Study of Psychological Processes and Self-Management Behavior in Patients Suffering from Early Rheumatoid Arthritis

本研究旨在帮助确定指导和教育早期（发病后一年或更短时间）类风湿性关节炎（以下简称RA）患者的有效方法。为此，对影响早期类风湿关节炎患者心理过程和自我管理行为的因素以及医护人员对患者的指导现状进行分析。医护人员对这些问题的认识也进行了检查。这项研究发现，早期RA患者对他们的预后和他们的日常生活可能受到影响的方式感到强烈焦虑。他们的焦虑加剧，因为他们不知道如何进行自我管理，他们希望医疗保健人员为他们提供指导，告诉他们应该如何照顾自己。此外，对门诊护士的调查显示，虽然护士知道对早期RA患者进行指导和教育的必要性，但他们没有时间做太多的事情。此外，没有患者教育的指南，与其他类型的医疗服务提供者的合作有限。调查结果表明，有必要建立指导和教育方法，并举行研讨会，旨在使医护人员提供早期RA患者的心理支持和帮助，实行自我管理。

This study was conducted to help identify effective methods of guiding and educating early-stage (one year or less from onset) rheumatoid arthritis (hereafter referred to as RA) sufferers. For this purpose, an analysis was conducted on factors that affect the mental processes and self-management behavior of early-stage RA patients, as well as on the current situation of the guidance given to the patients by healthcare personnel. The awareness of healthcare personnel regarding these issues was also examined.This study found that early-stage RA patients suffer from intense anxiety over their prognosis and over the way their daily life may be affected. Their anxiety is worsened because they do not understand how to proceed with self-management, and they want healthcare personnel to provide them with instruction as to how they should care for themselves. In addition, a survey of outpatient nurses revealed that, although the nurses were aware of the necessity of providing guidance and education for early-stage RA patients, they do not have time to do much about it. Further, there are no guidelines for patient education, and there is limited collaboration with other types of healthcare providers. The survey results suggest the necessity of establishing guidance and education methods and of holding seminars that are designed to enable healthcare personnel to provide early RA patients with mental support and assistance in practicing self-management.