Abstract
Questionaire surveys of balneotherapy of rheumatoid arthritis have been put in force for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatologists. Answers were received in 68% of 600 patients and in 83% of 78 doctors. Forty-three percent of patients have received balneotherapy. Among them, 58% have had doctor's consent before the treatment, and 42% have recognized the efficacy. Half of them have gone to the spa one or two times a year and most of them have taken the bath 1-3 times a day. One fourth of them have experienced the cure reaction. Fifty percent of patients who had not received balneotherapy had no knowledge about this therapy, and 28% of them were disturbed the therapy by their disability. On the other hand, 41% resigned themselves to receive balneotherapy by their economical situation. Eighty-nine percent of patients hope the subspeciality of balneologist in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Ninety-one percent of patients who received balneotherapy answered that they recommended balneotherapy to the other patients by themselves and/or by mutual agreement of doctor. Eighty-eight percent of rheumatologists recommended balneotherapy to their patients, however, 61% of them have done passively. The majority of rheumatologists recognized the need of the facilities for the balneotherapy and 60% of them supported the subspeciality of balneologist in the treatment system of rheumatoid arthritis.
