Background/Purpose: To explore the perceptions of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), and osteoporosis (OP) regarding their preferred delivery methods for obtaining treatment information
Methods: Six focus groups and 18 cognitive interviews were conducted with patients recruited from publicly funded clinics (1 per disease in English and Spanish) and 2 focus groups and 4 cognitive interviews to rheumatologists. In general, patients had low health literacy and were multiethnic. Patients with RA were at least 18 years old and had a diagnosis of RA; patients with OA were 50 or older and had a diagnosis of knee OA (unilateral or bilateral). We included only female patients with OP that were at least 50 years old and at least 3 years post-menopausal.
Results:
Content analyses revealed that the preferred media for patients obtaining treatment information were a) passive sources, (i.e., TV and DVDs) and b) active sources (i.e., workshops and classes). The preferred messengers were patients affected by the disease and physicians (specifically rheumatologists). Real life stories and testimonials narrating both successful outcomes with treatment adherence and complications of no adherence were preferred. There was discrepancy by the best method to receive information between patients and providers. Physicians stated that the preferred delivery method to provide information was written material (brochures, booklets and pamphlets). There were diverse perspectives about the key treatment messages to share with people with these conditions. The 3 key messages preferred by most patients and physicians were: 1) understanding the condition, 2) complications of non-adherence, and 3) side-effects.
Conclusion: The methods, key messages, and messengers identified in this study illustrate the need of combined efforts from consumer organizations and health providers for more adequate ways to effectively deliver treatment information to individuals with lower levels of education experiencing these chronic conditions.
Disclosure:
M. A. Lopez-Olivo,
None;
R. Volk,
None;
M. Jibaja-Weiss,
None;
M. E. Suarez-Almazor,
None.
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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/preferred-strategies-for-delivering-treatment-information-to-people-with-rheumatoid-arthritis-osteoarthritis-and-osteoporosis/