The authors, having a clear understanding of the course contents, describe in a schematic way the content and objectives, highlighting the “Rationale,” which is the scientific concept the course aims to communicate to the learners.
Contents
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that primarily affects the joints but also involves the entire body. Over time, especially if not properly treated, it can lead to cardiovascular, neurological, renal, ocular, and pulmonary complications.
Self-management of a chronic condition by a patient is defined as “the decisions and behaviors that patients must adopt to influence their health status.” A key support for self-management is helping patients understand their central role in managing their disease, enabling them to make informed decisions about their care and engage in healthy behaviors.
Many patients do not fully understand what their doctors or healthcare teams tell them, failing to participate in decisions regarding their care. As a result, they remain unprepared to make daily decisions and take actions that lead to proper management of their condition.
Objectives
Enabling patients to make good choices and support healthy behaviors requires a collaborative relationship: a new health partnership between doctors, their teams, patients, and their families.
