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What factors determine patients’ preference for tumour necrosis factor inhibitors in ankylosing spondylitis?

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Abstract

Tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) therapy, either intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SQ), demonstrates similar efficacy in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The objective of this study was to examine factors influencing patient preference of TNFi. Fifty-nine (79.7%) participants were male with mean age 43.9 years and disease duration of 22.0 years. Fifty-nine patients (79.7%) agreed with the statement ‘My doctor gave me a choice and I made a decision based on my personal preference’. Patients commenced first on IV TNFi most commonly cited reduced frequency of injections (96.6%), administration by a trained professional (89.7%) and use of infusion time for leisure activities (86.2%). Patients commenced on SQ TNFi cited flexibility with timing of treatment (80%), shortened administration time (73.3%) and the convenience of home therapy (73.3%). Shared clinical decision-making between clinicians and patients may be desirable for AS patients commencing TNFi therapy.

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Acknowledgement

Grant support for this study was provided by Schering-Plough Pty Ltd. Schering-Plough neither participated in the conception and design, execution, analysis and interpretation of data nor in the drafting and revising of the article.

Conflict of interest

Dr. Lionel Schachna has received grant support from Schering-Plough Pty Ltd, Wyeth and Abbott Australasia. The other authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia

    Dessy W. Fajri, Russell R. C. Buchanan & Lionel Schachna

  2. Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Evaluation Unit, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

    Caroline A. Brand

  3. The Centre for Research Excellence in Patient Safety, Monash University, Prahran, Victoria, Australia

    Caroline A. Brand

  4. Centre for MEGA Epidemiology, Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia

    Shyamali C. Dharmage

  5. Austin Spondylitis Clinic, Austin Health, P.O. Box 5555, Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084, Australia

    Belinda J. Martin & Lionel Schachna

Authors
  1. Dessy W. Fajri
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  2. Caroline A. Brand
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  3. Shyamali C. Dharmage
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  4. Belinda J. Martin
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  5. Russell R. C. Buchanan
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  6. Lionel Schachna
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Correspondence to Lionel Schachna.

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Fajri, D.W., Brand, C.A., Dharmage, S.C. et al. What factors determine patients’ preference for tumour necrosis factor inhibitors in ankylosing spondylitis?. Clin Rheumatol 28, 599–602 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-009-1104-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-009-1104-4

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