Patient educational programs, knowledge of disease-modifying drugs and biological treatments and incident management by means of telephone consults should also be included and encouraged through the award of the title of "Specialist in joint inflammatory diseases".
As observed in a recent U.K. survey on the quality of primary health care provision, crucial factors include educational training, patient education programs and improved communication and teamwork [ 25].
Frenkel et al [ 44] showed that 72% of family practice physicians who participated in a structured patient-centred educational program on CAMs reported significant positive attitudinal changes.
It includes focus group with ward professionals for identifying possible local obstacles to optimal pain control, informative material for the patients, an educational program performed through guides from the wards, and an organisational intervention to the ward.
It is a useful instrument to guide physicians and health professionals in the development of targeted patient-centered educational programs for patients with arthritis.
Families, friends, and healthcare providers all contributed to the patients' support system in different ways, but as expressed by patients themselves, educational programs targeting these different groups would enable them to better support the patients.
The excessive aspiration of patients for educational programs was confirmed.
Albeit limited, a few patient-centered educational programs to address such matters have already been developed [ 44].
""…the evidence of patient-targeted educational programs in relation to clinical outcomes is lacking, while prescribing is supported by harder evidence, and it is a very important part of diabetes treatment".
CPAP adaptation was performed by a sleep technician and patients underwent an educational program for appropriate use of the equipment.
