title: [How Japanese clinicians treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA): a survey at the 44th annual meeting of Japan Rheumatism Association in 2000].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To gain insight into the current management of RA in Japan, a survey was done at the 44th annual meeting of Japan Rheumatism Association in 2000.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred and ninety clinicians responded to our survey, including 212 internists and 252 orthopedists, respectively. In the management of RA, there was a wide difference between their present behaviors and the ideal way they believe. In particular, an appropriate communication between internists and orthopedists was lacking. There was a wide variation in their evaluations and prescribing behaviors. The treatment of RA in Japan turned out to be unique compared with those in the US and Europe. Prescriptions with little evidence were not unusual.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a great variation among Japanese clinicians in the management of RA. These results might be associated with poor outcomes of RA patients in Japan. Dissemination of information concerning the management of RA, such as guidelines, as well as the establishment of a better health care system is necessary.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama-city.
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: Midori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Misumi
authors.forename: Haruo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ideguchi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Atsuhisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Eri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hagiwara
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shirai
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: Tomihisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koshino
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishigatsubo
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires