Adherence, Fears, and Beliefs About Biologic Drugs in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A North African Pilot Study

Overview

Journal Mediterr J Rheumatol

Date 2025 Jan 31

PMID 39886288

Authors

Soumaya Boussaid

Emna Hannech

Sonia Rekik

Safa Rahmouni

Khaoula Zouaoui

Maissa Abbes

Hela Sahli

Mohamed Elleuch

Helmi Ben Saad

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the impact of beliefs in adherence to biologic drugs among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, including RA patients who were on biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). Therapeutic adherence was evaluated arbitrarily using a self-reported method by asking them the following question: "Do you regul arly take your biologic drug as prescribed by your doctor?". The Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) was used to evaluate medication beliefs [general overuse, general harm, specific necessity, specific concerns].

Results: Seventy-five RA patients were included (80.0% females, 33.3% illiterate, and 68.0% unemployed, mean age: 57±9 years, mean disease activity score: 3.94±1.32). Adherence to the current biologic drug was reported by 71 patients (94.7%). The means ± standard deviation scores for general overuse, general harm, specific necessity, and specific concerns were 14.0±2.4, 10.8±4.4, 20.6±5.7, and 10.3±3.3, respectively. Compared to the adherent group (n=71), the non-adherent group (n=4) had a lower specific necessity score (21.0±5.4 vs. 13.5±7.5, respectively, p=0.009), a higher specific concern score (10.1±3.13 vs. 15.0±2.8, respectively, p=0.036), and similar scores for general overuse and general harm (10.0±2.3 vs. 9.5±1.9, p=0600; 13.3±4.4 vs. 11.5±4.1, p=0.400, respectively). In logistic regression, specific necessity and specific concerns scores were significantly associated with adherence (Odds-ratio (OR)= 0.855, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.726-1.006], and 1.438, 95% CI [1.004-1.980], respectively).

Conclusion: Our study showed that RA patients have strong beliefs about the necessity to take biologic drugs which significantly influence the adherent behaviour therapy.

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