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

Abstract

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. Items were generated using focus group methodology and covered the domains of prognosis, pain management, medications, joint protection, energy conservation, exercise, and coping strategies. 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. The RA knowledge questionnaire is a reliable, valid, and sensitive instrument for measuring the effect of a RA educational intervention.