AB1396 MULTICENTER QUALITATIVE STUDY ON THE EXPERIENCE OF USE OF BIOLOGIC AND TARGETED SYNTHETIC DISEASE-MODIFYING DRUGS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASES. WHAT DO OUR PATIENTS THINK?

BackgroundThe development of targeted biologic (bDMARDs) and targeted synthetic disease-modifying drugs (tsDMARDS) has made a substantial change in the control of our patients, and has allowed an increasing number of patients to achieve clinical remission.ObjectivesTo gain understanding of patients’ experiences of starting treatment with b/tsDMARDs, and explore their attitudes in order to improve the doctor-patient relationship, adherence to treatment, compliance, and knowledge about the experience of using b/tsDMARDs.MethodsA qualitative study was carried out. A consecutive sample of 130 patients attended in the rheumatology units of four Madrid hospitals, from August 29th, 2021 to January 21st, 2022 completed a questionnaire that consisted of 31 questions, a subsequent qualitative analysis of discourse and content through focus groups with patients was carried out. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Chi-squared tests were applied to explore the dependency relationship between the different qualitative variables.ResultsOne hundred and thirty questionnaires were collected (see general characteristics in the Table 1).Table 1.Baseline demographics.Sex, n (%)96 female (73.85%), 34 male (26.15%)Age, years, mean (SD)51,62±12.31 yearsEthnicity/race, n(%)74.6% White or Caucasian22.3% Hispanic or Latino2.3% Asiatic0.8% Black or African AmericanDiagnosis, (%)42.4% rheumatoid arthritis25.3% axial spondyloarthritis10% psoriatic arthritis6.9% connective tissue diseases15.4 % otherTime since diagnosis (years), mean (SD)14,7 years (+/-11,43)Time since initiation of treatment with b/tsDMARDs (years), mean (SD)5,84 years (+/-4,28)Most of the patients (68.46%) felt hope when they were informed that they were going to start treatment with b/tsDMARDs, 26.9% relief, 22.3% happiness and 27.7% fear and concern. 76% of the patients received information about why the treatment was modified, the advantages of b/tsDMARDs (60%), their mechanism of action (48.5%) and the precautions to be aware of (38.5 %). Fifty-two percent of the respondents searched for additional information on their own, with the most used sources being from internet search engines (34.2%), the corresponding drug insert (22.8%) and the page of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology (23.7%).60% of the respondents were informed about the possible risks associated with the treatment, 49.4% reported being more concerned when they contracted an infection. Most of the patients were recommended to receive influenza (81.5%) and pneumococcal (69.2%) vaccination, of which 74.6% and 54.6% received those respectively. A statistically significant dependence was observed between the recommendation of the vaccine and vaccination, since most (91,5%) of those who received the recommendation were vaccinated (p<0.001). Most of the respondents kept their scheduled appointments (87.3%) and never forgot to take their medication (37.04%).51% of the patients reported that with b/tsDMARDs they had experienced “considerable improvement”, 38.5% indicated that “their life has changed”, 10% reported little or no improvement. It was observed that men reported a maximum degree of improvement with a significantly higher frequency than women (77% vs 37% respectively), OR 5.79 (p <0.009, IC 95% 1.42, 23.67). To the question “In which aspects have you noticed the greatest changes?” the respondents answered: reduction in outbreaks of the disease (67%), emotional improvement (38.6%) and regaining work activity (31.8%).ConclusionIn our setting, education programs inform patients adequately, but it seems necessary to make a greater emphasis on therapeutic compliance, providing more safety information, and compliance to recommended vaccinations.References[1]Arkell P, et al. Patient experiences, attitudes and expectations towards receiving information about anti-TNF medication—“it could give me two heads and I’d still try it!” BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2013;10:165. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-14-165Disclosure of InterestsNone declared