Patients’ satisfaction with treatment using anti rheumatic drugs, and their adherence to medication: A non interventional, cross sectional study among some Chinese outpatients

Abstract

Purpose: To determine satisfaction with treatment and adherence to medication amongst Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
 Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 398 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who filled out questionnaire during outpatient consultation. The Chinese version of the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (C-TSQM-II) was used to evaluate treatment satisfaction, while the Chinese Compliance Questionnaire for Rheumatology (threshold ≤ 80) and the medication possession ratio (MPR) were used for the assessment of adherence to medication.
 Results: In all medications, treatment satisfaction was higher in the mild subgroup and the moderate subgroup than in the severe subgroup (p < 0.05). Treatment satisfaction scores with respect to biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) were significantly lower in patients in the severe subgroup than in those in the moderate subgroup, with respect to convenience and global satisfaction (p < 0.05). Moreover, for bDMARDs therapies, treatment satisfaction was higher in the moderate subgroup than in the severe subgroup in all four areas examined (p < 0.05). The Chinese Compliance Questionnaire score showed that 156 patients (39 %) were adherent to medication, while 242 patients (61 %) were not. Results from MPR indicate that 310 patients (78 %) were adherent to medication, while 68 patients (22 %) were not. In the mild group, 96.5 % of patients were adherent to all medications, and 94.4 % were adherent to bDMARDs. 
 Conclusion: Patients were most likely unable to distinguish amongst disease progression, disease-induced damage, and other causes of pain or discomfort. Treatment satisfaction and medication adherence were higher in patients with mild rheumatoid arthritis.