The medicine of chronic diseases differs from that of acute diseases and requires from the patient a set of continuous adjustments. The aim of patient education is the acquisition of skills enabling patients to perform a certain number of activities to improve their health and obtain a better quality of life. Patient education appears as an epidemiological, therapeutic and economic necessity and a practice well-suited to chronic rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The practice of patient education requires for the practitioner competencies of active pedagogy and cooperative learning to develop or improve practice in RMD-patient education.

The learning objectives are: understand the problematics of chronic rheumatism, understand issues of patient education, develop attitudes in the relationship with the patient, elaborate a programme of patient education, perform an educational diagnosis, design and animate educational workshops evaluate a programme and among different learning objectives.

The course is run entirely through the web. It will cover 4 modules, starting each October, followed by a final online examination. Upon passing the examination a EULAR certificate will be issued. If the course is not completed or the exam failed after the first year, the course will automatically extend for one more year without charge.

Participants who successfully complete this course are awarded with a certificate of completion. This certificate is recognised in France to be the equivalent of a 40-hour certification training course and allows the holder to practice patient education.