The effect of a goal-setting strategy with integrated feedback on goal attainment in inflammatory arthritis patients: a mixed method study

Patients with Inflammatory Arthritis (IA) often experience difficulties in daily life as a result of their disease. Unfortunately, outpatient consultations in daily practice tend to focus on medical topics, thereby ignoring the impact of the disease on patients’ daily lives. Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) can be used to understand this impact, but they are not enough for offering person-centered care. Because the patient’s true values and goals can only be ascertained during a proper conversation, which should include both medical as well as patient goals. Therefore, the aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of a goal management strategy with integrated feedback on goal attainment and Health-Related Quality of Life(HRQoL) in IA patients. IA patients with an active disease were given the opportunity to set and follow-up goals. In addition to goal setting, patients were asked to complete online questionnaires on various PROs, including HRQoL. Ninety-two IA patients participated in the study. The mean age was 51 years and most of them had rheumatoid arthritis. A total of 302 patient goals were set, of which 32% were achieved. In the entire population, HRQoL did not change over time, but patients who did not meet their goals tended to report a lower HRQoL. Incorporating a feedback mechanism in a goal-setting strategy has a positive effect on goal attainment. Yet no effect was seen on HRQoL, but this may due to the fact that general HRQoL measurement are not sensitive or specific enough to detect changes that are accompanied with goal setting and attainment.