To the Editor:
Changes in appearance, significant morbidity, and the absence of disease-modifying therapies may lead to psychosocial issues in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc)1,2,3,4. Limited education may contribute to poor medication adherence5. Education of patients could potentially mediate some of these outcomes2,6 because patient education in rheumatic disease improves self-efficacy and self-management7,8. An Educational Needs Assessment Tool (ENAT) was developed to assess the perceived educational needs of people with rheumatic disease9, and has been validated in patients with SSc10. We used the ENAT to survey a sample of Canadians with SSc to understand their educational need(s) to inform educational initiatives and future research. This project was not deemed to require ethics approval by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board, and thus written consent was not required.
The ENAT questionnaire was posted on the Scleroderma Society of Ontario and Scleroderma Society of Canada social media accounts in August 2017. Patients from 2 clinics were also provided with the online survey link. …
Address correspondence to Dr. T. Semalulu, Department of Medicine, Internal Medicine Training Program, McMaster University Medical Centre, Room 1K11, 1200 Main St. West, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5, Canada. E-mail: teresa.semalulu{at}medportal.ca