[Treat to target-participation of the patient]

Abstract

An increase in general health literacy and a targeted patient information are important prerequisites for coping with the chronic disease in people with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. The education programs of the Working Group of Regional Cooperative Rheumatism Centers in the German Society for Rheumatology (AGRZ), such as StruPI, the offers of the German Rheumatism League (Deutsche Rheuma-Liga) and other elements provide a framework for those affected and their relatives, in which a participative decision-making (PEF) on equal terms can be possible. The physician-patient communication changes in the sense of a PEF and hopefully leads to a sustainably better patient compliance. Non-medicinal treatment, comorbidities and changes in life style are important issues in such cases. The StruPI is an established format for information and education of patients, particularly in outpatient rheumatism patients. In the midterm patient education (outpatient and inpatient) and self-management courses will be offered and honored nationwide, analogue to other chronic diseases, e.g. asthma and diabetes. Patients can influence the course of the disease by life style changes. The treatment of chronic diseases can only function in the long term in a consensual partnership.

Keywords: Change of life style; Health literacy; Patient education; Patient information; Physician-patient communication.