Challenges nurses face in providing care for patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objectives: This study aimed at identifying challenges nurses face in caring for patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in Japan.

Methods: Nurses certified by the Japan Rheumatism Foundation were asked to describe their challenges in caring for JIA patients. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results: Responses were collected from 89 participants. Fifty-eight issues were identified from 40 participants with experience in caring for JIA patients. Sixteen categories emerged, which were grouped into five challenges: communication, understanding, expertise, system, and collaboration. Care for JIA patients included different challenges from adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis, such as complicated patient-parent relationships, inadequate patient independence, and insufficient patient information. Moreover, 76 issues from 49 participants with no experience were identified. Seven categories emerged, which were grouped into two challenges: expertise and opportunity. Issues included in expertise between both groups were similar. Even with no experience in caring for JIA patients, nurses recognized the importance of acquiring knowledge.

Conclusions: This is the first study in Japan regarding the difficulties nurses face in caring for JIA patients. Multidisciplinary team care and a comprehensive understanding of the patient journey, including relationships with guardians, acquaintances, and healthcare providers, are crucial to improve treatment outcome and overall patient quality of life.