A 5-year follow-up of a controlled trial of an arthritis education programme

A 5-yr follow-up of an arthritis education programme is reported. After adjustment for those lost, deceased or moved away, the 5-yr response rate was 75% among intervention subjects and 78% among controls. Individuals who participated in the education programme maintained their increased knowledge in some aspects. The relative difference in pain and disability over 5 yr was greater in the control group. Most individuals were less active at practising exercise after 5 yr. Improvement in performing exercise and joint protection shown at 12-months follow-up did not persist. Additional questions after 5 yr showed that participants in the education programme had significantly more contact with rheumatologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. The participants developed an increased internal sense of control of the disease between 12 months and 5 yr. There was also a significant reduction in reported problems with their disease after 12 months, maintained after 5 yr. This may indicate that patient education contributes to the patient's feeling of responsibility for, and ability to cope with, their diseases.