Abstract
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often have difficulties adhering to their medical treatment plans. We determined the characteristics of patients with RA who used reminders and the association between reminders and adherence. A total of 201 patients with RA were asked the frequency of reminders use such as pill containers, calendars, or diaries. Patients completed self-reported adherence questionnaires, and their disease activity and functional ability were measured. Sixty-eight patients (34 %) reported using a reminder. Factors associated with reminder use were older age (yes-mean age 54 vs no-mean age 49, p = 0.004), race (Whites—54 % vs Blacks—30 % vs Hispanics—26 %, p = 0.003), and sex (males—50 % vs females 28 %, p = 0.005). Working patients were less likely to use reminders (employed—21 % vs unemployed—43 %, p = 0.006). Use of calendars was associated with adherence while away from home (ρ = 0.16, p = 0.03), when busy (ρ = 0.16, p = 0.03), and use of any reminder was associated with adherence when running out of pills (ρ = 0.15, p = 0.04). The use of calendar reminders was associated with fewer tender joints (ρ = −0.17, p = 0.02). Few patients with RA used reminders, and whites, males and patients of increasing age were most likely to use reminders. Our findings show that reminders can assist patients with RA in taking medications, particularly when they are most prone to forgetting, such as when they are away from home or busy. Providers should encourage using reminders as a low-cost aid to enhance adherence.
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Acknowledgments
We are grateful to Maria E. Suarez-Almazor, MD, PhD, from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Department of General Internal Medicine for providing the data for analysis in this study.
Author contributions
Dr. Lopez-Olivo had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity and the accuracy of the data analysis. Lopez-Olivo contributed to study concept and design, and supervision of the study.; Suarez-Almazor acquired data; Bruera, Barbo, and Lopez-Olivo analyzed and interpreted the data, and drafted and critically revised the manuscript; Statistical analysis was performed by Barbo; Suarez-Almazor obtained funding and provided administrative, technical, or material support.
Funding
The data for this analysis are part of a study supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS R01AR047858). Dr. Lopez-Olivo is the recipient of an investigator career award from the Rheumatology Research Foundation.
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
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S. Bruera declares that he has no conflict of interest. A. Barbo declares that she has no conflict of interest. M.A. Lopez-Olivo declares that she has no conflict of interest.
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Bruera, S., Barbo, A.G. & Lopez-Olivo, M.A. Use of medication reminders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatol Int 36, 1543–1548 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-016-3558-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-016-3558-4