title: Adherence and satisfaction of rheumatoid arthritis patients with a long-term intensive dynamic exercise program (RAPIT program).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate adherence and satisfaction of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a long-term intensive dynamic exercise program.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 146 RA patients started an intensive (strength and endurance training for 75 minutes, twice a week, for 2 years) exercise program (Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients In Training) aimed at improving physical fitness. Program attendance and satisfaction were examined. Additional assessments at baseline were done to find possible predictors of attendance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median (interquartile range) age and disease duration of the patients were 54 (45-61) and 5 (3-10) years, respectively. After 2 years, 118 (81%) patients still participated in an exercise class. The median attendance rate of all patients was 74%. Low attendance was weakly associated with high disease activity, low functional ability, and low quality of life at baseline but not with the severity of joint damage at baseline. At the end, 78% of all participants would (strongly) recommend the program to other RA patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adherence and satisfaction of RA patients with an intensive dynamic exercise program over a prolonged time can be high. Disease severity parameters do not strongly predict the compliance of participants in an intensive exercise program.
authors.affiliation: Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Munneke
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: Aeilko H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Zwinderman
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: H Karel
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Ronday
authors.forename: Wilfred F H
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: Dies C G
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Boonman
authors.forename: Cornelia H M
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: van den Ende
authors.forename: Theodora P M
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Vliet Vlieland
authors.forename: Johanna M W
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hazes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome