| Popis: |
Outcomes of Periodontal Treatment in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (OPERA) was a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) that aimed to assess the feasibility for a larger, multi-center RCT which would investigate the efficiency of non-surgical periodontal treatment in reducing disease activity levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The OPERA trial used a mixed methods approach. The quantitative approach delivered pilot data regarding the clinical outcomes of the intervention, whilst the role of qualitative data was to provide a better insight into the experiences and values of the patients that would encourage their participation in the larger, definitive study. The findings of this trial highlighted the specific issues of the patient population, the logistic challenges and provided some possible solutions to facilitate patient participation. |
