Pain, fatigue and functional disability are associated with higher educational needs in systemic sclerosis: a...

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Patient Education
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Systemic sclerosis (SSc) significantly impacts patients' quality of life.
• Systematic patient education requires understanding individual health problems, needs, and expectations.
• Identifying the relationship between functional disability and educational needs in SSc patients is vital for tailored support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the relationship between functional disability, specific health problems, and perceived educational needs in individuals with systemic sclerosis (SSc).
• To identify key areas of educational need for patients diagnosed with SSc.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted across six rheumatology centers in Poland.
• Functional disability was assessed using the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI).
• Health problems and educational needs were measured using visual analogue scales and the Polish version of the Educational Needs Assessment Tool (Pol-ENAT), respectively, with Spearman's correlation analysis.

Main Results:

• The study included 140 SSc patients (89.28% female) with a mean age of 54 years and disease duration of 11 years.
• Patients reported significant educational needs, particularly regarding disease process, self-help, and pain management.
• All assessed health problems, especially pain (r_s=0.359) and functional disability (r_s=0.314), showed significant correlations with overall educational needs.

Conclusions:

• Health problems experienced by SSc patients are strongly associated with substantial educational needs.
• Healthcare professionals must consider these correlations when developing patient education plans.
• Group interventions should prioritize education on the disease process for SSc patients.