Treatment satisfaction and associated factors among patients with rheumatoid arthritis in North West Ethiopia

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory joint condition that progressively becomes devastating. Patient satisfaction with treatment is a predictor of medication adherence. Not only this, but it also affects the correct use of medication. Findings in this area are insufficient and contradictory. Therefore, this study aimed to assess treatment satisfaction and associated factors among patients with rheumatoid arthritis in northwest Ethiopia in 2024. A multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted among 393 rheumatoid arthritis patients attending the rheumatoid follow-up clinic of five comprehensive specialized hospitals in northwest Ethiopia from June 21 to September 20, 2024. A systematic random sampling technique was used to collect data. The Treatment Satisfaction with Medicines Questionnaire was used to determine treatment satisfaction. Face-to-face interviews with respondents from selected hospitals were used to gather data. Multiple linear regression was done to identify associated factors. Statistical significance was declared as p-value < 0.05. 393 participants were included in the study. The mean age was 52.28 (SD, 13.43). Around 75.6% were female, and 56.5% were married. Around 42.7% of patients had moderate disease activity, and 53.9% had comorbidities. The overall scores of treatment satisfaction were 52.8 (SD, 10.5). Treatment satisfaction was negatively associated with not taking therapeutic education (β = - 0.14, 95% CI (- 6.12, - 1.54), p = 0.001), high disease activity (β = - 0.31, 95% CI (- 12.64, - 0.45), p = 0.035), unavailability of medication (β = - 0.13, 95% CI (- 6.22, - 1.09), p = 0.005), ≥ 5-year duration of disease (β = - 0.16, 95% CI (- 7.01, - 1.45), p = 0.003). The present study revealed that overall treatment satisfaction was good. Duration of disease, disease activity, unavailability of medication and therapeutic education were factors affecting treatment satisfaction. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize therapeutic education and medication availability for patients with extended disease durations and high disease activity to improve treatment satisfaction.