Attitudes of Australians with inflammatory arthritis to biologic therapy and biosimilars

Alannah Quinlivan; Susan Lester; Claire Barrett; Samuel Whittle; Debra Rowett; Rachel Black; Vibhasha Chand; Franca Marine; Lyn March; Premarani Sinnathurai; Rachelle Buchbinder; Catherine Hill

doi:10.1093/rap/rkac099

Attitudes of Australians with inflammatory arthritis to biologic therapy and biosimilars

Rheumatol Adv Pract. 2022 Nov 10;6(3):rkac099. doi: 10.1093/rap/rkac099. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Alannah Quinlivan¹, Susan Lester^{1

2}, Claire Barrett^{3

4}, Samuel Whittle^{1

5

6}, Debra Rowett^{7

8}, Rachel Black^{1

2

9}, Vibhasha Chand^{5

6}, Franca Marine¹⁰, Lyn March^{11

12}, Premarani Sinnathurai^{11

12

13}, Rachelle Buchbinder^{5

6}, Catherine Hill^{1

2

9}

Affiliations

¹ Rheumatology Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, SA, Australia.
² University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
³ Redcliffe Hospital, Redcliffe, QLD, Australia.
⁴ Discipline of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
⁵ Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Brisbane, VIC, Australia.
⁶ Monash-Cabrini Department of Musculoskeletal Health and Clinical Epidemiology, Cabrini Health, Malvern, VIC, Australia.
⁷ UniSA Clinical and Health Science, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
⁸ Drug and Therapeutics Information Service, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, Daw Park, SA, Australia.
⁹ Rheumatology Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
¹⁰ Arthritis Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹¹ Institute of Bone and Joint Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹² Department of Rheumatology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.
¹³ NPS MedicineWise, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the knowledge and beliefs of Australian patients with inflammatory arthritis regarding biologic/targeted synthetic DMARDs (b/tsDMARDs) and biosimilars and their sources of information.

Methods: Participants enrolled in the Australian Rheumatology Association Database (ARAD) with RA, PsA and axial SpA were sent an online survey. They were asked about information sources for b/tsDMARDs and how positive or negative this information was. The Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire (BMQ) was used to measure beliefs about b/tsDMARDs with scores ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Participants were asked about their knowledge of biosimilars and willingness to switch to biosimilar.

Results: There was a response rate of 66% (994/1498; 67% female, median age 62 years). Participants currently taking b/tsDMARDs (n = 794) had a high b/tsDMARD-specific BMQ 'necessity' score {median 4.2 [interquartile range (IQR) 3.6-4.8]}, with a lower specific 'concerns' score [median 2.4 (IQR 2.0- 3.0)]. Participants consulted multiple information sources [median 3 (IQR 2-5)]. Positive sources were rheumatologists and educational websites and negative were chat rooms and social media. Only 18% were familiar with biosimilars, with half knowing of availability in Australia. Following a short paragraph describing biosimilars, 75% (744) of participants indicated they would consider switching if recommended by their rheumatologist, with nearly half identifying safety and efficacy of biosimilars as an important concern.

Conclusion: Australian patients have positive attitudes towards b/tsDMARDs overall, although little knowledge of biosimilars specifically. They have a high degree of trust in their rheumatologist regarding treatment decisions, even if they are unfamiliar with the medication recommended.

Keywords: PsA; RA; axial spondyloarthritis; biologic therapies; biosimilars; inflammatory arthritis; patient attitude towards health.