<p>Satisfaction of Patients and Physicians with Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Population-Based Survey in China</p>

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease characterized by chronic destructive synovitis and possible multisystem involvement. This study aimed to survey the treatment satisfaction of physicians and patients with RA, and to explore the potential factors. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 12 centers across China between March 2018 and April 2018. The Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication version II was used to assess the treatment satisfaction of patients and physicians. Multivariable regression analysis was used to determine the factors independently associated with treatment satisfaction of patients. Results: The patients' satisfaction (n=335) with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) was higher than physicians' satisfaction (n=146) regarding the side effects (95.0±14.3 vs 84.6±15.7, P<0.001) and convenience (74.6±21.2 vs 69.1±16.5, P=0.002). Among physicians, global satisfaction with bDMARDs was higher than that with conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs). The multivariable regression analysis showed that age was positively associated with satisfaction of patients, while college or above education and selfassessment of disease severity were inversely associated with satisfaction. Treatment satisfaction was associated positively with the quality of communication with the physician and inversely with treatment costs. Conclusion: For bDMARDs, the treatment satisfaction of patients with RA is generally higher than that of physicians'. Physicians' satisfaction with bDMARDs is higher than with csDMARDs. Age, education, disease severity, communication with the physician, and treatment costs are independently associated with the treatment satisfaction among patients. Physician-patient communication should be improved in clinical practice. Treatment costs should be taken into account when physicians make decisions.

Assessment of Patient Satisfaction with Treatments for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Although most patients were satisfied in terms of side effects and convenience, 38.7% were dissatisfied with the effectiveness of the medical treatment, and for global satisfaction, 38.4% were dissatisfied. The score of treatment satisfaction in patients with COPD was significantly lower than that in patients with other diseases [30] [31] . The kinds of medicine therapy were not associated with patient global satisfaction of treatment, which is the same as previous study [32] .…”

Factors affecting patient satisfaction related to cost and treatment effectiveness in rheumatoid arthritis: results from the multicenter observational cohort study, FRANK Registry

“…According to several studies, disease activity influences treatment effectiveness and patient satisfaction, whereas treatment cost is an independent factor of treatment satisfaction [ 10 , 12 , 13 , 46 ]. High disease activity, in particular, reduces treatment satisfaction.…”

“…Thus, understanding patient satisfaction could lead to the overall improvement of RA treatment. Treatment satisfaction of patients with RA has reportedly been improved by the use of bDMARDs, low disease activity, and better communication with their physicians, whereas satisfaction was reduced by unfavorable treatment costs [ 12 , 13 ]. High treatment costs have been found to reduce patient satisfaction, but it is critical to further characterize patient satisfaction in terms of treatment effectiveness and cost separately following the T2T strategy and to eventually improve treatment adherence [ 14 – 17 ].…”

Factors Affecting Patient Satisfaction Related to Cost and Treatment Effectiveness in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results From the Multicenter Observational Cohort Study, FRANK Registry

“…As several reports have shown, disease activity in uences treatment effectiveness and patient satisfaction, while treatment cost is an independent factor of treatment satisfaction (10,12,13,38) 39), but continuous use of higher doses should be avoided due to risk of infection, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, thrombotic stroke, cardiovascular diseases, and death (40)(41)(42)(43). However, discontinuation of prednisolone has been achieved in only nearly half of 508 patients with early RA in recent study (39); the inability to taper prednisolone has been reported as one of the characteristics of di cult-to-treat RA (44).…”

“…Thus, understanding patient satisfaction could lead to the overall improvement of RA treatment. Treatment satisfaction of patients with RA has reportedly been improved by the use of bDMARDs, low disease activity, and better communication with their physicians, whereas satisfaction was reduced by unfavorable treatment costs (12,13).…”