Hardships that come by in the lives of behcet's disease patients and social work requirements

Behcet's Disease is a disease that shows repeating oral aphthous ulcers, optical and dermatological symptoms, lesions in vascular, neurological and digestive systems. It is most common in Turkey worldwide. It is a rheumatic and chronic disease. Behcet's Disease affects individuals, families, groups, community and society negatively and causes physical, psychological, social and economic hardships. The purpose of this study is to reveal difficulties that Behcet's Disease Patients have in physical, psychological, social, economic and medical processes and to evaluate social work requirements and roles of social workers in planned interventions. The study was designed in a mixed fiber, using both quantitative and qualitative methods together. In order to gather quantitative data in the study, 64 patients that are registered to Behcet's and FMF Patients Association were reached. With the aim of having qualitative interviews, 15 Behcet's Disease Patient that are currently being treated and in the group who volunteered were included in the study. To gather quantitative data questionnaire, Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS-SR) and to gather qualitative data semi-structured interview form were used. Data were analyzed with the help of programs named SPSS 22.0 and QSR Nvivo. PAIS-SR point average of the applicants was calculated as 57,16. In this scale interval it was seen that patients "poorly" adapted to the disease. In lower dimensions of the scale it was seen that adaptation to care, psychological pressure, family relations and social environment was poor and it was defined in interviews that they have difficulties in terms of physical, psychological, social, economic and medical processes. In the light of these findings it is revealed that medical social work applications are insufficient. In adaptation, improving coping mechanism, improving problem solving skills, rearranging family and social relationships and accessing to healthcare services social work intervention is necessary. Key Words: Behcet's Disease, Social Work, Medical Social Work, Psychosocial Adjustment, Healthcare Services