Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) are chronic conditions that are characterised by pain, reduced mobility, and functional impairments presenting a large burden in developed and developing countries. These conditions can significantly impact the quality of life, extend inpatient hospital stays, contribute to healthcare costs and are the leading cause of years lived with disability. One in four people are estimated to be affected by RMDs in Ireland. Despite the widespread use of elective inpatient rehabilitation among older populations, there is limited evidence regarding its benefits for individuals with musculoskeletal conditions. The Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Disease Unit (RMDU) in Peamount Healthcare was established in December 2022 to address this need. This 10-bed specialist unit within a 100-bed rehabilitation hospital offers a two-week program combining multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Since commencement, over 310 patients with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and spondyloarthropathy have received care. Baseline and discharge measures, including EQ-5D, Arthritis Self-efficacy Scale and condition-specific indices, are collected to evaluate patient outcomes.
The current study aims to:
Profile patient demographics and clinical characteristics at admission,
Evaluate changes in health-related quality of life and self-efficacy between admission and discharge, and
Identify predictors of clinically significant outcomes.
This will be achieved using retrospective data from 2023-2024, which will be analysed to provide insight into service effectiveness and inform future improvements. The primary hypothesis is that rehabilitation will improve outcomes, with specific patient and clinical factors predicting outcomes.
By evaluating the effectiveness of this model, this research will contribute to the evidence supporting the role of managing RMDs. The findings of this study are expected to significantly inform service delivery improvements, guide future research, and ensure optimal care for individuals with these conditions.