Table 2. Knowledge items responses by the participants.
* Correct Answer
| Responses (N (%)) | |||
| Correct | Wrong | I don't know | |
| Is rheumatoid arthritis a contagious disease? | 9 (2.1) | 196 (46.8)* | 214(51.1) |
| Women more likely to get rheumatoid arthritis? | 120(28.6)* | 31 (7.4) | 268(64.0) |
| Rheumatoid arthritis only affects the elderly? | 50(11.9) | 150(35.8)* | 219(52.3) |
| Is smoking one of the most important risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis? | 71 (16.9)* | 55 (13.1) | 293 (69.9) |
| Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by pain in the joints of the hands and stiffness in the morning for more than half an hour? | 24 (5.7) | 110 (26.3) | 285 (68.0) |
| Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by abdominal pain | 21 (5.0) | 118 (28.2) * | 280 (66.8) |
| Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by inflammation of the small joints such as the joints of the fingers and toes. | 127 (30.3)* | 28 (6.7) | 264 (63.0) |
| Rheumatoid arthritis affects only the joints of the knees? | 58 (13.8) | 114 (27.2)* | 247 (58.9) |
| Rheumatoid arthritis affects all joints in the body with no exceptions. | 139 (33.2)* | 33 (7.9) | 247 (58.9) |
| Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by an increase in pain with movement? | 173 (41.3) | 18 (4.3) | 228 (54.4) |
| If not treated, rheumatoid arthritis may cause deformities in the affected joints, leading to loss of function in the absence of treatment? | 162 (38.7)* | 14 (3.3) | 243 (58.0) |
| Rheumatoid arthritis patients often end up in a wheelchair | 82 (19.6) | 53 (12.6)* | 284 (67.8) |
| Does rheumatoid arthritis affect body organs such as the heart and lungs? | 82 (19.6)* | 48 (11.5) | 289 (69.0) |
| Is it better to have rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed and treated by an orthopedic specialist? | 224 (53.5) | 26 (6.2)* | 169 (40.3) |
| There are medicines that relieve pain and prevent joint deformities, but do not treat the disease permanently? | 198 (47.3)* | 14 (3.3) | 207 (49.4) |