P033 Rheumatology nursing workforce adherence with corticosteroid best practice guidance. a UK-wide survey

Background/Aims Corticosteroids remain a cornerstone in the management of systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases, yet their use is associated with significant adverse effects. Rheumatology nurses play a critical role in ensuring safe corticosteroid use through patient education, monitoring, and supporting appropriate prescribing practices. International guidelines—including the 2007 and 2013 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology recommendations on systemic and medium-to-high dose glucocorticoid therapy, and the 2022 American College of Rheumatology guideline for prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis—provide essential direction for nursing interventions. These guidelines emphasise the importance of fracture risk assessment, bone protection strategies, infection prevention, and patient education, all of which fall within the nursing scope and directly influence daily practice. Methods An online survey comprising 15 questions was disseminated across UK rheumatology nursing staff via the Royal College of Nursing and Class-Rheum networks. The survey launched in October 2024 and closed in March 2025, collecting 90 complete responses. Data were analysed descriptively using IBM SPSS Statistics (v29). Results Findings revealed that nurses with over 10 years of experience consistently adhered more closely to best practice guidelines. These senior nurses were more likely to “Always” provide written information about corticosteroid risks, offer lifestyle advice (e.g., dietary calcium supplementation, alcohol limits), assess fracture risk, and advise on infection precautions. By contrast, nurses with less than 5 years of experience showed greater variability, often selecting “Sometimes” or “Never” in key areas such as risk communication, lifestyle counselling, and safety alert awareness. Awareness of the National Patient Safety Agency Steroid Emergency Card was high across all experience levels, indicating successful dissemination of this safety measure. However, preventive practices such as bone protection and smoking cessation referrals showed inconsistent adherence, particularly among junior nurses. Conclusion We conclude that while senior rheumatology nurses demonstrate strong alignment with corticosteroid best practice guidance, junior nurses may benefit from targeted education and clearer signposting to relevant guidelines. Recommendations include the development of focused teaching modules, integration of corticosteroid safety content into induction resources, and collaboration with professional bodies such as the British Society for Rheumatology to enhance elearning offerings. By aligning nursing practice with established international guidelines, rheumatology nurses are empowered to deliver safer, evidence-based corticosteroid care—underscoring the critical role of guideline-informed education in improving patient outcomes and professional confidence across the nursing workforce. To sustain and strengthen this impact, we call for national investment in structured nursing education programmes that embed guideline-based corticosteroid safety into core rheumatology nursing training and continuing professional development. Disclosure R.J. Wilson: Honoraria; RW has received honoraria from Abbvie Inc., UCB S.A., and Novartis, A.G. J. Begum: Honoraria; JB has received honoraria from Abbvie, Fresenius Kabi, Janssen, Lilly, Medac, Novartis, UCB.