Results:

1. FEW DIFFERENCES BETWEEN POSSIBLE PARTICIPANTS AND POSSIBLE NON-PARTICIPANTS OF AN ADAPTED EXERCISE PROGRAM IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS.N.Vervloesem1, N.Van Gils1, L.Ovaere2, R.Westhovens3, D.Van Assche31Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science, KULeuven, 2 Patient partner program Belgium, 3 Division of Rheumatology, KULeuven Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) leads to functional limitations, which often evolve to seriously debilitating conditions. The inactivity that pairs with RA, is both the result and the cause of the disability experienced by the patients. Regular physical activity to enhance physical fitness is mandatory for this patient population as a way to prevent co-morbid conditions. Low threshold exercise programs seem to be a requisite but up until now there has not been an adapted program for patients with RA in Belgium. Therefore, the feasibility of previous exercise programs has been analyzed to try to identify the factors that influenced their relative success. Keeping these factors in mind, we planned to set up an exercise program (JOYMORA) to evaluate its feasibility. When the implementation of JOYMORA appeared to be unsuccessful due to a lack of participants, a study was set up to evaluate the eagerness to participate and to explore the differences between candidates who are willing to participate and those who are not. Results: Methods: Discussion: • Both groups differed in sex, educational level and subscales of the UCL and the SF-36. • No other significant differences were found with regards to the demographic data, the DAS, the VAS, the HAQ, the Modified Baecke, the ICQ or the TAMPA scale. • Few differences between both groups suggests that the barriers to participate in an adapted exercise programs ought to be sought in other factors, such as: • The patient’s knowledge about RA and the benefits of physical fitness • Perceived barriers to exercise • The view of rheumatologists and other health care professionals on physical activity. • A profound dialogue should be encouraged among health care professionals and patients. • Further research into influencing factors such as fear-avoidance and coping strategies appears to be beneficial. • Exercise participation might be enhanced by guiding patients directly into an exercise program organized by the rheumatology division of the hospital. In this scenario, where rheumatologists explain to the patients that exercising is as important as taking their medication, the patients might consider the program as more necessary to their health. Of the 154 people who completed the survey (86%), 113 (73%) were willing to participate in an exercise program. The patients willing to enroll in the program were defined as the positive responders (PR). These PR were more often female (p<0.05) and had a higher educational level (p<0.05). In the negative responders (NR) - or those not willing to volunteer for the exercise program - higher scores were found on the general health perception (M 54.7, SD 18.3) and vitality sections (M 61.6, SD 19.8) of the SF-36, and a lower score was found on the UCL-subscale reassuring thoughts (M 11.9, SD 2.7) compared to the PR (M 47.4, SD 20.8, M 53.7, SD 20.1, and M 12.9, SD 2.7 respectively, all p<0.05). References: • L. Ovaere has been awarded the Abbottt-price 2009 for ‘The improvement of quality of care in rheumatology’. • Iversen M, Fossel A, Ayers K, Palmsten A, Want H, Daltroy L (2004). Predictors of exercise behavior in patients with rheumatoid arthritis 6 months following a visit with their rheumatologist. Physical therapy 84: 706-16.