Barriers to Care in Gout: From Prescriber to Patient

Patient factors and health outcomes associated with illness perceptions in people with gout

OBJECTIVE

Illness perceptions are views and beliefs formed in response to a health threat, and they may influence self-management behaviours and chronic disease outcomes. Despite effective medication, sub-optimal outcomes in gout are common. This study aimed to quantitatively investigate illness perceptions in gout to examine how illness perceptions relate to health outcomes.

METHODS

Data were obtained from a randomized controlled trial in which people with gout (n = 493) completed surveys measuring illness perceptions [Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ)], gout flares, medication adherence, health-related quality of life, health-care utilization, and productivity, alongside serum urate blood tests at baseline, and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Multivariable linear regression identified patient factors independently associated with each B-IPQ item score. Logistic and linear regression, adjusted for age and sex, determined whether baseline B-IPQ items could predict current and future health outcomes.

RESULTS

Younger individuals and those with severe gout were more likely to experience pessimistic illness perceptions at baseline. Optimistic illness perceptions were associated with lower odds of having had at least one flare in the preceding 6 months. Every 1-point increase in B-IPQ treatment control, indicating an increasingly optimistic view that gout is treatable, decreased the odds of a recent flare prior to baseline by 33% [odds ratio (OR): 0.67; 95% CI: 0.53, 0.85; P < 0.001] and prior to the 12-month follow-up by 15% (OR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.76,0.96; P = 0.01). Pessimistic illness perceptions also predicted poorer medication adherence, health-related quality of life, and productivity, but not serum urate levels.

CONCLUSION

Modifying pessimistic illness perceptions, including, but not limited to, patient education, may promote prudent self-management behaviours and better outcomes in gout.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry; https://www.anzctr.org.au/, ACTRN12616000455460.

Estimation of adherence to urate-lowering therapy in people living with gout using Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and patient-reported dosing

AIMS

The aim of this study was to estimate adherence to urate-lowering therapy (ULT), predominately allopurinol, from Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) claims database in association with (1) patient-reported doses and (2) World Health Organization's (WHO) defined daily doses (DDD), namely, allopurinol (400 mg/day) or febuxostat (80 mg/day).

METHODS

Proportion of days covered (PDC) was calculated in 108 Gout App (Gout APP) trial participants with at least two recorded ULT dispensings in an approximately 12-month period before provision of intervention or control apps. Adherence was defined as PDC ≥80%. We measured the correlation between the two methods of calculating PDC using a Wilcoxon signed rank test. Agreement between ULT-taking status (self-reports) and ULT-dispensed status (PBS records) was tested with Cohen's kappa (κ), and positive and negative percent agreement.

RESULTS

Allopurinol was prescribed in 93.5% of participants taking ULT. Their self-reported mean daily dose (SD) was 291 (167) mg/day. Mean PDC (SD) for allopurinol was 83% (21%) calculated using self-reported dose, and 63% (24%) using WHO's DDD. Sixty-three percent of allopurinol users were identified as adherent (PDC ≥80%) using self-reported dose. There was good agreement between self-reported ULT use and PBS dispensing claims (κ = 0.708, P < .001; positive percent agreement = 90%, negative percent agreement = 82%).

CONCLUSIONS

Participant-reported allopurinol daily doses, in addition to PBS dispensing claims, may enhance confidence in estimating PDC and adherence compared to using DDD. This approach improves adherence estimations from pharmaceutical claims datasets for medications where daily doses vary between individuals or where there is a wide therapeutic dose range.

Social Listening in Gout: Impact of Proactive vs. Reactive Management on Self-Reported Emotional States

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to characterize patient-reported outcomes from social media conversations in the gout community. The impact of management strategy differences on the community's emotional states was explored.

METHODS

We analyzed two social media sources using a variety of natural language processing techniques. We isolated conversations with a high probability of discussing disease management (score > 0.99). These conversations were stratified by management type: proactive or reactive. The polarity (positivity/negativity) of language and emotions conveyed in statements shared by community members was assessed by management type.

RESULTS

Among the statements related to management, reactive management (e.g., urgent care) was mentioned in 0.5% of statements, and proactive management (e.g., primary care) was mentioned in 0.6% of statements. Reactive management statements had a significantly larger proportion of negative words (59%) than did proactive management statements (44%); "fear" occurred more frequently with reactive statements, whereas "trust" predominated in proactive statements. Allopurinol was the most common medication in proactive management statements, whereas reactive management had significantly higher counts of prednisone/steroid mentions.

