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Table 3 Recommendations to support inflammatory arthritis (IA) patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

From: The impact of COVID-19 on self-management behaviours and healthcare access for people with inflammatory arthritis

Recommendations

Continue to emphasise the importance of engaging in positive health behaviours (e.g. physical activity, diet, medication adherence) for the management of IA

Provide time-management advice to patients who want to prioritise engagement in positive health behaviours (e.g. engaging in physical activity, planning/preparing healthy meals)

Provide home-based exercise programmes to encourage patients to engage in physical activity at home

Signpost patients to mental health resources to help support patients who may be experiencing emotional challenges as a result of the pandemic

Encourage open discussions and provide reassurance to patients who may have concerns about taking their medication during the pandemic

Offer routine telephone appointments to patients who feel that their IA condition is well-controlled