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Knowledge, attitude and practice of patients with immune-mediated and inflammatory rheumatic diseases towards mental health and psychological interventions

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction Autoimmune rheumatologic diseases are chronic, recurrent conditions that often cause pain, disability, and high treatment costs. These disease burdens increase the risk of anxiety, depression, and sleep problems, yet many patients do not receive timely psychological support. Understanding how patients perceive mental health and psychological interventions, and how they act on these perceptions, is important for designing effective education and support strategies. Methods This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in six hospitals in China between July and December 2023 and patients with immune-mediated and inflammatory rheumatic diseases were included. Demographic information and KAP scores were obtained using a self-designed questionnaire. Results A total of 672 valid questionnaires were collected, with 499 female respondents and a mean age of 44.86 ± 15.54 years. The mean KAP scores were 5.65 ± 4.812 (range: 0–18), 23.03 ± 4.125 (range: 6–30), and 18.41 ± 4.179 (range: 6–30). Multivariable logistic regression with an a priori confounder selection strategy showed that knowledge (OR = 1.133, 95% CI: 1.086–1.182, p < 0.001), attitude (OR = 1.115, 95% CI: 1.059–1.173, p < 0.001), and age (OR = 1.023, 95% CI: 1.008–1.037, p = 0.002) were independently associated with practice. Patients with immune-mediated and inflammatory rheumatic diseases demonstrated inadequate knowledge, positive attitudes, and inactive practice towards mental health and psychological interventions. Structural equation modeling indicated that knowledge was directly associated with attitude ( β = 0.369, p = 0.001) and practice ( β = 0.518, p = 0.001), with attitude also showing a direct path to practice ( β = 0.202, p = 0.001). Conclusion Patients with immune-mediated and inflammatory rheumatic diseases exhibit notable gaps in mental health knowledge, attitudes, and practices. These findings provide valuable empirical targets for future prospective research and highlight the potential need for tailored educational programs to support patient wellbeing.

Source: Frontiers in Public Health

DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1959054