CONCLUSIONS

A unique aspect of examining gout-related social media conversations is the ability to better understand the intersection of clinical management and emotional impacts in the gout community. The effect of social media statements was significantly stratified by management type for gout community members, where proactive management statements were characterized by more positive language than reactive management statements. These results suggest that proactive disease management may result in more positive mental and emotional experiences in patients with gout.

The relationship between education attainment and gout, and the mediating role of modifiable risk factors: a Mendelian randomization study

Objective

To investigate the causal relationship between educational attainment (EA) and gout, as well as the potential mediating effects of individual physical status (IPS) such as body mass index (BMI) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and lifestyle habits (LH) including alcohol intake frequency (drinking), current tobacco smoking (smoking), and time spent watching television (TV).

Methods

Utilizing two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR), we analyzed the causal effects of EA on gout risk, and of IPS (BMI and SBP) and LH (smoking, drinking, and TV time) on gout risk. Multivariable MR (MVMR) was employed to explore and quantify the mediating effects of IPS and LH on the causal relationship between EA and gout risk.

Results

An elevation of educational attainment by one standard deviation (4.2 years) exhibited a protective effect against gout (odds ratio 0.724, 95% confidence interval 0.552-0.950; p = 0.020). We did not observe a causal relationship between smoking and gout, but BMI, SBP, drinking, and TV time were found to be causal risk factors for gout. Moreover, BMI, SBP, drinking, and TV time acted as mediating factors in the causal relationship between EA and gout risk, explaining 27.17, 14.83, 51.33, and 1.10% of the causal effects, respectively.

Conclusion

Our study indicates that having a genetically predicted higher level of EA may provide protection against gout. We found that this relationship is influenced by IPS factors such as BMI and SBP, as well as LH including drinking and TV time.

A content analysis of online videos containing dietary recommendations for gout and their alignment with evidence-based dietary guidelines

OBJECTIVE

To assess the alignment of YouTube® videos providing dietary recommendations for gout with evidence-based guidelines targeted at the United Kingdom (UK) population and to establish their quality.

DESIGN

A content analysis of YouTube® videos providing dietary recommendations for gout was undertaken. Videos were categorised by video source. Each video's dietary recommendations for gout were compared with three evidence-based guidelines for gout, producing a compliance score. Presence of non-guideline advice was assessed. Understandability and actionability were evaluated using the Patient Education Material Assessment Tool for Audio-Visual Materials. Reliability was assessed using an adapted-DISCERN tool and educational quality using the Global Quality Score Five-Point Scale. Differences between video source and continuous variables were assessed using one-way Kruskal-Wallis H tests. For categorical variables, associations were investigated using Fisher-Freeman-Halton tests.

SETTING

Online, May-June 2020.

PARTICIPANTS

One-hundred thirty-one videos.

RESULTS

Alignment of videos with evidence-based guidelines was poor (median compliance score 27 % (interquartile range 17-37 %)). Additionally, 57 % of videos contained non-guideline advice. The health professional source group had the fewest videos containing non-guideline advice, but this was only significantly lower than the naturopath group (31 % v. 81 %, P = 0·009). Almost 70 % of videos were considered poorly actionable and 50 % poorly understandable. Most videos were rated poor for reliability (79 %) and poor to generally poor for educational quality (49 %).

CONCLUSIONS

YouTube® videos providing dietary recommendations for gout frequently fail to conform to evidence-based guidelines, and their educational quality, reliability, understandability and actionability are often poor. More high-quality, comprehensive, evidence-based YouTube® videos are required for UK gout patients.

Optimizing adherence to allopurinol for gout: patients' perspectives

AIMS

Poor adherence to allopurinol among people with gout contributes to suboptimal gout management. This study sought to understand the facilitators and barriers to allopurinol adherence across the three stages of medication adherence, and patient perspectives on strategies to improve adherence, including self-monitoring urate concentration.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 people with gout, previously or currently taking allopurinol. De-identified verbatim transcripts were thematically analysed using an inductive and deductive approach.

