title: Emerging issues in pharmacological management of rheumatoid arthritis: results of a national needs assessment survey identifying practice variations for the development of Canadian Rheumatology Association clinical practice recommendations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe Canadian clinical practice patterns in the pharmacological management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and identify practice variations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 44-item pre-guideline needs assessment survey was sent to all members of the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize respondent characteristics and practice patterns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survey respondents (n = 164) reported variations in practice regarding assessment strategies, treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drug monotherapy versus combination therapy, methotrexate dosing and escalation, corticosteroid strategies, and optimal use of biologics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Practice variations identified in this pre-guideline needs assessment survey were used to formulate key treatment questions for the development of CRA recommendations.
authors: Mount Sinai Hospital, Rebecca MacDonald Centre for Arthritis and Autoimmune Diseases, Toronto, ON M5T 3L9, Canada. vbykerk@mtsinai.on.ca
authors: Vivian P
authors: VP
authors: Bykerk
authors: Orit
authors: O
authors: Schieir
authors: Pooneh
authors: P
authors: Akhavan
authors: Glen S
authors: GS
authors: Hazlewood
authors: Carly K
authors: CK
authors: Cheng
authors: Claire
authors: C
authors: Bombardier
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents