[Qualification via training courses].

Patient education includes cognitive parts as well as coping aspects and learning new skills. Therefore it is necessary to prepare the interdisciplinary training team for their tasks. The German Society of Rheumatology offers special training courses for these tasks. The training courses are divided into a basic seminar and a seminar for special education programs. The basic seminar will mediate knowledge and increase skills used in patient education. Conceptions, effectiveness and advantages are shown. Information and experiences specially mixed with exercises in the areas of communication, group dynamics and adult education take place. In the seminar for special education programs information about this program and its specific problems is given. In addition participants have the possibility to discuss their experiences.