title: Impact of rheumatoid arthritis in Turkey: a questionnaire study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Unmet needs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients regarding physician/patient communication, treatment preferences and quality of life issues were investigated in a Turkish survey study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted with the contribution of 33 rheumatologists, and included 519 RA patients. The study population included patients who had been on biologic therapy for >6 months and were still receiving biologic therapy (BT group), and those who were biologic naive, but found eligible for biologic treatment (NBT group). Of the RA patients, 35.5% initially had a visit to an internal disease specialist, 25.5% to a physical therapy and rehabilitation specialist, and 12.2% to a rheumatology specialist for their RA complaints. The diagnosis of RA was made by a rheumatologist in 48.2% of patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of RA patients (86.3%) visit their doctor within 15-week intervals. Most of the physician-patient communication focused on disease symptoms (99.0%) and impact of the disease on quality of life (61.8%). The proportion of RA patients who perceived their health status as good/very good/excellent was higher in the BT group than in the NBT group (74.3% vs. 51.5%, p<0.001). However, of those RA patients in the NBT group, only 24.8% have been recommended to start a biologic treatment by their doctors. With respect to dose frequency options, once-monthly injections were preferred (80%) to a bi-weekly injection schedule (8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, RA patients receiving biologic therapy reported higher rates of improved symptoms and better quality of life and seemed to be more satisfied with their treatment in our study.
authors: Department of Rheumatology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey. hanerdireskeneli@gmail.com.
authors: Haner
authors: H
authors: Direskeneli
authors: Nurullah
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authors: Akkoç
authors: Cemal
authors: C
authors: Bes
authors: Necati
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authors: Cakir
authors: Ayse
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authors: Cefle
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authors: Cobankara
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authors: Dalkilic
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authors: Dinc
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authors: Ertenli
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authors: Vedat
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authors: Inanc
authors: Umut
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authors: Kalyoncu
authors: Yasar
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authors: Karaaslan
authors: Timucin
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authors: Kasifoglu
authors: Gokhan
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authors: Keser
authors: Goksal
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authors: Keskin
authors: Bunyamin
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authors: Kisacik
authors: Sedat
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authors: Kiraz
authors: Seval
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authors: Masatlioglu
authors: Ahmet M
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authors: Suleymen
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authors: Ozbek
authors: Mehmet A
authors: MA
authors: Ozturk
authors: Omer N
authors: ON
authors: Pamuk
authors: Salih
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authors: Pay
authors: Timur
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authors: Pirildar
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Sayarlioglu
authors: Soner
authors: S
authors: Senel
authors: Taskin
authors: T
authors: Senturk
authors: Demet
authors: D
authors: Tasan
authors: Ender
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authors: Terzioglu
authors: Ayten
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authors: Yazici
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authors: Yucel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003142:Communication; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D057240:Patient Preference; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D001688:Biological Products