Patient Education and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Patient Education Program for Individuals With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a culturally adapted patient education program can help people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) manage their disease and improve their quality of life. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does the program improve patients' knowledge, self-management skills, and confidence in dealing with RA?
• Does it lead to better quality of life and treatment adherence compared to usual care?

Participants will:

• Join group sessions and individual activities focused on RA education, self-care, and stress management
• Take part in the program for 6 months, with regular follow-up visits
• Complete questionnaires about symptoms, daily activities, and quality of life

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults (≥18 years) diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis according to ACR/EULAR 2010 classification criteria
• Stable pharmacological treatment for at least 3 months prior to enrollment
• Ability to participate in group sessions and complete questionnaires
• Provided written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of other systemic autoimmune or inflammatory rheumatic diseases (e.g., lupus, psoriatic arthritis)
• Severe comorbidities that may interfere with participation (e.g., advanced heart failure, uncontrolled psychiatric illness)
• Cognitive impairment or language barrier preventing comprehension of the program
• Participation in another structured patient education program within the last 6 months