Cross-sectional study of self-care safety skills in 677 patients on biodrugs for inflammatory joint disease

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2014.04.010
• Publication Date: 2014-06-23T12:47:20Z
• Authors: Dominique Orefice; Catherine Beauvais; Laure Gossec; Elisabeth Flipon; Bruno Fautrel; Laurent Marguerie; Henri Nataf; Béatrice Pallot P...; Rose Marie Poilverd; Valérie Royant; Fatiha Sadji; Christelle Sordet; Corinne Thevenot; Anne-Christine Rat
• Keywords: Inflammatory joint disease; Adult; Male; 610; MESH: Arthritis; Therapeutic patient education; 03 medical and health sciences; MESH: Cross-Sectional Studies; 0302 clinical medicine; 616; Humans; Aged; MESH: Aged; MESH: Humans; MESH: Middle Aged; MESH: Chronic Disease; Skills; Arthritis; Quality of care; MESH: Adult; Middle Aged; MESH: Male; 3. Good health; Biological Therapy; Self Care; Cross-Sectional Studies; MESH: Patient Safety; [SDV.SPEE] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Santé publique et épidémiologie; MESH: Self Care; Chronic Disease; [SDV.SPEE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Santé publique et épidémiologie; Biodrugs; Female; Patient Safety; MESH: Biological Therapy; MESH: Female

Biodrugs carry specific risks that patients must be aware of and capable of managing. Until now, few studies have addressed the self-care safety skills of patients taking biodrugs. The primary objective of this study was to describe the self-care safety skills of patients taking biodrugs for chronic inflammatory joint disease.We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey. To obtain the most representative sample possible of patients taking biodrugs, we selected rheumatologists at random from the directory of the French Society for Rheumatology (SFR). Each rheumatologist was to include 5 consecutive patients receiving biodrugs. The BioSecure questionnaire was used to collect information on patient self-care safety skills.Of the 677 included patients, with a mean age of 53 years, 33% were males, 62% had rheumatoid arthritis, and 47% had previously received a therapeutic patient education (TPE) session. The median BioSecure score (percentage of correctly answered items) was 73% (interquartile range, 60-82). The dimensions with the lowest scores were the symptoms requiring a physician visit (median, 75), vaccinations (median, 75), contraception (median, 50), and subcutaneous biodrugs (median, 68). The replies to theoretical items (assessing knowledge) and those to problem-case items (assessing adaptive skills) were discordant.This study provides concrete data of use for improving the information and TPE of patients taking biodrugs. Skills regarding the symptoms that require a physician visit, vaccinations, contraception, and subcutaneous treatments need to be improved. Interesting information can be obtained by simultaneously testing knowledge and coping.