RESULTS

Facilitators of adherence during allopurinol initiation were motivation to prevent gout flares and trust in the advice of their healthcare professionals (HCPs). Reluctance to commence long-term medication was a barrier to allopurinol initiation. Believing in the effectiveness and necessity of allopurinol and reminder systems were facilitators of implementation. Barriers to implementation included forgetfulness, gout flares and limited feedback on allopurinol's effectiveness. Patients discontinued therapy when allopurinol was perceived as ineffective or unnecessary. Discontinuation coincided with patients experiencing gout flares while adhering to allopurinol and receiving suboptimal advice about gout management. Patients identified receiving accurate advice from HCPs and regular urate monitoring for feedback on allopurinol's effectiveness as potential strategies to improve adherence. Perceived benefits of self-monitoring urate as a strategy to promote adherence included the ability to self-manage gout and make informed decisions about allopurinol therapy with their HCP.

CONCLUSION

Patient perceptions of the effectiveness and necessity of allopurinol influenced intentional adherence during medication initiation, implementation and discontinuation. Strategies that inform patients of their urate control and provide accurate medical advice have the potential to improve adherence to allopurinol.

The Singapore Experience With Uncontrolled Gout: Unmet Needs in the Management of Patients

Gout is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis, and its impact on cardiovascular health and quality of life is often underestimated. The prevalence and incidence of gout are increasing globally. Further, ischemic heart disease (IHD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are prevalent in gout patients. Some unmet needs for gout management include physicians' low initiation rate of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) and poor treatment adherence in patients with gout. There is also a lack of randomized controlled trials that establish safe doses of acute and long-term treatment for gout, particularly in patients with IHD and stage 4 CKD and above (including end-stage renal failure). Furthermore, there is also a lack of studies showing optimal serum uric acid (SUA) target and validated clinical outcome measures, including disease activity and remission criteria for gout tailored to treat-to-target approaches and the high cost of newer gout medications. The causal relationship between asymptomatic hyperuricemia or gout with comorbidities such as IHD and CKD has yet to be fully elucidated. There is a pressing need for collaborative international efforts to address the overall suboptimal management of gout.

Professionals’ perspectives on existing practice and conditions for nurse-led gout care based on treatment recommendations: a qualitative study in primary healthcare

Background

Gout affects nearly 2 % of the population and is associated with repeated painful flares of arthritis. Preventive urate-lowering therapy is widely available, but only one third of patients receive adequate treatment. Lack of knowledge among healthcare professionals and patients within primary healthcare are implicated as partial explanations for this undertreatment. Nurse-led care has proved to be an effective model when treating patients with gout, but there is a need for more knowledge about factors that can be expected to influence the future implementation of such care. The aim of this study was to describe factors influencing existing gout care in primary healthcare and the conditions for a future implementation of nurse-led gout care based on national treatment recommendations.

Methods

In this qualitative study, focus group discussions with 56 nurses and physicians and individual interviews with eight managers were conducted at nine primary healthcare units in central Sweden. A deductive qualitative content analysis based on the main constructs of the framework Integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services was followed by an inductive analysis within the frames of the main constructs: innovation, recipients and context.

Results

Gout-related contacts with primary healthcare was described as being patient initiated, diagnostics was in some respects complex and nurse-led care was experienced as a favourable primary healthcare model in general (innovation). Gout was seen as a low-priority condition with acute flares and there was inadequate knowledge of gout, including preventive treatment (recipients). Primary healthcare was perceived as having a holistic but fragmented responsibility for gout care, recommendations against keeping waiting lists complicated follow-up appointments and a need for motivation and support when introducing new practices was emphasised (context).

Conclusion

In this study, investigating the perspective of professionals, several factors were found to influence existing gout care. It will be crucial to target these factors in the development of a future implementation strategy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12875-022-01677-z.

Persistence with urate-lowering therapy in Australia: A longitudinal analysis of allopurinol prescriptions

AIM

Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis in men. Despite the availability of effective urate-lowering therapies (ULT), the management of gout is suboptimal due to poor persistence with ULT. This study examined national prescribing patterns of ULT to determine persistence with allopurinol in Australia.

