Iranian Journal of Rehabilitation Research in Nursing

Introduction: Distance education can overcome some of the barriers of traditional education and provide easy and flexible access to learning. This study aims to determine the effect of self-care training by distance education on the functional status and Quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Methods: This is an interventional study with two intervention and control groups. Sixty patients were selected by the available method and then divided into intervention and control groups in a simple random manner. Questionnaires for assessing the functional status and Quality of life of rheumatoid arthritis patients were completed by the patients one month before and one month after the intervention. Self-care training in the intervention group was conducted in 5 sessions for five weeks via mobile phone. Data analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS software at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: The comparison between the groups showed no statistically significant difference between the functional status and the patient's Quality of life in the intervention and control groups before and after the intervention (P>0.05). However, the intra-group comparison showed a significant difference in the average Quality of life scores before and after the intervention in the intervention group (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Distance education alone has no significant effect on these patients, so it is suggested that it be used along with other educational methods to have a favorable impact.