Table 2 Demographic and disease characteristics of patient population

Gender

 Female

129 (74)

 Male

45 (26)

 Other

1 (1)

Age

 18–34

14 (8)

 35–44

52 (30)

 55–64

51 (29)

 65–80

57 (33)

Educational level

 No formal schooling or Elementary school

39 (22)

 High school or Vocational training

32 (18)

 University

104 (59)

Current health status

 Very good

27 (15)

 Good

72 (41)

 Okay

64 (37)

 Poor

12 (7)

RA duration

 0–2 years

28 (16)

 2–3 years

101 (58)

 3–4 years

36 (21)

  > 5 years

10 (6)

The length of time for current medicine to start working

 0–3 months

79 (48)

 3–12 months

54 (33)

 1–2 years

12 (7)

 2–5 years

17 (10)

 Still no effect

4 (2)

Ever prescribed DMARDs

 Synthetic DMARDs

159 (88)

 Biologic DMARDs

63 (35)

 JAK inhibitors

15 (8)

Ever experienced side effects

 Mild side effects

115 (64)

 Side effects affecting appearance

78 (43)

 Psychological side effects

71 (39)

 Severe side effects

19 (11)

How pleased are you with your treatment?

 Very pleased

64 (35)

 Somewhat pleased

94 (54)

 Somewhat displeased

11 (6)

 Very displeased

8 (5)

How often do you take your treatment based on prescriptions from rheumatologists?

 Always

152 (87)

 Often

19 (11)

 Sometimes

1 (1)

 Never

3 (2)

Level of physical function

 I can walk without difficulties

129 (74)

 I can walk with some difficulties

44 (25)

 I am on bed rest

1 (1)

Handling personal hygiene

 I don’t need any help with my daily hygiene

162 (93)

 I have some difficulties in washing or dressing myself

12 (7)

 I can’t wash or dress myself

0

Ability to perform daily tasks and activities

 I can manage my daily activities

138 (79)

 I have some problems in managing my daily activities

34 (20)

 I can’t manage my daily activities

2 (1)

Experience of pain

 I have no pain

31 (18)

 I have some pain

141 (81)

 I have a lot of pain

2 (1)

Experience of worry

 I am not worried

105 (60)

 I am worried to some extent

66 (38)

 I am a worried to a large extent

3 (2)