Foot health education for people with rheumatoid arthritis —some patient perspectives

Graham, AS; Hammond, A; Walmsley, S; Williams, AE

Abstract

Background: Patient education is an important component of foot health management for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The content and strategies for delivery require investigation in relation to the patients’needs. This study explores patients’ experiences of foot health education, to inform how the patients’ needs could be identified in clinical practice and inform effective education delivery.
Method: A focus group was used to collect data. The dialogue was recorded digitally, transcribed verbatim and
analysed using a structured thematic approach. Member checking and peer review added to credibility of the data.
Six themes emerged; (i) content and purpose of patient education – what it should be, (ii) content of patient
education – what it should not be, (iii) timing of information on foot health, (iv) method of delivery, (v) ability to engage with foot health education and (vi) the patient/practitioner relationship.
Conclusions: This study identified aspects of patient education considered important by this group of patients in
relation to content, timing and delivery, forming the basis for further research on clinical and patient focussed
outcomes of patient education. Identifying health education needs and provision of supportive verbal and written information can foster an effective therapeutic relationship, supporting effective foot health education for people with RA.

Citation

Graham, A., Hammond, A., Walmsley, S., & Williams, A. (2012). Foot health education for people with rheumatoid arthritis —some patient perspectives. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 5(1), 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-1146-5-23

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2012
• Deposit Date: Feb 20, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 23
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-1146-5-23
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1757-1146-5-23
• Related Public URLs: http://www.jfootankleres.com/