Artikel
Understanding the importance of a patient’s role in the management of RA: results from a patient-based survey focusing on patients from Germany
Suche in Medline nach
Autoren
Veröffentlicht: | 29. August 2016 |
---|
Gliederung
Text
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, debilitating condition, which has no cure. The RA NarRAtive is a global initiative to identify patient perceptions regarding barriers to treatment and self-management.
Methods: The RA NarRAtive initiative consists of a global advisory panel of 39 rheumatologists and patient advocacy group leaders. An online, patient-based survey was fielded across 15 countries (September 2014 – January 2016). Results are presented from all respondents who completed the survey.
Results: German patients (525/3,987) represented a spectrum of disease activity. Self-reported symptoms were moderate/severe in 49%, low in 23% and under control in 27%. Only 24% described their current overall health as good/excellent (versus 34% globally). The most frequently-cited concerns were disease progression (75%) and impact of RA on quality of life (QoL; 71%). In Germany, 49% reported stopping participation in certain activities (versus 47% globally) and 30% discontinued work/switched jobs due to RA (versus 29% globally). In addition, 33% seeing an HCP to manage their RA acknowledged that dialogue/discussion would help to manage their RA more successfully (versus 48% globally), although 60% felt uncomfortable raising concerns or fears with their HCP. Overall, 77% of German respondents received RA medication. Of those taking prescribed medication for their RA (325), 41% were not taking this as prescribed (versus 38% globally). The most frequently-cited reason for non-compliance was treatment side-effects (19%). Aspects of their current, prescribed RA treatment that German patients would most like to change (versus global assessment) were side-effects (43% versus 35%), followed by number/frequency of medications (31% versus 35%). German patients currently taking prescribed medication (versus all respondents) defined treatment success according to reduction of pain and/or swelling (77% versus 81%), and improvements in QoL (73% versus 77%). Control of disease progression (31%) was considered less important versus the global total (47%).
Conclusion: While many German patients are satisfied with their RA medication, non-compliance persists and many would like to change aspects of their prescribed treatment. Patient-HCP dialogue is important and must be enforced in the successful management of RA, as patients define successful treatment in terms of significant improvements in their overall symptoms and improvements in QoL.