ArticleThe patient2020
Tapering Biologic Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Qualitative Study of Patient Perspectives.
Article in The patient, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Candidacy 2.0 (CC) - an enhanced theory of access to healthcare for chronic conditions: lessons from a critical interpretive synthesis on access to rheumatoid arthritis care.BMC health services research · 2024Pooled it
- Effect of tapered versus stable treatment with tumour necrosis factor inhibitors on disease flares in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in remission: a randomised, open label, non-inferiority trial.Annals of the rheumatic diseases · 2023Trial
- Effect of dose tapering policy on the prescription of advanced therapy for rheumatoid arthritis: a retrospective analysis of clinical and cost outcomes in Taiwan.Journal of comparative effectiveness research · 2026Article
- Dynamic psychological vulnerability and adaptation in rheumatoid arthritis: Trajectories, predictors, and interventions.World journal of psychiatry · 2026Review
- Preferences for Tapering Biologic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Among People With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Discrete Choice Experiment.Arthritis care & research · 2025Article
- Treatment patterns of individualized real-life tapering approaches based on shared decision-making in rheumatoid arthritis.Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie · 2024Article
- Patients' perspectives towards biologic dose reduction in psoriasis: a qualitative study.Archives of dermatological research · 2023Article
- What Are the Preferences of Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis for Treatment Modification? A Scoping Review.The patient · 2021Article
- Tapering of Biological Agents in Juvenile ERA Patients in Daily Clinical Practice.Frontiers in medicine · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
objectiveBiologic therapies are cost effective for active rheumatoid arthritis but have adverse effects and are costly. Tapering of biologics is emerging as an important consideration when sustained remission is achieved. Recent trials have highlighted the clinical feasibility of tapering, but there is little evidence on how proposed tapering would be received by patients. The aim of this study was to explore factors influencing hypothetical decisions of patients with rheumatoid arthritis on tapering their biologics and their perspectives on remission and flare when considering the possibility of tapering.
methodsPatients with rheumatoid arthritis with diverse experiences of biologics with different modes of administration were purposively sampled to participate in one of six focus groups (n = 43) or an individual interview (n = 2). Transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.
resultsFive overarching themes on what influences a participant's decision to taper their biologic were identified. First, participants were fearful of uncertain outcomes of tapering, especially flare and joint damage. Second, participants prioritized quality of life from continuing biologics over the risk of adverse effects. Third, tapering biologics was seen as providing relief from the inconvenience of taking biologics regularly. Fourth, participants wanted assurance of prompt access to healthcare if their rheumatoid arthritis were to flare when tapering. Fifth, preferences for involvement in decision making varied, but fulfilling information needs was desired to aid a patient's preferred role in decision making on tapering.
conclusionsThis study provides novel insight into the perspectives of patients with rheumatoid arthritis on tapering biologics when sustained remission is achieved at a crucial juncture in global affordability for healthcare systems. These patient perspectives can inform the planning of decision aids and clinical trials of decision-making processes when tapering is proposed.
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