[Progressive physical disability, pain and quality of life of patients with rheumatoid inflammation of the joints].

WHO pronounced years 2000-2010 the Decade of Bones and Joints--the main purpose of which is the improvement of the quality of life of patients suffering from inflammatory movement organ condition. A chronic disease leading to disability, handicap and even premature death is progressive rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Irreversible changes in the joints develop during the first years of RA. For the patient it results in certain ailments, physical disorders, lowering of the level of health and the quality of life. The purpose of the thesis was: specifying health problems of patients suffering from RA; evaluation of the level of physical disability along with patient's quality of life; defining both educational and caring tasks contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of the patient and preparation of the patient and their family to self-care. Patient suffering from RA demands professional manifold care and complex therapeutic actions. It is the patient themselves, however, who decides to what extent they allow the disease to control their lives or how much they control the disease themselves. Patient and their family need advice and support in the first stage of illness but also throughout the disease, in order to adapt to patient's changing health conditions--disorganizing and disordering physical, psychological and social functioning of the patient. Ascertaining the factors determining attitudes and aspirations of the patient may lead to achieving conditions influencing the improvement of the quality of their lives.