Pra. Baker et al., IMPACT OF PATIENT WITH PATIENT INTERACTION ON PERCEIVED RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS OVERALL DISEASE STATUS, Scandinavian journal of rheumatology, 25(4), 1996, pp. 207-212
To determine whether patient interaction impacts on perceived disease
severity and ability to cope with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) ferry RA p
atients were assessed using joint counts, clinician global assessment,
patient global assessment (PGA), VAS pain scale and Health Assessment
Questionnaire (HAQ). All participants had six one-on-one conversation
s about their disease activity and the effect of RA on their lives. Fo
llow-up questionnaires asked about recall of pre-conversation PGA; pos
t-conversation PGA; change in PGA; and change in ability to cope as a
result of the conversations. 87.5% of the questionnaires were returned
. Pre- and post-conversation PGA were statistically reliable; PGA scor
e improved (P=0.004); 60.0% of participants felt their ability to cope
with their disease improved as a result of this interaction. RA patie
nts benefit from sharing information with like patients. Support group
s may be an integral part of treatment strategy in patients with RA.