الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease that
initially affects the joints, manifesting as pain, stiffness, and synovitis leading to the
destruction of cartilage and bone, functional limitation, and disability also accompanied by
extra-articular organ involvement. Although this inflammatory process is reversible, it may
progress into irreversible damage of articular structures if left untreated and may lead to
loss of function. DMARDs remain the first-line treatment of RA. The aim of RA treatment
is to achieve remission, or low disease activity, avoid joint damage and disability,
maintaining the quality of life, and controlling extra-articular manifestations. Therapeutic
success depends on both drugs efficacy and medications adherence.
Therefore, medication adherence is essential for desired clinical outcomes. Nonadherence
to RA medications leads to poor disease control, increased morbidity, and
recurrent hospitalization. There are many factors associated with medications adherence,
such as medication type and dose, medication cost, disease duration and severity, and
medication side effects. Support systems, patient-physician communication and personal
beliefs, and understanding of illness also play a role. According to this, the nurse has an
important role in performing an assessment to identify barriers that prevent rheumatoid
arthritis patients from adhering to medications and provide appropriate intervention. As
they are responsible for helping patients gain knowledge, skills, and change attitude
necessary to maintain adherence to medications.
The aim of this study was:
To identify factors associated with medications adherence among patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Materials and method:
Research design:
A descriptive research design was utilized to meet the aim of the present study.
Setting:
The study was conducted at the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic in the Alexandria
Main University Hospital.
Subjects:
Based on the Epi Info program, convenience samples of 120 adult patients with
rheumatoid arthritis from both sexes were selected from the above-mentioned settings
according to the following criteria:
Adult patients diagnosed with RA aged from 20 to 60 years.
on disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs
Able to communicate verbally.