Main conclusions? Individual patients with pcJIA treated with SC or IV abatacept who achieved one of the end points generally maintained them over 21 months. Implications for patients? Patients aged 2–17 years old with pcJIA who achieve both a meaningful clinical and PRO response relatively early after starting SC or IV abatacept are likely to continue to have a good long-term response to the treatment.
Implications for clinicians? Clinicians can feel confident that overall and individual patients with pJIA treated with either SC or IV abatacept who achieve both a meaningful clinical and PRO end point simultaneously at four months will likely maintain long-term benefits.
The study: Brunner HI, Tzaribachev N, Louw I, et al. Long-term maintenance of clinical responses by individual patients with polyarticular-course juvenile idiopathic arthritis treated with abatacept. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2023 May 23.
TV & the Public Perception of Gout
By Rachel Murdoch, MBChB, Borislav Mihov, BPhty, Anne M. Horne, MBChB, Keith J. Petrie, PhD, Gregory D. Gamble, MSc, & Nicola Dalbeth, MD
Why was this study done? Gout is frequently portrayed in the media as a humorous disease caused by overindulgence in food and alcohol. The impact of these depictions on public perceptions has not previously been explored.
Study methods? Two hundred members of the public were randomized to watch either a 19-minute commercial television comedy depicting gout as a humorous and embarrassing disease caused by a poor diet and managed through lifestyle changes, or a control episode from the same television series that did not mention gout. Participants completed a survey assessing illness perceptions and were asked about the likely causes and management strategies for gout.
Key findings? Participants who watched the gout episode were more likely to rate poor eating habits as the most important cause of gout than those viewing the control episode and were less likely to believe it was due to genetic factors or chance. They believed they had a greater understanding of gout and that the condition would have a greater effect on a person’s life. They also believed a change in diet would be a more effective management strategy than longterm medication use.
Main conclusions? Fictional depictions of gout have an important impact on perceptions of the public about the disease. Despite believing they had a greater understanding of gout, those who viewed the gout episode were less likely to believe long-term medication would be effective.
