Impact of rheumatoid arthritis in Turkey: a questionnaire study

• Published in: Clinical and experimental rheumatology Vol. 32; no. 4; pp. 477 - 483
• Main Authors: Direskeneli, Haner, Akkoç, Nurullah, Bes, Cemal, Cakir, Necati, Cefle, Ayse, Cobankara, Veli, Dalkilic, Ediz, Dinc, Ayhan, Ertenli, Ihsan, Gul, Ahmet, Hamuryudan, Vedat, Inanc, Murat, Kalyoncu, Umut, Karaaslan, Yasar, Kasifoglu, Timucin, Keser, Gokhan, Keskin, Goksal, Kisacik, Bunyamin, Kiraz, Sedat, Masatlioglu, Seval, Onat, Ahmet M, Ozbek, Suleymen, Ozturk, Mehmet A, Pamuk, Omer N, Pay, Salih, Pirildar, Timur, Sayarlioglu, Mehmet, Senel, Soner, Senturk, Taskin, Tasan, Demet, Terzioglu, Ender, Yazici, Ayten, Yucel, Eftal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy 01.07.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Antirheumatic Agents - administration & dosage; Antirheumatic Agents - adverse effects; Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - diagnosis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - drug therapy; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - psychology; Attitude of Health Personnel; Biological Products - administration & dosage; Biological Products - adverse effects; Biological Products - therapeutic use; Communication; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Health Care Surveys; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Needs Assessment; Patient Preference; Patient Satisfaction; Patients - psychology; Perception; Physician-Patient Relations; Quality of Life; Severity of Illness Index; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Turkey; Turkey
• ISSN: 0392-856X

Unmet needs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients regarding physician/patient communication, treatment preferences and quality of life issues were investigated in a Turkish survey study. The study was conducted with the contribution of 33 rheumatologists, and included 519 RA patients. The study population included patients who had been on biologic therapy for >6 months and were still receiving biologic therapy (BT group), and those who were biologic naive, but found eligible for biologic treatment (NBT group). Of the RA patients, 35.5% initially had a visit to an internal disease specialist, 25.5% to a physical therapy and rehabilitation specialist, and 12.2% to a rheumatology specialist for their RA complaints. The diagnosis of RA was made by a rheumatologist in 48.2% of patients. The majority of RA patients (86.3%) visit their doctor within 15-week intervals. Most of the physician-patient communication focused on disease symptoms (99.0%) and impact of the disease on quality of life (61.8%). The proportion of RA patients who perceived their health status as good/very good/excellent was higher in the BT group than in the NBT group (74.3% vs. 51.5%, p<0.001). However, of those RA patients in the NBT group, only 24.8% have been recommended to start a biologic treatment by their doctors. With respect to dose frequency options, once-monthly injections were preferred (80%) to a bi-weekly injection schedule (8%). In conclusion, RA patients receiving biologic therapy reported higher rates of improved symptoms and better quality of life and seemed to be more satisfied with their treatment in our study.