Welche Faktoren beeinflussen das krankheitsbezogene Informationsinteresse von Patienten zur medikamentsen Therapie ihrer chronischen Polyarthritis?

We questioned 363 rheumatoid arthritis patients on their focal points of interest in information on their disease and its treatment. They placed the emphasis on information on drug therapy. We were able to classify the rheumatoid arthritis patients into eight groups with different information preferences in respect of individual therapy forms (basic therapy, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, corticosteroids) by employing a cluster analysis. The majority of the patients had a uniformly deep interest in all topics, whereas a few smaller groups displayed greater differentiation. Allocation to one of these groups was independent of disease data such as duration or severity of rheumatoid arthritis, or likewise of sociodemographic factors. These data are, therefore, not suitable as planning aids for structured patient information. The study shows that standardised information will satisfy the interest in information of about two-thirds of rheumatoid arthritis patients, either via patient seminars or via drug package circulars. To satisfy selective information demands, however, individually adapted patient information is also necessary at the same time.