METHODS

A 10% sample of the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme dispensing claims database was used to identify individuals initiated on allopurinol between April 2014 and December 2019. The number of allopurinol scripts dispensed was used to estimate persistence with allopurinol. Persistence was defined as the number of months from initiation until discontinuation (last prescription with no further scripts acquired for a period thereafter). Kaplan-Meier curves were used to examine persistence, while Cox regression analysis was used to examine the influence of gender, concomitant colchicine and age.

RESULTS

The largest drop in persistence occurred immediately after initiation, with 34% of patients discontinuing allopurinol 300-mg therapy in the first month. Median persistence with allopurinol 300 mg was 5 months (95% confidence interval 4.76-5.24), with around 63% of individuals not persisting with this therapy for more than 12 months. Concomitant prescription of colchicine on the day of allopurinol initiation only occurred in 7% of allopurinol initiations. No increase in persistence was observed for those co-prescribed colchicine.

CONCLUSION

Persistence with allopurinol was poor. More effective methods targeting prescribers, patients and systems are required to promote persistence with allopurinol. Improving persistence to allopurinol is an important public health goal given the proven potential of this medication to eliminate gout.

Illness perception and treatment experience in patients with gout: a descriptive qualitative study

OBJECTIVE

To explore the illness perception and treatment experience of gout patients in China.

METHODS

A descriptive qualitative approach was used. In-depth semi-structured individual interviews were conducted among 18 adults with gout between August 2020 and December 2020. The Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation was used as the conceptual framework for developing interview guide and data analysis. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, independently coded, and analyzed for themes.

RESULTS

The 18 gout patients aged 23-77 years old, with 16 being male. Four themes were generated to reflect the experience of patients with gout: limited knowledge of gout, various but inadequate sources of gout knowledge, multifaceted influences of gout, and seeking for diversified disease treatment methods.

CONCLUSION

There is a gap between patients' anticipation and practical service that is closely linked with subsequent poor gout management among the participants. The findings indicate a need of strengthening health education about gout by considering building nurse-led support groups and developing mobile health applications, as well as addressing the long-term influence of the Chinese alcoholic drinking culture to promote patients' effective disease management.

KEY POINTS

• This qualitative study fills a knowledge gap on illness perception and treatment experience among Chinese gout patients, exploring how these patients perceived gout and manage gout. • The gout patients in this study reported disparity between personal anticipation and healthcare service that largely contributes to their poor gout management. • The Chinese alcoholic drinking culture embedded in personal, professional, and social activities posed extra difficulties and challenges on modifying lifestyle for gout patients that needs to be addressed for promoting gout management among this group.

A patient-centered gout information value chain: a scoping review

OBJECTIVE

To examine and identify the scope of research addressing health information requirements for gout patients using value chain analysis.

METHODS

Five electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, ERIC, PsycINFO, Embase, and Scopus) and grey literature (WorldCat) were searched in accordance with a published protocol. Only English language articles were included, with no limitations for date of publication. The findings of the 33 studies included for final analysis were subsequently divided into 6 groups according to the stages of the care delivery value chain their research most closely pertained to: screening/preventing (n = 2), diagnosing (n = 1), preparing (n = 7), intervening (n = 11), recovering/rehabilitating (n = 5), and monitoring/managing (n = 13).

RESULTS

The 33 studies focused on one or more of the following information phenotypes: 1) pathophysiology; 2) medical treatment; and 3) nonpharmaceutical interventions. Long term treatment adherence was a popular topic amongst studies that focused on gout patient education.

CONCLUSION

Based on the identified studies, gout patients are being told what to do, but are not being adequately educated regarding why recommended interventions are important or how to accomplish them.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

This review provides a foundation to develop and evaluate personalized education materials using value chain analysis.

Expanding the role of Australian community dietitians in gout management

AIM

Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis with suboptimal management. Management guidelines for gout highlight the importance of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. Dietitians can potentially assist in improving gout's associated dietary and lifestyle factors, and thereby play a role in improving its management. The aim of this study was to investigate perspectives of Australian community dietitians on whether their role in gout management could be expanded to improve management and treatment of gout.

METHOD

A snowballing recruitment strategy was used. Dietitians known to the research team were invited to participate and then they suggested further dietitians. Semi-structured interviews (one-on-one) were conducted with 16 dietitians. The focus was on their experiences of contributing to the management of gout, including any barriers and facilitators experienced. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and independently analyzed by 2 reviewers to identify themes.

