Secondary abstract: |
The Master’s thesis is divided into a theoretical and an empirical part. The theoretical part is aimed at providing the background for the research thesis, as well as elucidating important Slovene and International documentation. This part introduces rheumatoid arthritis, which is a chronic, inflammatory rheumatic disease. A description is included of the quality in the healthcare system and patient satisfaction, as one of the indicators of quality. The empirical part of the thesis has the goal of determining satisfaction of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the Rheumatology Clinic of the Clinical Department of Rheumatology at the University Medical Center in Ljubljana and comparing this with the satisfaction of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the Rheumatology Clinic in Leeds, UK. In the master’s thesis we evaluated whether the satisfaction of patients with rheumatoid arthritis was dependent on the effects of disease activity (DAS28), functional disability (PROMIS HAQ), disease duration and therapy.
Research methodology: In order to achieve our goals, we used a questionnaire and the interviewing process, analysis and synthesis of obtained data and comparative methodology. As an empirical instrument, a research questionnaire was used. We questioned the first 100 consecutive patients whit rheumatoid arthritis, who arrived in the Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Rheumatology, University Medical Center, Ljubljana in the period from April until July 2012.
Results: The degree of patient satisfaction in the Rheumatology Clinic of the Department of Rheumatology, University Medical Center Ljubljana was determined. The dependency of satisfaction was evaluated based on disease activity (DAS28), functional disability (PROMIS HAQ), disease duration and therapy.
Conclusion: patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Rheumatology, University Medical Center, Ljubljana were more satisfied than patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the Rheumatology Clinic in Leeds, UK. Satisfaction of patients with rheumatoid arthritis was dependent upon disease activity (DAS28), functional disability (PROMIS HAQ) and therapy, however was independent of disease duration. |