"What you always wanted to know about lupus and never dared to ask": proposal for a patient education program

Abstract

Introduction: studies on chronic diseases highlight the importance of patient education to promote adherence to treatment and improve prognosis. Objective: to know the main questions from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (LES) as a starting point for the preparation of a Patient Education Program. Method: this was a descriptive and cross-sectional study. For six weeks, LES patients treated at the Rheumatology Department of the General Hospital wrote their questions about the disease in a white sheet and placed it in a box. Results: 260 consultations were analyzed and 111 sheets were completed, totaling 393 questions with an average of 3.54 questions per patient, which were classified into nine categories: treatment and prevention (18.8%); clinical framework and diagnostic (18.3%); etiology and pathophysiology (17.0%); prognosis and progression (16.3%); concept and epidemiology of the disease (8.1%); general guidelines (6.1%); contraception, pregnancy, and fertility (7.4%); psychological aspects and sexuality (6.9%); and excluded questions (1%). Conclusion: it was observed that most of the questions reflected themes often approached during medical consultations. Communication between the doctor, healthcare team, and patient needs to improve, ”What you always wanted to know about lupus and never dared to ask”: proposal for a patient education program Ricardo Dias Correa1, Larissa de Paiva Oliveira2, Wilton Batista Santana Junior3, Rosa Weiss Telles4, Gilda Aparecida Ferreira5, Cristina Costa Duarte Lanna6 1 Medico. Prefeitura Municipal de Belo Horizonte. Belo Horizonte, MG – Brasil. 2 Medico Residente no Hospital das Clinicas da UFMG. Belo Horizonte, MG – Brasil. 3 Medico. Gestores Prisionais Associados de Minas Gerais – GPA. Belo Horizonte, MG – Brasil. 4 Medica. Doutora. Professora Adjunta da Faculdade de Medicina da UFMG. Belo Horizonte, MG – Brasil. 5 Medica. Doutora. Professora Adjunta da Faculdade de Medicina da UFMG. Belo Horizonte, MG – Brasil. 6 Medica. Doutora. Professora Associada da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais – UFMG. Belo Horizonte, MG – Brasil. “O que voce sempre quis saber sobre lupus e nunca teve coragem de perguntar”: proposta de programa de educacao do paciente DOI: 10.5935/2238-3182.20150075