Impact of patient education meetings on disease knowledge in chronic urticaria patients

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a manageable disease with symptoms of itching and visible lesions that can disrupt daily life and reduce quality of life. The severity of symptoms can vary, and the cause is often unknown. Concerns among patients as regards to treatment and prognosis highlight the need for disease education to enhance self-management and reduce anxiety. The present study examines the effect of disease education on the knowledge level of CU patients.

Patients with CU who presented to the allergy clinics of two tertiary university hospitals were invited to in-person education sessions including slide presentations given by faculty members. A 27-question survey was administered before and after the sessions addressing the subject matter, including definitions, causes, diagnostic tests, and treatment options for CU.

Included in the study were 83 patients (57 female; 26 male). The average number of correct answers prior to the education session was 13.62, and this increased to 19.48 after education. The most frequently incorrect answers were related to the importance of skin prick tests in cases of urticaria, the daily doses of antihistamines, and the use of topical corticosteroid treatment. The average number of correct answers post-education increased significantly among the university graduates, from 15.45 to 21.72 (p < 0.001), in high school graduates from 11.15 to 17.78 (p < 0.001), and in middle school graduates from 11.71 to 18.14 (p = 0.018). In contrast, the increase was not statistically significant among primary school graduates (p = 0.252). A total of 77 (92%) patients increased their scores after the education session.

Patients can benefit from the provision of accurate and reliable information about their disease. Face-to-face education effectively increased knowledge across all educational levels in patients with CU, and reduced their reliance on unreliable online sources. This enhanced understanding is expected to lead to better treatment adherence and self-management skills.