39(50%) patients in group B; 20(51.3%) males and 19(48.7%) females with mean age 39.56±12.04 years (p>0.05). Post-intervention self-management and quality of life scores were significantly better for group B compared to group A (p<0.05) The intergroup difference in terms of medication adherence at 8 weeks after discharge was significant (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Continuous care positively impacted outpatient follow-up frequency, self-management, medication compliance, exercise compliance, and quality of life.