Influence of perception of glucocorticoids on compliance of treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus

BackgroundGlucocorticoids (GCs) are alleged as hazardous medications among Egyptian patients and their relatives.Aim of the workTo highlight the beliefs held about GCs and the effect of these beliefs on adherence to GCs treatment.Patients and methodsThe study included 70 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, 70 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 140 GC-naïve subjects as the control. The demographic and socioeconomic standards of the patients and control as well as the GCs use experience in patients were recorded. GCs perception was assessed by Beliefs about medication Questionnaire (BMQ). Adherence was assessed by Compliance Questionnaire of Rheumatology (CQR).ResultsGCs were significantly perceived as harmful and of low benefit by the control (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively), a beneficial drug by SLE patients, while RA patients had significantly higher harm scores (p = 0.015 and p = 0.003 respectively). Most of SLE and RA patients were non-adherent (57.1% and 65.7%, respectively). Higher general-BMQ harm scores were significantly associated with a lower odd of adherence (OR: 0.25, 95%CI: 0.1–0.63). Reduced OR of necessity > concern was associated with higher socioeconomic standards and maximum oral GCs dose (OR:0.09 and 0.96, respectively). Increased OR of high necessity was significantly associated with number of currently used disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) (OR:5.54, p = 0.025). High OR of harm perception was significantly associated with higher socioeconomic standards (OR: 5.12, p = 0.016).ConclusionGCs are perceived as pillars in management by SLE and RA patients. Concerns about side effects and dependency are still troublesome. Improvement of patients’ GCs perception impacts level of adherence to treatment.