Ab1416 the Effect of Information Sources on Biological Treatments in Rheumatology Patients on Patient’s Anxiety Level and Drug Decision

Background: Although biological therapies are frequently used in rheumatology practice, some potential side effects increase anxiety levels in patients. Information from various sources may positively or negatively affect this level of anxiety and the decision to approve the drug [1]. Objectives: In our study, we aimed to determine the effect of information sources about biological therapy on patients' treatment decisions and anxiety levels; and to determine patients' expectations in this regard. Methods: 91 patients aged 18-65 years using biological therapy for rheumatic disease were included in our study. Questions were asked about the sources of information about the biological therapy, the factors influencing positive and negative thinking about the therapy, the level of anxiety before and after the therapy for each side effect, and the preferred methods of education about the therapy (Figure 1). Results: At baseline and after treatment initiation, the mean overall anxiety score was 4.8±3.0, median 5.0 (IQR 2.0-7.0) and 2.75±1.8, median 2.0 (IQR 1.0-4.0), respectively (p<0.00001). There was no correlation between anxiety level and age and education level. Anxiety levels for each side effect (cancer, drug duration, drug access concerns, tuberculosis, infection, self-injection, death, neurological side effects, and allergy anxieties) decreased statistically significantly after the initiation of treatment compared to pretreatment (p<0.0001). The two most common causes of anxiety were cancer and uncertainty about how long the drugs would be used, which were significantly higher than other causes of anxiety (p=0.003) (Figure 2). Conclusion: In our study, side effect anxiety, which was high at the beginning of treatment, decreased significantly after starting treatment. We found that cancer is the primary cause of anxiety, that today's various sources of information are preferred by patients at a low rate, and that an effective dialogue with their physicians is the most critical factor in drug compliance [2,3]. REFERENCES: [1] Pehlivan, Yavuz, et al. "Patients' concerns regarding biological agents in rheumatology." International journal of rheumatic diseases 21.6 (2018). [2] Choi IA, Kim JH, Hae Chang S, et al. Patient perspectives on biological treatments for inflammatory arthritis: A multi-center study in Korea. Arch Rheumatol. 2021. [3] Sidiropoulos P, Bounas A, Athanassiou P, Koutsianas C, Petrikkou E, Kaltsonoudis E, Drosos A, Vassilopoulos D. Correlation of patient preferences to treatment outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tumour necrosis factor inhibitors in Greece. Clin Rheumatol. 2020 Dec;39(12):3643-3652. DOI: 10.1007/s10067-020-05171-8. Epub 2020 May 26. Acknowledgements: NIL. Disclosure of Interests: None declared.