PMID- 24382276
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20140929
LR  - 20220318
IS  - 1756-185X (Electronic)
IS  - 1756-1841 (Linking)
VI  - 16
IP  - 6
DP  - 2013 Dec
TI  - Perceptions of methotrexate use in rheumatoid arthritis by rheumatologists and 
      their patients: an Australian survey study.
PG  - 652-61
LID - 10.1111/1756-185X.12183 [doi]
AB  - AIM: To improve treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), rheumatologists have 
      embraced patient-reported outcomes; however, limited data are available on 
      patient perceptions of treatment. Our objective was to assess the use and 
      perceptions of methotrexate (MTX) by patients with RA (primary objective) and 
      their rheumatologists, patient-reported adverse events (AEs) related to MTX, and 
      patient-reported use of alcohol, folic acid and biologic agents. METHOD: Each 
      rheumatologist completed a rheumatologist questionnaire and then asked patients 
      with RA to complete a patient questionnaire. RESULTS: Questionnaires were 
      completed by 46/50 rheumatologists and 1313/1313 patients. Patients (72% female, 
      38% > 10 years RA) took oral MTX regularly (72% never miss a dose) and at 
      therapeutic doses. Most patients (79%) were currently taking MTX, but 36% of 
      patients were on low doses (</= 10 mg/week) and 8% intentionally and regularly did 
      not take MTX. Most patients had a positive perception of MTX; 82% of patients 
      considered MTX to be important; 60% preferred to continue taking MTX. Although 
      AEs (generally mild and gastrointestinal) occurred regularly (38%) and in some 
      patients continuously (13%), 41% of patients did not experience an AE. Patients 
      abstained from alcohol (46%) and took folic acid (91%, but with variable dosage 
      regimens and doses). There were 29% of patients taking biologic agent therapy; 
      only 70% of these patients were also taking MTX. CONCLUSION: MTX was well used, 
      well tolerated and well perceived. However, to ensure that MTX therapy is as 
      effective as possible, rheumatologists should discuss MTX use with their patients 
      and consider alternative strategies for some patients.
CI  - (c) 2013 Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology and Wiley Publishing 
      Asia Pty Ltd.
FAU - Nash, Peter
AU  - Nash P
AD  - Department of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 
      Australia; Coast Joint Care, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia.
FAU - Nicholls, Dave
AU  - Nicholls D
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
DEP - 20131101
PL  - England
TA  - Int J Rheum Dis
JT  - International journal of rheumatic diseases
JID - 101474930
RN  - 0 (Antirheumatic Agents)
RN  - 0 (Biological Products)
RN  - 935E97BOY8 (Folic Acid)
RN  - YL5FZ2Y5U1 (Methotrexate)
SB  - IM
MH  - Aged
MH  - Alcohol Drinking/adverse effects
MH  - Antirheumatic Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use
MH  - Arthritis, Rheumatoid/diagnosis/*drug therapy
MH  - *Attitude of Health Personnel
MH  - Australia
MH  - Biological Products/therapeutic use
MH  - Drug Therapy, Combination
MH  - Female
MH  - Folic Acid/therapeutic use
MH  - Health Care Surveys
MH  - *Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
MH  - Humans
MH  - Male
MH  - Methotrexate/adverse effects/*therapeutic use
MH  - Middle Aged
MH  - Patient Preference
MH  - Patients/*psychology
MH  - *Perception
MH  - Physicians/*psychology
MH  - *Rheumatology
MH  - Surveys and Questionnaires
MH  - Treatment Outcome
OTO - NOTNLM
OT  - arthritis rheumatoid
OT  - methotrexate
OT  - patient preferences
OT  - survey health
EDAT- 2014/01/03 06:00
MHDA- 2014/09/30 06:00
CRDT- 2014/01/03 06:00
PHST- 2014/01/03 06:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2014/01/03 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2014/09/30 06:00 [medline]
AID - 10.1111/1756-185X.12183 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Int J Rheum Dis. 2013 Dec;16(6):652-61. doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.12183. Epub 2013 
      Nov 1.