Assessment of Knowledge and Attitude in a Sample of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Its Association with Disease Activity and Severity: A Cross-Sectional Study

Sami Salman¹, Ahmad SAlnuaimi², Nizar Abdul Lateef¹, Rana Kadhum¹

¹Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
²Community Medicine Department, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.

DOI: 10.4236/ojra.2014.44031                

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and disabling disease that has a major impact on the lives of patients. Objectives: To test the patients’ knowledge about their disease, its treatment, its complications, and if this affects severity of the disease as measured by the disease activity index (DAS 28). Patients and Methods: A sample of 100 patients with RA who met the Criteria of American College of Rheumatology for RA agreed to participate in this study over the period September 2011-March 2012. Patients’ data were obtained by personal interview. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics and the patients’ knowledge about their disease. The disease activity was measured using standard (DAS28). Results: Thirty three percent of the patients didn’t have an idea about their disease, 20% didn’t know the reason for the investigations, 49% didn’t know the treatment and 40% didn’t know the side effects of their medications. Most patients had a high disease activity index, and there was a poor correlation between patients’ educational level and the disease activity. Conclusions: Neither the educational level nor the frequency of hospital admissions had effects on the knowledge about this disease. As most patients had a high disease activity, a better knowledge may improve disease control and prevent complications.

Keywords

Rheumatoid Arthritis, Disease Burden, Disease Awareness, Patient’s Education, Patient’s Knowledge, Socio-Economic Factors, Disease Activity Index

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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