title: Addressing patient health care demands in systemic sclerosis: pre-post assessment of a psycho-educational group programme.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients diagnosed with systemic sclerosis (SSc) report a high need for education and support. To address these needs, a short, group-based psycho-educational programme for patients with SSc was developed and evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pre-post test design was utilised. Participants completed questionnaires on physical and psychological functioning. Furthermore, patients were asked to evaluate the content of the programme by questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 41 patients were available for analysis. Patients reported less helplessness after the intervention, and higher acceptance of their limitations. However, no difference in depressed mood and physical functioning was observed. Patients reported high satisfaction with the content of the programme.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the limited changes in psychological and physical functioning, this psycho-educational programme addresses patients' needs reported in previous study and therefore contributes to the improvement of care for patients with SSc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Sint Maartenskliniek Nijmegen, The Netherlands. l.kwakkenbos@maartenskliniek.nl
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kwakkenbos
authors.forename: Simone J M
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bluyssen
authors.forename: Madelon C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Vonk
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: van Helmond
authors.forename: Cornelia H M
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: van den Ende
authors.forename: Frank H J
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: van den Hoogen
authors.forename: Wim G J M
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: van Lankveld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D012681:Sensitivity Training Groups / Q000592:standards; D012944:Social Support