Exploring Factors Influencing Patient Activation in Saudi Rheumatoid
Arthritis Patients: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey- Results from
the COPARA Study
Abstract
Abstract Objectives: To evaluate patient activation in Rheumatoid
Arthritis (RA) patients using the patient activation measure 13 (PAM-13)
on a national level in Saudi Arabia. Method: A national survey was
administered across multiple centres in Saudi Arabia. The survey
assessed patient activation using the PAM-13. The Compliance
Questionnaire for Rheumatology (CQR) and the RA Impact of Disease (RAID)
tool, were assessed. The data from the survey were analysed, and the
results were stratified based on activation level. All factors affecting
patient activation were explored and reported. Results: A total of 1241
participants were included. Most of the patients were females (85%),
the mean age was 47 (±14), and most patients lived in the central region
(47%). The mean (±SD) patient activation score was 578.7 (±13.0).
Patient activation was affected by multiple factors: demographic
characteristics, such as education, with a beta value of 1.11 (95% CI
0.64 ̵̶ 1.58, p<0.001). Higher CQR scores were associated with
higher activation level, with a beta value of 2.61 (95% CI 0.80 ̵̶ 4.44,
p=0.005); and higher RAID scores were associated with lower activation
levels, with a beta value of 3.13 (95% CI 1.36 ̵̶ 4.91, p=0.001).
Conclusions: Patient activation was affected by several demographic
characteristics and impact of RA. A higher activation may improve
compliance. Future longitudinal studies are required to confirm these
findings and should explore the underlying mechanism of these effects.