Table 1. Summary of characteristics of included studies.
| Evidence | PEDro score | Patient (IG/CG) | Intervention | Comparison | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment | Result | |||||
| Rahnama et al., 201513) | 5 | RA N=48 Age=58.6 ± 7.8 F:M=all M DD=no mention |
aerobic exercise and strengthening exercise 30 to 45 min. 3 days per wk. for 8 wks. | no intervention | VAS (pain) WOMAC (functional ability) |
Pain relief and functional ability improved in exercise group. |
| Jahanbin et al., 201414) | 6 | RA 65 (32/32) 48.6/ 48.8y all F no mention |
conditioning, isotonic, isometric and aerobic exercise 45 min. 2 times per wk. for 8 wks. | received a booklet | VAS (pain) AIMS-2 (health status) |
Pain relief and health status improved in exercise group. |
| Hewlett et al., 201115) | 5 | RA 127 (62/62) 59.2y 44:18/ 49:13 14.6/ 14.2y |
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) group: fatigue self-management 6×2 h sessions for 6 wks. Consolidation: 1 h sessions for 14 wks. | fatigue self-management: 1 h sessions | MAF (fatigue impact) VAS (pain) |
Fatigue and pain relief improved in CBT group. |
| Breedland et al., 201116) | 5 | RA 34 (19/ 15) 45.0/ 51.8y 12:7/ 12:3 9.7/ 5.9y |
group based exercise and educational program 60 min. for 8 wks. | no intervention | AIMS-2 (health status) ASES (pain) |
No significant differences between groups. |
| Macedo et al., 200917) | 7 | employed RA 32 (16/16) 48.6/ 52.6y 15:1/ 15;1 11.6/ 8.4y |
comprehensive occupational therapy (COT) group: education, compliance and management 30 min. –2 h of each 6–8 session for 6 mon. | usual care group: medical management and rheumatology clinic visit | COPM (function) RA WIS (work productivity) DAS 28 (disease activity) VAS (pain) |
Function, work productivity, disease pain relief improved in COT group. |
| Adams et al., 200818) | 8 | RA 112 (56/60) 59.6/ 55.2y 42:14/ 42:18 8.6/ 12.4 mon. |
static resting splints group: splints+ standardized occupational therapy for 12 mon. (nightwear) | standardized OT group: JP education, hand exercises | hand deviation (deformity) MHQ (hand function) VAS (pain) grip strength |
No significant differences between groups. |
| Hammond et al., 200819) | 6 | RA 167 (86/81) 55.6/ 55.3y 57:29/ 51:30 7.2/ 7.6y |
modular behavioral (MB) group: 2.5 h meeting, 4 sessions per wk. 2 h review, 1session Module 1: behavioral JP program Module 2: initial discussion for 18 mon. | standard education program group: 2 h meeting, 5 session per wk. (information, exercise, JP, healthy diet) | RASE (psychological status) VAS (pain) HAQ (functional status) |
Psychological status, pain relief and functional status improved in MB group. |
| Veehof et al., 200820) | 7 | RA 53 (17/16) 66.3/ 55.1y 71:29/ 69:31(%) 8.2/ 5.0y |
prefabricated wrist working splint (splinting) group: 4 wks. | usual care group 4 wks. | VAS, DASH (pain) grip strength DASH, SODA-S (functional ability) |
Pain relief, grip strength and functional ability improved in splinting group. |
| Li et al., 200621) | 4 | RA 111 (63/48) 54.2/ 56.8y 55:8/ 38:10 10.6/ 13.2y |
primary therapist model (PTM) group: education splints/ foot orthosis psychosocial support for 6 wks. | traditional treatment model (TTM) group: assistive devices advice for modality aids | HAQ (physical function) VAS (pain) |
Physical function and pain relief improved in PTM group. |
AIMS-2: Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale-2. ASES: Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale. CG: Control Group. COPM: Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. DAS 28: Clinical evaluation consisted of disease activity score. DASH: Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder Hand questionnaire. DD: Disease Duration. F: females. HAQ: Health Assessment Questionnaire. IG: Intervention Group. JP: Joint Protection. M: Males. MAF: Multi-Dimensional Assessment of Fatigue Scale. MHQ: Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire. N: Number of subjects. RA: Rheumatoid Arthritis. RA WIS: RA Work Instability Scale. RASE: RA self-efficacy. SODA-S: Sequential Occupational Dexterity Assessment short version. VAS: Visual Analog Scales. WOMAC: Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index