Elevating Management Strategies and Early Intervention in Psoriatic Arthritis

i3 Health recently provided an educational activity that challenged clinicians’ knowledge and proficiency regarding early intervention and optimization in managing psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Gaps and Challenges

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory form of arthritis that occurs in 30% of patients with psoriasis. It is a heterogeneous disease that can vary from mild oligo arthritis to destructive polyarthritis with a chronic, progressive course, potentially causing permanent damage to both peripheral and axial joints. Symptoms include pain and swelling in joints and tendons; stiffness in the neck, lower back, and hips; swelling of fingers or toes; nail changes; fatigue; uveitis; and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In a survey of 1,286 patients with PsA from 8 countries, a majority reported that PsA impacted physical activity, the ability to perform certain activities, emotional/mental wellbeing, work productivity, career path, romantic relationships/intimacy, and relationships with family and friends. Psoriatic arthritis has also been shown to co-occur with other chronic overlapping pain conditions.

Factors impacting treatment outcomes for PsA include patient sex and gender, genetics, disease severity at presentation, and delayed diagnosis, which continues to pose a challenge. Due to this, it is imperative that clinicians across multiple disciplines receive proper up-to-date education on this topic.

Addressing the Gaps

To address the knowledge gaps experienced by clinicians regarding managing and treating PsA, i3 Health assembled a multidisciplinary taskforce for the CME/NCPD/CPE/AAPA-accredited enduring activity titled, Multidisciplinary Task Force: Increasing Early Intervention and Optimizing Management in Psoriatic Arthritis. The taskforce held a YouTube Live session on February 11, 2025. Following the live task force discussion, the activity was made available on i3 Health’s website beginning March 5, 2025, until March 4, 2026.

Leading the task force were two key speakers in the field of PsA: Christopher Ritchlin, MD, MPH, Professor in the Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology at the University of Rochester Medical Center; and Jennifer Soung, MD, Director of Clinical Research at Southern California Dermatology and Clinical Faculty at Harbor University of California, Los Angeles. Also included in the task force were Archie Franklin, MBA, Patient Advocate and Volunteer at the National Psoriasis Foundation; Saba Mohiuddin, PharmD, BCACP, Clinical Pharmacist at KabaFusion; and Melodie S. Young, MSN, A/GNP-C, Nurse Practitioner at Mindful Dermatology and Modern Research Associates.

A total of 4,090 learners participated in the activity, with 241 completing it for credit. Most learners were physicians and physician assistants, followed by pharmacists, nurses, nurse practitioners, rheumatologists, dermatologists, pharmacy technicians, and those who chose “other” as their profession.

The baseline data collected revealed knowledge gaps in the following areas:

• Utilizing knowledge of defining features, screening tools, and biomarkers to provide timely and accurate diagnosis of PsA

• Evaluating the safety and efficacy of novel PsA therapies

• Appraising strategies for tailoring treatment selection and sequencing to individual patients with PsA

• Assessing methods to improve supportive care for patients with PsA

Efficacy of the Education

Participants were given a matching pretest and posttest at the beginning and end of the activity, respectively:

Upon completion of the activity, 86% of learners who completed the evaluation (N=241) reported that they felt more confident in managing patients with PsA, and 85% felt the material presented would be used to improve the outcomes of their patients.

Future Education

The data revealed by the posttest assessment affirm the effectiveness of online educational content pertaining to the topic of early intervention and management strategies for psoriatic arthritis. Based on these data, i3 Health has determined that clinicians may benefit from CME/NCPD/CPE/AAPA activities that provide education on:

• Utilizing defining features, screening tools, and biomarkers to provide timely and accurate diagnosis of PsA

• Evaluating the safety and efficacy of novel PsA therapies

• Appraising strategies for tailoring treatment selection and sequencing to individual patients with PsA

• Assessing methods to improve supportive care for patients with PsA

Resources

i3 Health (2026). Multidisciplinary task force: Increasing early intervention and optimizing management in psoriatic arthritis: activity outcomes report. Data on file.