title: Possession of assistive devices is related to improved psychological well-being in patients with rheumatic conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between the possession of assistive devices and psychological well-being in patients with rheumatic conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) were selected from rheumatology outpatient clinics in 2 adjacent regions in The Netherlands and Germany. A total of 142 patients completed a questionnaire on the possession of assistive devices and psychological well-being. Questions on sociodemographics, clinical status, and health status were included. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the unique association between the number of assistive devices per patient and psychological well-being, controlling for confounding variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Univariately, the number of assistive devices per patient was negatively associated with psychological well-being. Multivariately, the number of assistive devices per patient was positively associated with psychological well-being. Functional status was a negative confounder of the relationship between the possession of assistive devices and psychological well-being. CONCLUSIONl The possession of assistive devices was positively related to psychological well-being of patients with rheumatic diseases, after controlling for differences in functional status.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral Research, Faculty of Behavioral Sciences, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands. m.m.veehof@utwente.nl
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veehof
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taal
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rasker
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lohmann
authors.forename: Mart
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van de Laar
mesh_terms: D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012656:Self-Help Devices / Q000523:psychology*