BRIDGING SATISFACTION AND TREATMENT ADHERENCE IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: REAL-WORLD EVIDENCE OF PRIMARY AND SPECIALIZED CARE
Author(s)
Carolina Becerra, MSc1, Medicarte Gerardo Rojas, Sr., MSc, MD2, Oscar Felipe, MD2, Yesith Toloza, MSc3, Jorge Donado, MSc, MD2, NATALIA ANDREA DUQUE, MSc2.
1Medicarte, Bucaramanga, Colombia, 2Medicarte, Medellin, Colombia, 3Medicarte, Bogota, Colombia.
1Medicarte, Bucaramanga, Colombia, 2Medicarte, Medellin, Colombia, 3Medicarte, Bogota, Colombia.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relation between patient satisfaction, treatment adherence and disease activity among patients with RA at Medicarte, a center for immune-mediated diseases in Colombia
METHODS: retrospective cohort study of patients with RA, in a multidisciplinary program from 2023-2026 in 15 cities of Colombia. Patient satisfaction was evaluated randomly through a monthly structured Computer-Assisted Telephone Interview conducted by an external market research company, covering access, infrastructure, clinical assessment, administrative processes, communication, loyalty, and humanization. Clinical outcome was the Disease Activity Score-28 (CRP/ESR-DAS28). Patients with prescription drug claims for synthetic and biological drugs, either oral or subcutaneous, until the fifth day of the scheduled date, were classified as adherents monthly. Variables were described as follows: quantitative variables were summarized using the median and interquartile range, and qualitative ones using frequencies and percentages. Statistical differences were evaluated using a p-value<0.05 using the Kruskal-Wallis test.
RESULTS: 365 patients were included, with a median age of 62 years (54-69), 88.5% (n=323) women, with 11.4 years of disease evolution (6.4-19.3) and follow-up time of 3.8 years (2.1-7.99). The median satisfaction score (range 1 for very bad to 5 for very good) was 5, with 94.2% between 4 and 5, while for adherence was 90.9% (77.8%-100%). For satisfaction measures, there was a linear relationship between trust in the rheumatologist and the language used during the attention, as well as between the language and the information given by the rheumatologist, although these were not statistically significant. Adherence was higher for higher satisfaction scores, while for DAS28, it was a slight increase, although not statistically significant. Accordingly, lower DAS28 measures are related to higher adherence and more satisfied patients.
CONCLUSIONS: patients´ satisfaction is related to lower disease activity and higher treatment adherence in a real-world clinical setting. Evaluating potentially associated factors could enhance patient experience and clinical outcomes
METHODS: retrospective cohort study of patients with RA, in a multidisciplinary program from 2023-2026 in 15 cities of Colombia. Patient satisfaction was evaluated randomly through a monthly structured Computer-Assisted Telephone Interview conducted by an external market research company, covering access, infrastructure, clinical assessment, administrative processes, communication, loyalty, and humanization. Clinical outcome was the Disease Activity Score-28 (CRP/ESR-DAS28). Patients with prescription drug claims for synthetic and biological drugs, either oral or subcutaneous, until the fifth day of the scheduled date, were classified as adherents monthly. Variables were described as follows: quantitative variables were summarized using the median and interquartile range, and qualitative ones using frequencies and percentages. Statistical differences were evaluated using a p-value<0.05 using the Kruskal-Wallis test.
RESULTS: 365 patients were included, with a median age of 62 years (54-69), 88.5% (n=323) women, with 11.4 years of disease evolution (6.4-19.3) and follow-up time of 3.8 years (2.1-7.99). The median satisfaction score (range 1 for very bad to 5 for very good) was 5, with 94.2% between 4 and 5, while for adherence was 90.9% (77.8%-100%). For satisfaction measures, there was a linear relationship between trust in the rheumatologist and the language used during the attention, as well as between the language and the information given by the rheumatologist, although these were not statistically significant. Adherence was higher for higher satisfaction scores, while for DAS28, it was a slight increase, although not statistically significant. Accordingly, lower DAS28 measures are related to higher adherence and more satisfied patients.
CONCLUSIONS: patients´ satisfaction is related to lower disease activity and higher treatment adherence in a real-world clinical setting. Evaluating potentially associated factors could enhance patient experience and clinical outcomes
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
PCR173
Topic
Clinical Outcomes, Patient-Centered Research, Real World Data & Information Systems
Disease
Biologics & Biosimilars, Musculoskeletal Disorders (Arthritis, Bone Disorders, Osteoporosis, Other Musculoskeletal), No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas