Table 1 Response frequencies from the pharmacists’ knowledge of gout management survey

Where is your primary area of practice?

Community

155 (90%)

Hospital

14 (8%)

Academia

1 (0.6%)

Industry

1 (0.6%)

Other

2 (1%)

Urate-lowering therapy (ULT) is targeted to serum urate level

True

126 (73%)

False

17 (10%)

Don’t know

28 (16%)

First-line therapy for gout involves a combination of a xanthine oxidase inhibitor (e.g., allopurinol) combined with a prophylactic agent (e.g., colchicine)

True

61 (35%)

False

109 (63%)

Don’t know

3 (2%)

Colchicine at a dose of 0.5 mg twice daily should be given in combination with urate lowering therapy (ULT) for at least 6 months after initiation of ULT, as a prophylaxis for gout flares

True

50 (29%)

False

109 (63%)

Don’t know

14 (8%)

It is common for gout to flare when..

Starting ULT

66 (38%)

Stopping ULT

28 (16%)

Increasing ULT

3 (2%)

All of the above

64 (37%)

None of the above

12 (7%)

Patients should stop ULT during a gout attack

True

42 (24%)

False

116 (67%)

Don’t know

15 (9%)

Patients are advised to take colchicine continuously for six months or longer after initiation of ULT

True

39 (23%)

False

117 (68%)

Don’t know

17 (10%)

Patients should dose-reduce rather than stop colchicine if they experience side-effects (e.g., diarrhoea)

True

77 (45%)

False

72 (42%)

Don’t know

24 (14%)

Which information sources for colchicine do you find helpful?

BNF

148 (86%)

SPC

100 (58%)

Guidelines (e.g., EULAR or ACR)

15 (9%)

Cost of gout medication is a factor in patient non-adherence

Agree

40 (23%)

Disagree

87 (50%)

Neither agree nor disagree

46 (27%)

What county do you work in?

Munster

68 (39%)

Dublin

38 (22%)

Leinster (Excl Dublin)

33 (19%)

Connaught

22 (13%)

Ulster

3 (2%)

Not specified

9 (5%)