Vol.22 No.3

Original Article

Satisfaction and attitudes toward therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Authors

Nobuyuki Takahashi1 , Kaneshige Sasaki2,3 , Takeshi Nishiyama4 , Taio Naniwa2,3

  • Department of Rheumatology, East Medical Center Higashi Municipal Hospital of Nagoya City, 1-2-23 Wakamizu, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-0071, Japan
  • Division of Rheumatology, Nagoya City University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
  • Department of Medical Oncology and Immunology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
  • Clinical Trial Management Center, Nagoya City University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
Received:

22 July 2011

Accepted:

29 August 2011

Published online:

20 September 2011

Full Text

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Abstract

We examined associations between patient satisfaction and data obtained in routine clinical practice, and associations with therapeutic attitude in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A total of 220 patients with RA were enrolled in this cross-sectional evaluation. Demographic data, current disease state of RA, history of adverse events and self-reported questionnaire of patient satisfaction, attitudes toward therapy and reasons for being unwilling to change therapy were collected and analyzed. Multiple linear regression was used to identify characteristics. Age, Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score, and a visual analogue scale score of general health were the dominant correlates of satisfaction. Among the participants, 70% reported that they would not want to change therapy. The main reasons given were satisfaction with the current disease state (58%) and concern about the risk of side effects if therapy were to be changed (34%). Patients who were unwilling to change therapy due to concerns about side effects of new drugs did not have a significantly higher frequency of a past history of side effects, but showed significantly higher disease activity and a lower level of satisfaction with therapy. To summarize, patient satisfaction was associated with the HAQ. Patients who worried about the risk of side effects showed poor physical function and higher disease activity.

Key words

Rheumatoid arthritis - Satisfaction - Patient attitude - HAQ