Introduction

Rheumatoid arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis) is manifested by pain, stiffness, deformation, and inflammation in the joints, mainly in the hand. There are 2 periods in the course of the disease: exacerbation and remission.

Aim of the research: The objective of the study was to assess the needs of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Material and methods

The investigation included 124 patients treated in Krakow hospitals, who were divided into 2 groups: subjects with exacerbated rheumatoid arthritis (100 individuals) or in RA remission (24 individuals). Within each group, the patients were additionally subdivided into younger (18–45 years of age) and older (above 60 years of age) subjects. The results were obtained employing a 15-item questionnaire authored by the investigators entitled the “Scale of Needs of Patients Suffering from Rheumatic Diseases”. The questions addressed needs defined according to Abraham Maslow: self-dependence, accessibility of health care services, and necessity of coping with the disease.

Results

In the patients with exacerbated disease, significant differences were noted between the younger and older subjects (p < 0.05). The principal problems mentioned by the subjects included primary necessaries of life being not satisfied, necessity of using help of other people, pain and stiffness, mental fatigue, and difficulties in health care accessibility. No differences in satisfaction of the needs were observed with respect to sex, education, and medications taken (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

The needs of patients in the period of exacerbation of RA disease were satisfied to a lesser extent than the needs of patients in remission. The needs of younger people were satisfied at a higher level than those of the elderly.