Therapeutic patient education improves knowledge and skills for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Therapeutic patient education (TPE) allows patients to better understand their disease and cope with treatment. TPE programmes have not yet been evaluated for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). To investigate the cognitive and behavioural impact of TPE on CSU patients. CSU patients were selected who completed a TPE programme. A pre-post comparison was performed using a skill/knowledge questionnaire, based on six educational objectives, before and after the intervention. The course of CSU was also analysed, according to daily hive count and itch intensity. All of the 61 enrolled patients improved their knowledge and skills following TPE, with greatest improvement in itch management and use of alternatives to scratching. CSU activity was reduced at the end of the programme in 60% of patients. TPE improves knowledge and skills for CSU patients. Further research is needed to demonstrate the positive impact of TPE on CSU activity.