Project:

How should we educate young people to help them make decisions about biologic therapies?


Project Leader(s): Dr Tim Rapley
Sponsors: Arthritis Research UK

Young people, aged between 16 and 25, with a spectrum of inflammatory arthritis can have severe disease warranting biologic therapies. This comes at a time when they are undergoing a process of physical, cognitive,

psychosocial, educational and vocational development and learning to take on more responsibility for their health care. It is important to understand the challenges they face when making such decisions, the developmentally appropriate resources and support they need to make an informed decision and how best these can be delivered.

This multi-method qualitative research project aims to explore their educational needs. Through interviews, audio-recording consultations and focus group, we focus on the experiences of young people alongside

parents/carers, partners, peers and health professionals. We will develop a robust conceptual model of the young peoples’ decision-making about biologic therapies.

Staff

Dr Tim Rapley
Lecturer