Use of mainstream nonpharmacologic treatment by patients with arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the use of nonpharmacologic treatment by patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
Patients were recruited from physicians' offices in Ontario, Canada. All participants completed questionnaires that asked about their health status, use of medications and nonpharmacologic treatments, and use of health care resources.


RESULTS
A total of 326 patients with OA and 253 patients with RA completed the survey on the use of nonpharmacologic treatment. Only 73% of patients with OA had been told to use nonpharmacologic modalities, but 98.8% had tried at least 1 type of treatment. About 97% of those with RA had been told to use and had tried at least 1 type of treatment. Most patients continued to use a treatment once they had tried it.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of nonpharmacologic modalities is common among patients with arthritis. It is important that clinicians address with their patients the appropriate use of and barriers to continuing these treatments.
Li
Linda C
LC
University Health Network and The Arthritis Society, Ontario Division, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. lli@allstream.net
Maetzel
Andreas
A
Pencharz
James N
JN
Maguire
Lyn
L
Bombardier
Claire
C
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy*; D001915:Braces / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000628:therapy*; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data