RESUMO
Background: The congruence of interests between health care providers and clients is essential if subjects with chronic diseases will be educated. Aim: To assess, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, those fields in which they would like to receive education. Patients and methods: Eighty eight patients with rheumatoid arthritis were surveyed about the topics in whicb they would like to be educated. The inquiry included medical aspects, handicap overcoming, social issues and labor aspects. Results: Eighty two percent of Patients were interested in medical aspects, 77 percent in social issues and 71 percent in handicap overcoming. Eighty three percent of Patients with greater handicaps preferred handicap overcoming, 75 percent social aspects and 74 percent medical aspects. Younger patients had a greater interest in labor aspects, those with a recently diagnosed disease were interested in legal rights and those with a prolonged disease wanted information about self help groups. Conclusions: The greater educational interests of patients with rheumatoid arthritis were on medical aspects. However, those impaired by the disease were interested in handicap overcoming. Age and duration of the disease also influenced the educational interests of patients. Thus, education in these patients must be individualized