Study: Arthritis Education With Partner Not Always Helpful

The participation of a rheumatoid arthritis patient's spouse or partner in a group educational program about the disease does not always have positive effects, according to a study reported in the August issue of Arthritis Care & Research.

Researchers at the University of York in Great Britain found that instead of stimulating patients to better health, the participation of significant others led to a reduction in patients' ability to cope with their symptoms and to greater fatigue.

Meanwhile, patients who took part in group education programs without their partners fared just the opposite: increased ability to deal with symptoms and less fatigue. No other effects were found.

The study involved 218 rheumatoid arthritis patients and their partners. Two-thirds of the patients received a five-week group
self-management education program. Half of those received the intervention with a partner and half without. One-third of the patients received the same educational materials without group sessions.

The researchers assessed the participants ability to cope with symptoms, their health status and their social interactions to see if the
participation of a significant other influenced the effects.

Other sources: Arthritis Care & Research, 49:4; 556-566