title: Patient knowledge of their disease: a French multicenter study in ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess knowledge of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) by patients and to identify factors associated with knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety patients receiving follow-up in France for AS completed a disease knowledge auto-questionnaire yielding a correct answer score [CAS] and a correct item score [CIS]. Correlations between these scores and other factors were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean CAS was 16.4/25 (SD = 4.8) and mean CIS 7.3 +/- 3.1/14. Female gender, higher educational level, having read about AS, being aware of AS support groups, and having received longer tertiary-care hospital management were associated with better knowledge. In the multivariate analysis, only three factors were independently associated with the level of knowledge in this population: "reading about AS", "level of general education", and "awareness of an AS support group".
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge of AS by French patients was lower than previously reported in a British population. Although education should be offered to all AS patients, the need may be greater in those with limited formal schooling. Booklets on the disease and contact with patient groups seem to be useful tools for improving knowledge of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hôpital Henri Mondor, AP-HP, Créteil, France. pascal.claudepierre@hmn.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Claudepierre
authors.forename: René-Marc
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Flipo
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sibilia
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Berthelot
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goupille
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cortinovis
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cunin
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chevalier
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wendling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires