title: Monthly or weekly bisphosphonate? Evaluation of satisfaction in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis using OPSAT-Q questionnaire during the BOOSTER study in Croatia.
abstract: A prospective, open-labelled, multicentre 6-month study was designed to assess three categories that have high impact on Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QoL). These categories were: satisfaction, preference and drug tolerability in postmenopausal patients with osteoporosis in Croatia, at first treated with weekly oral bisphosphonates, followed by monthly oral ibandronate. Three hundred eighty-five postmenopausal women who were treated with one of the weekly bisphosphonates for at least 6 months were included into the study and after they had signed written informed consent, the therapy was changed to monthly ibandronate. Satisfaction with the treatment was assessed with the Osteoporosis Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (OPSAT-Q). Patients completed OPSAT-Q at the baseline visit before the change of therapy (visit 1) and 6 months after the change of therapy (visit 2). Following 6 months ibandronate therapy, the values in all four domains of the OPSAT-Q (convenience, confidence with daily activities, overall satisfaction, side effects) as well as in the Composite Satisfaction Score were higher in visit 2 (p < 0.001). Values in subjects enrolled into the patient assistance programme did not differ significantly from the values in subjects that were not (p = 0.399) except for the domain convenience (p = 0.026). This study demonstrates significantly higher satisfaction in patients who switched from the weekly bisphosphonate therapy regimen to monthly ibandronate in all observed aspects of treatment. Patients expressed preference for monthly bisphosphonate (ibandronate) in comparison with weekly bisphosphonates and found it to be a more convenient method of treatment. At the time of study, however, it was not known that the anti-fracture effect of ibandronate was smaller for hip fractures than with other bisphosphonates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Rheumatology, University Hospital Split, School of Medicine in Split, Marmontova 4, 21000 Split, Croatia. tonko.vlak@st.t-com.hr
authors.forename: Tonko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vlak
authors.forename: Darko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaštelan
authors.forename: Petar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lozo
authors.forename: Jure
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aljinović
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gradišer
authors.forename: Sime
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mijić
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nikolić
authors.forename: Blaženka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Miškić
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Car
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tajšić
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dušek
authors.forename: Zrinka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jajić
authors.forename: Frane
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grubišić
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Poljičanin
authors.forename: Miro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bakula
authors.forename: Feđa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Džubur
authors.forename: Matilda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strižak-Ujević
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kadojić
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radman
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vugrinec
authors.forename: Zeljka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kuster
authors.forename: Marijeta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pekez
authors.forename: Endi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Radović
authors.forename: Ljubica
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Labar
authors.forename: Zeljka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Crnčević-Orlić
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koršić
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D017523:Croatia; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077557:Ibandronic Acid; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D000077557:Ibandronic Acid