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Patients’ concerns regarding biological agents in rheumatology
Author(s) -
Pehlivan Yavuz,
Orucoglu Nurdan,
Pehlivan Seda,
Kimyon Gezmis,
Zengin Orhan,
Kucuk Adem,
Sahin Ali,
Tomas Nazmiye,
Oksuz Mustafa Ferhat,
Kisacik Bunyamin,
Akar Servet,
Onat Ahmet Mesut,
Dalkilic Ediz
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of rheumatic diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1756-185X
pISSN - 1756-1841
DOI - 10.1111/1756-185x.13319
Subject(s) - medicine , anxiety , concordance , drug , rheumatology , trait anxiety , psychiatry
Objective The potential side effects of biological agents may increase the anxiety levels of patients and influence not only their desire to use these therapies but also their concordance to treatment. This study aimed to determine the level and prevalence of drug‐related concern in patients treated with biological agents and to acquire additional information regarding the related causes. Materials and Methods A total of 1134 patients who were using biological agents for at least 3 months with a diagnosis of rheumatic diseases were enrolled. General anxiety levels were evaluated using the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results The most common cause for drug‐related concerns was the potential side effects of the drugs (59.5%). Among the potential side effects, cancer risk was the most common cause for concern (40.1%), followed by the risk of tuberculosis activation (30.7%). Anxiety levels were higher in patients who experienced side effects than in other patients, and this difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.05). STAI trait and state scores were moderately correlated with anxiety levels related to the drug ( P < 0.001). Conclusion Anxiety related to biological agents may significantly affect the patients’ anxiety levels. Awareness regarding the patients’ concerns and expectations related to the drug is important to ensure drug adherence and concordance to treatment.