Unmet educational requirements in gout patients have been highlighted by management recommendations. Our goal was to create and evaluate MyGoutCare (MGC), a web-based, interactive teaching resource for gout sufferers that was designed to enhance knowledge. The website was created with the help of patients and specialists. A health informatics specialist customised content sections so that the patient may go on a trip to learn about various elements of gout. During the pilot research, patients provided baseline demographic information as well as a 10-item validated gout knowledge questionnaire. Within two weeks following their medical appointment, individuals completed a post-survey after studying the website. The data was examined using paired t-tests, and the effect size (ES) for the altered scores was computed. Triggers of flares, comorbidities, pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapy, healthy gout diet, and lifestyle choices were all agreed upon by gout patients and specialists. A total of 50 participants were included in the pilot trial. When compared to pre-survey scores, their post-survey knowledge questions scores improved considerably. Following a study of the website, patients highlighted actionable improvements for the future, including the decision to continue lifetime urate-lowering medication, compliance with periodic serum urate monitoring, and dietary modifications.
Web-based platforms that provide patient-focused information can be a useful tool for meeting the continuing educational requirements of gout sufferers. More research is needed to see whether the website can enhance patient–physician communication and lead to improved long-term outcomes.
