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Rheumatology Advance Access originally published online on April 27, 2004
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Rheumatology 2004; 43: 901-905
Rheumatology Vol. 43 No. 7 © British Society for Rheumatology 2004; all rights reserved

Paper

Perceptions of the risks and benefits of medicines in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other painful musculoskeletal conditions

D. Berry1, A. Bradlow2 and E. Bersellini1

1 School of Psychology, University of Reading and 2 Department of Rheumatology, Royal Berks and Battle Hospitals Trust, Reading, UK.

Correspondence to: D. Berry, Pro-Vice-Chancellor's Office, Whiteknights House, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AH, UK.

Objectives. To examine beliefs about medication risks and benefits in patients attending a specialist rheumatology clinic for pain-related conditions.

Methods. Eighty-one patients (37 first attendees and 44 existing clinic patients) completed a written questionnaire which asked about current treatments, perceived effectiveness, main risks and benefits, and compliance.

Results. Existing clinic patients perceived medications to be more effective and more risky than did the new patients, although both groups rated risks to be moderately low. The main perceived risks were adverse side-effects, although patients reported only moderately low levels of experiencing such effects.

Conclusions. In contrast to some other studies, many of our patients were aware of medication risks and were prepared to accept them provided benefits were seen to be high. Existing clinic patients were more aware of risks and benefits, and reported higher compliance levels than new patients, possibly as a result of the hospital education programme. Future studies should evaluate the effects of the programme more systematically.

KEY WORDS: Medication risks, Medication benefits, Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, Pain, Compliance, Patient education


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