Mental health status of women with rheumatoid arthritis in iran

Factors associated with depressive symptoms in Japanese women with rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives

It has been suggested that patients with RA are more likely to suffer from depression. Therefore, this study identified the factors associated with depressive states in female RA patients to inform future patient care.

Methods

A self-assessment questionnaire was administered to 150 female RA patients aged ≥20 years regarding their satisfaction with disease activity, pain (measured using a visual analogue scale), self-rated depression scale (SDS), stress content (illness, work, family, difficulty in daily life, appearance, treatment and other), confidence in stress management and satisfaction (treatment effect, health status and relationships with health-care professionals). The factors related to depression and the presence of depressive tendencies were investigated.

Results

Data from 145 patients were analysed. Eighteen patients (12.4%) showed depressive tendencies according to their SDS scores. Among these patients, SDS scores were positively correlated with disease activity and with scores on the modified HAQ, visual analogue scale for pain, and stress content. The SDS score was also negatively correlated with patients’ confidence in stress management and health status satisfaction.

Conclusion

Female RA patients had family problems and various stressors in their daily lives. Nurses need to conduct regular mental health assessments to monitor their self-management status and support them to improve their confidence and satisfaction in coping. To achieve this, it is important for health-care teams involving various health-care professionals to collaborate and cooperate.

The Effect of Educational Program on Self-efficacy of Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic and inflammatory disorder which is the major cause of disability in adults. Patient training is a vital aspect of nursing care for people with arthritis aiming to enable them to live as independently as possible. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of the educational program on self-efficacy on women with rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODS

This study was an open randomized controlled clinical trial during May to July 2013. Women (64 participants) with confirmed RA and a mean±SD age of 48.6±9.83 years were enrolled; they were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups (32 in each group). The patients in the intervention group participated in a training programs consisting of two 30-minute sessions per week for 8 consecutive weeks. Data were collected by using Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale (ASES) and demographic questionnaire. ASES questionnaire was filled in three times by the participants: before, immediately after, and three months after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 20, and statistical tests including Chi-square and t-test.

RESULTS

The results showed that the mean of self-efficacy scores of the intervention group, immediately and three months after the intervention, significantly enhanced in all dimensions compared with the control group (P<0.001, P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that training programs is effective for improving self-efficacy in the patients suffering from RA by raising their awareness towards their disease and methods of adaptation with it. But as to the sustainability of the impact of educational courses on self-efficacy, it seems that more research is required. Trial Registration Number: IRCT201308187531N3.