Development of an instrument to measure knowledge in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis: the ACREU rheumatoid arthritis knowledge questionnaire.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Education is an important component of community based rehabilitation programs for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study describes the development of a questionnaire to measure knowledge in this context. METHODS: Items were generated using focus group methodology and covered the domains of prognosis, pain management, medications, joint protection, energy conservation, exercise, and coping strategies. RESULTS: After extensive pretesting, the questionnaire was administered to 252 people with RA. The final 31 item questionnaire had acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.76, n = 185), test-retest reliability (r = 0.91, p < or = 0.001), content and construct validity. Sensitivity to change was confirmed in the context of a 6 week home based physiotherapy educational intervention. CONCLUSION: The RA knowledge questionnaire is a reliable, valid, and sensitive instrument for measuring the effect of a RA educational intervention.

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