Continued Participation in a Ten‐Year Tight Control Treat‐to‐Target Study in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Why Keep Patients Doing their Best?. Issue 6 (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Markusse, Iris M.; Dirven, Linda; Han, K. Huub; Ronday, H. Karel; Kerstens, Pit J. S. M.; Lems, Willem F.; Huizinga, Tom W. J.; Allaart, Cornelia F.
• Is Part Of: Arthritis care & research. Volume 67:Issue 6(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 739
• Page End: 745
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Arthritis -- Periodicals; Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.72
• DOI: 10.1002/acr.22540
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2151-464X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="acr22540-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To identify risk factors for early study termination and motivators for adherence to a long‐term followup trial and to improve completeness of long‐term studies.</p> </sec> <sec id="acr22540-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Risk factors for early termination in 508 included patients were identified through Cox regression analysis. Patients completing the 10‐year followup filled in a questionnaire on possible motives for continued study participation.</p> </sec> <sec id="acr22540-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Risk factors for early termination were higher age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.03, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.02–1.04), functional disability during the preceding year (HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.20–1.99), having achieved drug‐free remission (HR 6.62, 95% CI 2.07–21.14), limited joint damage (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97–0.995 for actual damage; HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.73–0.94 for damage progression), and few adverse events (HR 0.35, 95% CI 0.26–0.47). A total of 288 of 313 patients (92%) attending the last visit answered the questionnaire. The majority mentioned contributing to scientific research (97% agreed), helping other patients (91%), and learning about new treatment strategies (84%) and their disease (85%) as reasons to continue participation. Next, patients mentioned tight control (202 of 278 patients), good treatment strategy (128 of 278), good medication (117 of 278), and good half‐term results (102 of 278) as motivators. More than 95% of patients experienced participation "as expected" or "better than expected." Additional examinations during yearly visits (extra questionnaires, imaging) were mentioned as "worse than expected" (10%), as was answering routine questionnaires (7%).</p> </sec> <sec id="acr22540-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Continued participation was relatively high in the Treatment Strategies for Rheumatoid Arthritis (BeSt) Study. Higher age, functional disability, drug‐free remission, little joint damage, and few adverse events predicted early study termination. Main motives for continued participation were a willingness to contribute to research, help future patients, and because patients had good experiences with the study protocol.</p> </sec> </abstract>