title: Follow-up standards and treatment targets in rheumatoid arthritis: results of a questionnaire at the EULAR 2008.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Therapeutic approaches to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have undergone significant changes. The importance of tight control and early treatment, rapidly altered if goals are not achieved, is supported by evidence. However, it is unknown to what extent these insights are accepted by practitioners in clinical practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To obtain information about standard follow-up and treatment practices, and rheumatologists' aims in the care of patients with RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey conducted at the 2008 EULAR Congress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most specialists, who were mainly from Europe and Latin America, were well-informed about recent concepts: two-thirds specified remission as a major goal. The experts attempted to reach treatment aims within 12-14 weeks, altering treatment otherwise. Disease activity assessment by composite measures is performed by a majority, although one-third preferentially relied upon their judgment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest the acceptance of ambitious treatment concepts in practice. Although voluntary surveys have limitations, the answers reflect widespread adoption of desirable standards of care.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Medicine, Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, Hietzing Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schoels
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aletaha
authors.forename: Josef S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Smolen
authors.forename: Johannes W J
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bijlsma
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burmester
authors.forename: Ferdinand C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Breedveld
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cutolo
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Combe
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dougados
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Emery
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kalden
authors.forename: Edward C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Keystone
authors.forename: Tore K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kvien
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martin-Mola
authors.forename: Carlomaurizio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montecucco
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Wit
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000592:standards*