Health status and self‐management in patients with inflammatory arthritis—A five‐year follow‐up study after nurse‐led patient education

Abstract

Aim The aim of this study was to investigate changes in patients' self‐management and health status five years after nurse‐led patient education.

Design A longitudinal study.

Methods We collected self‐reported data on physical function, pain, tiredness, disease activity, psychological status, patient activation and self‐efficacy from a sample of Norwegian‐speaking adults with inflammatory arthritis that had participated in a randomised controlled study investigating the effects of nurse‐led patient education. Changes and associations in patients' health status and self‐management were analysed with paired sample t tests and multivariable linear regression analyses, respectively.

Results Except from a small deterioration in patients' physical function, there were no changes in patients' health status 5 years after the nurse‐led patient education. Patients' self‐management skills were improved after 5 years. Self‐efficacy was positively associated with female gender, patient activation, less tiredness and less psychological distress.