Improving treatment adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: what are the options?

Low adherence to therapeutic regimens is a prevalent and persistent healthcare problem, particularly for patients with chronic disorders. Many patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) show inadequate therapeutic adherence resulting in poor health outcomes. Reasons for nonadherence can be unintentional or intentional. The characteristics of patient-doctor interactions are also likely to play a role although they have not been well studied for patients with RA. While many educational and cognitive behavioral interventions have been proposed to improve adherence, the few studies that have examined the efficacy of these programs in RA have had disappointing results. Future studies involving the use of mobile technologies have shown promise in other chronic diseases and could prove useful for patients with RA.