Oregon Health & Science University|VA Portland Health Care System|University of California, San Francisco
objective rheumatoid arthritis ra patients adherence diseasemodifying antirheumatic drugs dmard often suboptimal examined associations among medication beliefs selfefficacy adherence medications ra methods data longitudinal observational cohort persons ra subjects completed telephone interviews selfreported adherence selfefficacy demographics beliefs medicines questionnaire bmq assesses beliefs necessity beliefs taking medication bivariate multivariate logistic regression identified correlates poor adherence synthetic dmard prednisone well biologic therapy including medication concerns necessity results 362 patients reported taking synthetic dmard andor prednisone 14 21 reported poor adherence oral dmard prednisone biologics respectively 64 reported concern taking medicines 81 longterm effects 47 becoming dependent medicines multivariate analyses bmq necessity score independently associated better adherence oral dmard prednisone adjusted 061 95 ci 041091 selfefficacy associated greater odds poor adherence oral medications adjusted 123 95 ci 101159 beliefs medicines selfefficacy associated adherence biologics conclusion diverse cohort patients ra stronger beliefs necessity medication associated better adherence oral dmard prednisone higher selfefficacy associated poor adherence providers play important roles eliciting patient beliefs medications improve adherence ultimately health outcomes