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- Title
Quality of self-care in patients on replacement therapy with hydrocortisone.
- Authors
Flemming, T. G.; Kristensen, L. Østergaard; Kristensen, L O
- Abstract
<bold>Objectives: </bold>To assess the quality of self-care in patients receiving replacement therapy with hydrocortisone for primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency.<bold>Design: </bold>A questionnaire-based survey.<bold>Setting: </bold>The outpatient Clinic of Endocrinology at the University Hospital in Herlev, Denmark.<bold>Subjects: </bold>Ninety-seven patients identified from the case reports of the clinic. All patients had received repeated oral information about hydrocortisone treatment and dose adjustments. Eighty-four (87%) patients completed the questionnaire.<bold>Main Outcome Measures: </bold>Ability to act appropriately in case of physical stress, possession of a 'Steroid warning card', number and nature of episodes of physical stress during the past year and self-experienced level of information was recorded.<bold>Results: </bold>Thirty-nine (46%) of the patients were not sufficiently skilled in coping with physical stress. This was more prominent in the elderly patients. Seventeen (20%) did not possess a 'steroid warning card'. Thirty-seven (44%) had experienced at least one febrile episode and 24 (29%) had been admitted to hospital during the past year. Fifty (60%) felt themselves to be well informed, but this did not correlate with the ability to act appropriately.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>The study shows the need for continuous education of patients with adrenal insufficiency. Oral instructions should be supplemented with written information or a more detailed and structured education.
- Subjects
ADRENAL diseases; HYDROCORTISONE; DISEASE risk factors
- Publication
Journal of Internal Medicine, 1999, Vol 246, Issue 5, p497
- ISSN
0954-6820
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1046/j.1365-2796.1999.00538.x