[Health knowledge in patients with rheumatic diseases]

An inquiry was made on a group of 188 rheumatic patients chosen by random in three rheumatologic out-patient services. The inquiry showed a very poor knowledge of the disease and its functional prognosis, great differences in the patient's opinion on the value of his personal engagement in the treatment and rehabilitation, as well as many other parameters that influence the patient's positive behaviour in health matters. Evaluating the data from the inquiry, the authors found the highest level of health-education in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, whereas those with degenerative and extraarticular rheumatism had lesser knowledge. The authors conclude from this study, that much more attention has to be paid in future to health-education of rheumatic patients.