Patient education plays a major role in empowering patients and their families and it is an important component in disease management programs, according to Dr. Lina Faysal El Kibbi, rheumatology consultant and chairman of CME committee in Specialized Medical Center Hospital, Riyadh.

“Since 2008, we started educating our rheumatoid patients in our hospital regarding their disease, its treatment and all the misconceptions about it,” he says.

Education was provided through both written material and verbal instructions to the patients.

Lectures were held and information was given using simple basic to complex detailed medical language.

“We evaluated our patients’ understanding by feedback forms to ensure that the information delivered was equally absorbed and retained. We also followed the influence and impact of education on our patients and their families.

“We found that understanding one's disease improves compliance and reflects motivation and confidence for a better quality of life,” Dr. Kibbi added.

Nevertheless, he added, despite the fact that “we are making public education since 2008, we are still facing lots of uncontrolled and advanced cases and this is the main motivation for us to keep educating our patients.”

Dr. Hanady Manasfi, a consultant rheumatologist in SMC hospital, said: “Our patient education program is for patients with rheumatic diseases, as well as for their family members.”

The education describes how these diseases develop, how they are diagnosed, and how they are treated, including their relationship to pregnancy, cardiovascular risks, diet, and fitness.

Education and counseling can help patients to better understand the nature of rheumatic diseases and cope with the challenges of this condition.