Determination of treatment compliance, quality of life and affecting factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between treatment adherence and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and the confounding factors. Materials and methods: The population of this descriptive and correlational study consisted of rheumatoid arthritis patients who applied to the rheumatology outpatient clinic of Malatya İnönü University Turgut Özal Medical Center. The sample size of the study was calculated as 129 by G power analysis and 129 patients were included in our study. Data were collected using Personal Information Form, Medical Treatment Compliance Rate Scale and Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life Scale. The analysis of the data obtained from the study was evaluated with SPSS 29.0 program. Results: Education level, income level, presence of RA symptoms such as swelling in the joints and sleep problems, belief in treatment and experiencing side effects due to RA medications are factors affecting treatment compliance and quality of life in RA patients. The mean total score obtained from the rate of compliance with medical treatment scale was 6.93, while the mean total score obtained from the rheumatoid arthritis quality of life scale was 17,36. A negative correlation was found between adherence to medical treatment and RA quality of life (r=0.179, p<0.05). As the score obtained from adherence to medical treatment increased, the score obtained from rheumatoid arthritis quality of life decreased. A decrease in the rheumatoid arthritis quality of life score indicates an increase in quality of life. In this case, as adherence to medical treatment increases, rheumatoid arthritis quality of life also increases. Conclusion: In line with the results of the study, it was concluded that the quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis improved with increased adherence to treatment. In this context, it is important that nurses, as the healthcare professionals who communicate most with patients, provide patient education to increase adherence in RA patients. Keywords: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Treatment Adherence, Quality of Life.