Educational and psychosocial needs of patients with chronic disease. A survey of preferences of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

There is increasing interest in better defining and meeting the nonmedical needs of patients with chronic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We surveyed patients with RA about the importance of eight psychosocial and eight educational issues, and asked patients from what source they preferred to get help with these issues and which sources they would not use. We also looked at individual variables, including sex, age, disease duration, and disease severity, to see if they affected patients' choices. The issues rated most important by patients included communicating with the doctor, understanding medication, dealing with pain, and the effects of arthritis on energy level, the future, and work. Most patients preferred to seek help from their physicians, although up to 75% were willing to attend groups, and 68% were willing to see individual counselors for some issues.