Investigate whether patients with RA can influence smoking behaviours

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    To investigate whether patients with rheumatoid arthritis can influence the smoking behaviour of their relatives.

  • IRAS ID

    240563

  • Contact name

    Ceril Rhys-Dillon

  • Contact email

    ceril.rhys-dillon@wales.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Cwm Taf University Health Board

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 1 months, 17 days

  • Research summary

    To identify if patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can help the younger generation reduce their risk of developing the disease.
    This study will look into whether relatives of patients with RA are more likely to reduce their risk factors for this disease if encouraged to by a family member rather than by healthcare professionals. Smoking will be the primary risk factor being addressed. Family history and smoking are the two biggest risk factors for RA, so these relatives are already at a higher risk and if they smoke they are at an even greater risk of developing the disease. This research will explore if young people are more accepting of risk reduction if they can see the ways in which RA is affecting a loved one. If RA patients can succeed in persuading their family members to stop smoking, this has the potential to prevent RA developing in the younger generation. This is important as it not only promotes disease education, but also could lead to less people developing this life-long disease. It would also reduce the occurrence of other smoking related health problems in these people. The study will be using RA patients who have contactable younger relatives who are smokers. All patients will be within Cwm Taf Health Board, and invited to be part of the study when visiting for a routine appointment. The patients will be given an information pack and two questionnaires to discuss and fill out with their relative; one for themselves and one for their chosen relative. They will be given a pre-paid envelope to be able to return the questionnaires. No identifying data will be asked for or used. The study period will be between 21/5/18 and 6/7/18.

  • REC name

    East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    18/EE/0193

  • Date of REC Opinion

    28 Jun 2018

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion