Health status and self-management in patients with inflammatory arthritis-A five-year follow-up study after nurse-led patient education.

Except from a small deterioration in patients' physical function, there were no changes in patients' health status 5 years after the nurse-led patient education. Patients' self-management skills were improved after 5 years. Self-efficacy was positively associated with female gender, patient activation, less tiredness and less psychological distress.