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 with caring for JIA patients. Data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS:Responses were collected from 89 participants. 58 issues were identified from 40 participants with experience caring for JIA patients. Sixteen categories emerged, 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, grouped into two challenges: expertise and opportunity. Issues included in expertise between both groups were similar. Even with no experience caring for JIA patients, nurses recognized the importance of acquiring knowledge. CONCLUSION: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, is crucial to improve treatment outcome and overall patient quality of life.