Video program engages patients in treat-to-target concept

MADRID – A video-based educational program on the goals of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is showing promise as a tool to engage patients in their own care, according to data generated from a randomized trial.

One of the major goals of the video program is to inform patients about the treat-to-target concept of RA management, explained Maria I. Danila, MD, a rheumatologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Although physicians know this to be a guiding tenet for RA management, she explains in this video interview that 50% or more of patients are unaware of this therapeutic goal.

For patients who resist treatment escalation for fear of side effects, this lack of awareness might provide one explanation for failing to adhere to guideline-recommended therapy, Dr. Danila said at the European Congress of Rheumatology. She believes that patients need more information about the potential for treatment escalation to improve function.

To address this issue, a short video was developed to explain the treat-to-target concept. It was then tested in a randomized trial. Those who viewed the video expressed greater willingness to change intervention on the advice of their rheumatologist relative to those who did not (P = 0.01).

Further studies are planned, including studies to test whether willingness to escalate treatment results in better outcomes and whether linking patient behavioral goals such as being able to play golf again will enhance treatment adherence. Dr. Danila envisions wide distribution of this video if further studies demonstrate that it helps patients cooperate with treatment escalation when needed.

Dr. Danila received research support from Pfizer.

MADRID – A video-based educational program on the goals of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is showing promise as a tool to engage patients in their own care, according to data generated from a randomized trial.

One of the major goals of the video program is to inform patients about the treat-to-target concept of RA management, explained Maria I. Danila, MD, a rheumatologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Although physicians know this to be a guiding tenet for RA management, she explains in this video interview that 50% or more of patients are unaware of this therapeutic goal.

For patients who resist treatment escalation for fear of side effects, this lack of awareness might provide one explanation for failing to adhere to guideline-recommended therapy, Dr. Danila said at the European Congress of Rheumatology. She believes that patients need more information about the potential for treatment escalation to improve function.

To address this issue, a short video was developed to explain the treat-to-target concept. It was then tested in a randomized trial. Those who viewed the video expressed greater willingness to change intervention on the advice of their rheumatologist relative to those who did not (P = 0.01).

Further studies are planned, including studies to test whether willingness to escalate treatment results in better outcomes and whether linking patient behavioral goals such as being able to play golf again will enhance treatment adherence. Dr. Danila envisions wide distribution of this video if further studies demonstrate that it helps patients cooperate with treatment escalation when needed.

Dr. Danila received research support from Pfizer.

MADRID – A video-based educational program on the goals of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is showing promise as a tool to engage patients in their own care, according to data generated from a randomized trial.

One of the major goals of the video program is to inform patients about the treat-to-target concept of RA management, explained Maria I. Danila, MD, a rheumatologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Although physicians know this to be a guiding tenet for RA management, she explains in this video interview that 50% or more of patients are unaware of this therapeutic goal.

For patients who resist treatment escalation for fear of side effects, this lack of awareness might provide one explanation for failing to adhere to guideline-recommended therapy, Dr. Danila said at the European Congress of Rheumatology. She believes that patients need more information about the potential for treatment escalation to improve function.

To address this issue, a short video was developed to explain the treat-to-target concept. It was then tested in a randomized trial. Those who viewed the video expressed greater willingness to change intervention on the advice of their rheumatologist relative to those who did not (P = 0.01).

Further studies are planned, including studies to test whether willingness to escalate treatment results in better outcomes and whether linking patient behavioral goals such as being able to play golf again will enhance treatment adherence. Dr. Danila envisions wide distribution of this video if further studies demonstrate that it helps patients cooperate with treatment escalation when needed.

Dr. Danila received research support from Pfizer.