The supply of and demand for informal and professional care for patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The objective of this study is to determine supply of, and demand for, informal care for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to evaluate the factors that contribute to the amounts of help needed and received from professional and informal care providers at home. Data were collected by questionnaire from 229 RA patients and 174 informal caregivers. Most of the help required is also received, though 24% of the patients did not receive help for one or more tasks. Most help given at home is by informal caregivers. The amount of help needed is related primarily to the patient's physical condition, sex, and self-efficacy expectations towards coping with RA. The amount of help received from informal caregivers is largely explained by the physical condition and the marital status of the patient, the sex of the caregiver, the patient's self-efficacy expectations towards coping with RA, and the age of the patient. The amount of help received from health professionals is related primarily to the marital status and the physical condition of the patient.