Education models and acquisition of biotherapies safety skills in chronic inflammatory rheumatism

Introduction: The biotherapies prescribed to chronic inflammatory rheumatism patients carry risks, about which these patients must be informed. Objective: To evaluate which educational model is the best for maintaining optimal safety in terms of biotherapy self-management. Method: This observational retrospective monocentric study involved patients who had received therapeutic education while on biotherapy from 2009 to 2013, categorized in terms of the educational model received (information: M1, individual education: M2, in terms of the educational model received (information: M1, individual education: M2, individual and group education: M3) and given the Biosecure questionnaire (assessing their theoretical and practical understanding of biotherapy) to complete. Results: Overall, 222 patients were included (67% women, mean age: 53.9 years), 106 of whom had received M1, 88 M2, and 28 M3. The highest Biosecure scores were generated by young, female, employed, college-level educated patients, with the most recent diagnoses, and on intravenous biotherapies. The mean Biosecure score was 76.6 (±13.8) (min-max: 11.52–100). On multivariate analysis, the Biosecure total score was highest in the M3 group, compared to M1 (p  = 0.02) and M2 (p  = 0.04). Conclusion: The combination of individual and group education resulted in higher Biosecure scores than individual education or simply providing information.