The making of MISSION-RA

The MISSION-RA project adopts a new method of intervention development. This method brings together advances in health data science with person-centred intervention development methods. The "end users" are also very involved in the research process - in this case, people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis. The aim of this working method, is to try and ensure the intervention is personalised to people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis, rather than adopting the usual "one size fits all" approach.

Advances in health data science: this will include machine learning applied to data collected from wearable activity trackers. Machine learning will be used to learn how physical activity patterns might be linked to important health outcomes (e.g. risk of cardiovascular disease). This information will be used to make sure support for physical activity is personalised specifically for people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Person-centred intervention development methods: the MISSION-RA project will use the Person-based Approach to intervention development, to develop the MISSION-RA app. Thiswill help to ensure the MISSION-RA app is developed based on the needs and preferences of a wide range of people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Engagement by end users (people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis): people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis are involved in the research process at all stages. This includes developing the research idea, helping to collect data, communicating research findings and helping to generate real impact at the end of the study. The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) are partnering the research, and have helped to form our MISSION-RA Patient Research Partner Committee.

To develop the MISSION-RA app, we will use the Person-based Approach. This evidence-based approach is frequently used in research to develop digital health interventions.

Using this approach, the MISSION-RA project will find out as much as possible about people's experiences of physical activity whilst living with Rheumatoid Arthritis. This will be done through interviews and focus groups, which will explore challenges faced when it comes to physical activity, as well as some of the things that may help people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis to be active.

Insights from interviews and focus groups will then be used to develop the MISSION-RA app, with the help of over 60 people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis. This will be done through several stages of design, including co-design workshops and real-world testing. Feedback from testing will help to keep improving the app, to ensure it is as engaging, useful and motivating as possible!

The Patient Research Partner Committee: so far, our patient research partners have supported the study by helping to develop research protocols, reviewing study documents, and identifying potential features for the MISSION-RA app. Several members of the committee have also helped to develop the "MISSION-RA Study" video.

Some members of the Patient Research Partner Committee have also recently started to help collect data. The first phase of the MISSION-RA project is to interview people with RA about their experiences of physical activity. These interviews started in July 2023, and are being undertaken by two Committee members, who are acting as co-researchers. These co-researchers will also help to analyse and interpret the data, and feed it back to the wider Patient Research Partner Committee.

There is still much work to be done on the MISSION-RA project, and the Patient Research Partner Committee will support this work at all stages. This experience so far has been extremely rewarding, and has given the research team the opportunity to really involve, enthuse and motivate a group of people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis about research. The goal for this project is to make sure that everybody involved recognises they have an enormous value to add, and to ensure that their voices, thoughts and experiences are reflected in the research.