Effects of patient education on compliance with basic treatment regimens and health in recent onset active rheumatoid arthritis. Issue 3 (1st March 1998)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brus, Herman L M; van de Laar, Martin A F J; Taal, Erik; Rasker, Johannes J; Wiegman, Oene
• Is Part Of: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. Volume 57:Issue 3(1998)
• Page Start: 146
• Page End: 151
• Publication Date: 1998-03-01
• Subjects: rheumatoid arthritis -- compliance -- health status -- patient education; Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.57.3.146
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4967

Abstract

Abstract : OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of patient education on compliance and on health in patients with active, recent onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A randomised, controlled, assessor blinded, one year trial. The experimental group followed an education programme. All patients started on sulphasalazine therapy. Compliance with sulphasalazine was measured by pill counting. Compliance rates with regimens of physical exercise, endurance activities, and energy conservation were measured by questionnaires. Compliance with prescriptions of joint protection was scored using a test for joint protection performance. Health was measured by a Disease Activity Score (function of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Ritchie score, and number of swollen joints), C reactive protein, Dutch-AIMS scores, and M-HAQ scores, range of motion of shoulder, elbow, and knee joints. Parameters were scored at baseline and after three, six, and 12 months. RESULTS: Sixty of 65 patients gave informed consent, five of them withdrew from follow up. Compliance with sulphasalazine exceeded 80% with no differences between groups. Compliance with physical exercise (at three months), energy conservation (at three and at 12 months), and joint protection (at three months) improved significantly more in the experimental group. The improvements of health were not different in the groups. CONCLUSION: Compliance with sulphasalazine among patients with active, recent onset RA is high, whether formal patient education is followed or not. Compliance with physical exercise, energy conservation, and joint protection was increased by patient education. Formal patient education did not improve health status.