Toolkit for Health Care Professionals
We have been developing a toolkit of resources to help you as Health Care Professionals with improving axial SpA care and driving down diagnsotic delay. Here is where you will find all the tools, presentations, posters and other materials in one place. Please use them in your work.
As a healthcare professional, what tools are available to me?
There are lots of things to help you in your everyday practice.
We have created posters, videos, presentations, educational materials and other resources you can access, print out and use to improve time to diagnosis. Access everything you need here:
Act on axial SpA presentations
As part of the act on Axial SpA campaign we have developed a range of presentations that will help you in your work. You can find and download our standard presentations here:
Presentation for a primary care audience – full version
This presentation is designed for an audience of primary care HCPs and contains information on NASS, what axial SpA is and the key signs and symptoms, what the act on axial SpA campaign is, what we are doing in primary care and where to find useful resources.
Presentation for a primary care audience – short version
This is a shorter more focused presentation to fit in with teaching sessions or slots and will take roughly 15 to 20 minutes. Which you can access here: Short Presentation
Act on axial SpA 1st impact report
This presentation sets out the achievements from the first 18 months of the campaign and is to be used to showcase the programme and its successes to date:
Clinical guidelines and protocols:
Here we have included links to a range of clinical guidelines, Best Practice protocols and tools for axial SpA diagnosis and care.
Click on the images and links below to access them.
GIRFT / Best MSK axial Spondyloarthritis pathway
ASAS criteria for Axial Spondyloarthritis (SpA)
BRITSpA consensus statement on acquisition and interpretation of MRI in axial SpA diagnosis
NICE Guideline - NG65
Chiropractors and Osteopaths - GP referral template
PSORIASIS EPIDEMIOLOGY SCREENING TOOL (PEST) for Dermatologists
Dublin Uveitis Evaluation Tool (DUET) for Ophthalmologists
Download our posters by clicking on the images below:
Alternatively, you can email clareclark@nass.co.uk and order copies that we will print and deliver straight to you.
Use our campaign videos in your presentations about axial SpA:
We worked with members of our community and comedians to shed light on the realities of life with axial SpA. These videos use humour to explain the issues of delayed diagnosis and ongoing, undiagnosed symptoms of axial SpA.
Use these videos (example below) as a light-hearted way to explain two major issues in axial SpA diagnosis and care, click here to view all videos.
Key act on axial SpA reports and research:
A range of clinical colleagues have handy hints and tips for you in your role. We have various reports and papers published as part of the act on Axial SpA campaign. This is underpinned by research into the delay to diagnosis. These reports and papers will help you to build a case for change, gather momentum and get buy in from key stakeholders.
Click on the images below to find the reports and research papers.
Act on axial SpA: A Gold Standard Time to Diagnosis document (June 2021)
In June 2021 when we launched our Act on Axial SpA campaign we set out our proposal and road map in the Implementation Document. It details the vision for reducing the delay to diagnosis plus the evidence base for why we are proposing the changes. Read the implementation document here.
First Act on axial SpA impact report (October 2022)
In October 2022 at the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Axial Spondyloarthritis we launched the first impact report for the Act on Axial SpA programme. The report details the key results from the programme in its first 16 months. You can use this to showcase the impact the programme is making to diagnostic delay.
The economic cost of delayed diagnosis of axial Spondyloarthritis in the UK (October 2022)
In October 2022 we published ground breaking research showing that the UK is paying an unnecessarily high price for the delays in diagnosing axial spondyloarthritis (axial SpA). Read the full research below that shows the delay costs the economy an estimated £18.7 billion a year. You can use this research to help shine a light on why the delay to diagnosis needs to end.
What do patients value and need in the diagnosis, treatment and care of axial spondyloarthritis? (November 2022)
In November 2022 we released the findings from our research into what patients value and need in their diagnosis, treatment and care for axial SpA. The work was part of our Aspiring to Excellence programme but has some critical evidence of the experiences that patients have while being diagnosed with axial SpA. This report will help you understand the expectations of your patients and how the journey to diagnosis is perceived.
Review of direct referrals to rheumatology for suspected axial SpA (November 2022)
In November 2022 we released the results of research via a Freedom of Information (FOI) request and found that in many areas, specialties associated with the Extra Musculoskeletal Manifestations (EMMs) of axial SpA are able to routinely refer patients directly to rheumatology for suspected axial SpA. However, in other UK acute care settings, referrals are mostly reliant on consultant-to-consultant letters or calls. The report provides some practical advice on how referrals to rheumatology for suspected axial SpA should be made.
The use of MRI in the diagnosis of axial SpA (April 2023)
In April 2023 in collaboration with BRITSpA we are launching the results and report on the use of MRI in the diagnosis of axial SpA. The study explored if the use of MRI has changed since the 2019 BRITSpA consensus statement and shines a light on the improvements and also some new challenges. This report will give practical tools and tips on the role MRI has in the diagnostic pathway and when it is most clinically valued. Keep an eye out for our launch.
Tools for measuring the time to diagnosis:
Measurement is a key part of any improvement programme, change or campaign. There are two tools that you can use to measure the time to diagnosis in your area, understand your performance and evidence improvements.
The National Early Inflammatory Arthritis (NEIAA) Audit is a clinically led audit run by the British Society for Rheumatology (BSR). It aims to improve the quality of care for people living with inflammatory arthritis, collecting information on all new patients over the age of 16 in specialist rheumatology departments in England and Wales. Embedded within the audit tool is a sepcific data set on axial SpA. You can find out more about NEIAA by clicking on the image below (left).
In October 2022 in collaboration with clinicians from our Aspiring to Excellence programme we launched a complimentary patient completed survey and audit tool to also measure specifically time to diagnosis for axial SpA. The NASS survey is simply completed by patients at the time of diagnosis, by scanning a QR code from a patient leaflet in the rheumatology department. You can read more about the NASS survey and how to sign up below (right) by clicking on the image.
National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit (NEIAA)
NASS Aspiring to Excellence time to diagnosis audit
Hints and tips for recognising axial SpA and referring:
A range of clinical colleagues have handy hints and tips for you in your role. Click on the images below to find the hints, tips and videos.
Recognising axial spondyloarthritis: Advice for GPs (Dr Danny Murphy)
Recognising axial spondyloarthritis: Advice for First Contact Practitioners (Chris Martey)
Recognising axial spondyloarthritis: Advice for physiotherapists (Claire Jeffries)
Recognising axial spondyloarthritis: Advice for chiropractors (Jonathan Field)
Recognising axial spondyloarthritis: Advice for osteopaths (Zoe Clark)
Diagnosis within rheumatology (Dr Antoni Chan)
Recognising axial SpA in dermatology (Dr Phil Laws)
Advice for gastroenterologists: axial SpA detection & treatment (Professor Tim Orchard)
