Patient perspectives in gout: a review.

Abstract

Recent studies have produced evidence regarding the patient perspectives in gout including from disease experience to disease outcomes. Therefore, an overview on the topic can help improve our understanding of the patient experience. This article explores several aspects of the patient perspective including the impact of gout on a patient's life, patient knowledge and beliefs regarding gout and its treatments, patient-perceived barriers to optimal medication adherence in gout and patient's perception of their gout. This article also summarizes any evidence of the association of patient perceptions to patient outcomes in gout. A recognition of patient perspectives in gout has the potential to positively impact clinical care for gout. Discussion of disease impact, misperceptions about benefits/harms of urate-lowering therapy (ULT), and patient values/preferences regarding pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments can lead to a better shared decision-making and improved outcomes in gout. These findings emphasize the importance of inclusion of patient perspective not only in clinical care and quality improvement and research initiatives but also in the design and implementation of the research agenda in gout. Inclusion of patient-reported outcomes in clinical research is likely to improve its relevance to patients with gout.