Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF THERAPEUTICS, cilt.19, sa.2, ss.108-114, 2013 (ESCI)
In the present study, it was aimed to investigate factors of motivation concerning referral of the patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to rheumatology department. Ninety-five consecutive patients with RA presented to Rheumatology Department of Hatay State Hospital between August, 2012 and October, 2012 were included to the study. The patients attended to one or more control visit within prior 6 months were considered as "patients regularly attending control visits". Those attended to a control visit during study period but not within prior 6 months were considered as "patients not regularly attending control visits". In the light of information obtained from patients, two distinct forms were designed including reasons for attending regularly or not regularly to control visits. The form designed for "patients regularly attending control visits" included 42 items, whereas the form designed for "patients not regularly attending control visits" included 56 items. Ninety-five patients (63 women) with RA were included to the study. Mean ages were 46.4 +/- 13.0 and 40.6 +/- 12.6 years. Of these patients, 81 (85.3%) were "patients regularly attending control visits", whereas 14 (14.7%) were "patients not regularly attending control visits". It was seen that, the educational levels was primary school or below in 47 (58%) of the 81 "patients attending regularly to control visits" vs. all 14 "patients attending not regularly to control visits" (p=0.002). While 37 (45.6%) of the "patients attending regularly to control visits" were on steroid therapy, 12 (85.7%) of the "patients attending not regularly to control visits" were on steroid therapy. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.006). The main factors motivating patient with RA are found to be related to clinicians and healthcare providers; thoughts, beliefs and expectations of the patients; conditions of hospital; working condition of the patients; economic arguments; and social interactions. Regular follow-up of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis can be affected by several factor originating from patient or clinician. It seems that socio-cultural level of the patients directly affect regular follow-up of these patients.