RESULTS

The main reported role of dietitians in gout management was providing patient education. An identified facilitator was dietitians' understanding of gout and its dietary management. Barriers included the emphasis placed on medications for treatment by clinicians and patients, consultation costs, limitations in the evidence for the efficacy of dietary changes and lack of specific training in gout for dietitians. Dietitians predominantly managed the other metabolic conditions commonly associated with gout.

CONCLUSION

Currently, the role dietitians play in gout management is limited. However, dietitians have the potential to take on larger roles in gout education and can also indirectly contribute by way of management of commonly associated comorbidities in gout patients.

Gout, Hyperuricaemia and Crystal-Associated Disease Network (G-CAN) common language definition of gout

Objective

To develop a Gout, Hyperuricaemia and Crystal-Associated Disease Network (G-CAN) common language definition of gout, with the goal of increasing public understanding and awareness, and ensure consistent and understandable messages about gout.

Methods

A G-CAN working group that included patients, physicians and nongovernmental organisation (NGO) representatives was formed to develop a common language definition of gout for use with the public, media, healthcare providers and stakeholders. A literature search and interviews with patients, healthcare workers and stakeholders informed development of the definition. Following consultation with G-CAN members and partners, the definition was endorsed by the G-CAN board.

Results

The G-CAN common language definition of gout describes the epidemiology, pathophysiology, symptoms and impact, risk factors, comorbidities, management and healthcare and workforce considerations. Detailed information is provided to support the content of the definition. After the publication of the English-language version, the definition will be available for translation into other languages by G-CAN members.

Conclusion

G-CAN has developed a concise and easily understandable statement describing gout in language that can be used in conversations with the lay public, media, NGOs, funders, healthcare providers and other stakeholders.

High Rate of Adherence to Urate-Lowering Treatment in Patients with Gout: Who's to Blame?

Introduction

Gout is commonly associated with low adherence rates, thus limiting the effectiveness of treatment. Nevertheless, informed and empowered patients may be more likely to achieve high adherence. We intend to demonstrate that adherence in clinical practice may reach that achieved in clinical trials.

Methods

This was a transversal study within an inception cohort of patients with gout prospectively followed up. Patients were informed at entrance in the cohort of outcomes, targets, and means to implement for successful treatment. Adherence was evaluated through electronic medication possession ratio (MPR) for urate-lowering medication and oral medications for hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia for comparison. Factors associated with nonadherence, and the relation between nonadherence and serum urate levels while on treatment were analyzed.

Results

Data were retrieved from 336 patients, who showed a mean MPR of 87.5%, with 82.1% of patients showing MPR ≥ 0.8. Rates of adherence for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes were quite similar (88%, 87%, and 83%, respectively), although MPR > 0.8 was significantly lower for oral medications for diabetes. Adherence was lower, but nevertheless quite fair, during the first year of follow-up, and increasing over time. Active follow-up and comorbidity were associated with good adherence, and adherence and long-term follow-up were associated with higher rates of achieving serum urate within therapeutic target.

Conclusion

Patients with gout show high rates of adherence if empowered. Active follow-up and comorbidity are associated with high rates of adherence. Adherence is strongly associated with higher rates of achievement of therapeutic serum urate target.

Out-of-pocket spending among a cohort of Australians living with gout

OBJECTIVE

To measure the direct and indirect out-of-pocket (OOP) costs borne by Australians with gout.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, Australia-wide, web-based survey was conducted over 12 months between May 2017 and April 2018. Participants were recruited via advertisements in doctors' clinics and healthcare organizations' websites, and social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Survey questions collected information about participants' OOP spending on direct medical and non-medical gout-related healthcare costs. Participant demographics, gout status, healthcare sought, workdays lost to due gout and health-related quality of life were also collected.

RESULTS

Seventy-nine patients with gout completed the survey; 70 (89%) were male, and on average were 56 (SD 16) years of age and had gout for 14 (SD 12) years. For this cohort, the median total OOP direct medical cost was AU$200 per year (interquartile range [IQR]: AU$60-AU$570). Sixty (76%) people with gout reported being affected by gout during work; however, only 0.25 (IQR: 0-3) days of work (approximately $60) were lost due to gout in a year. Nine percent (n = 7) of participants experienced cost-related treatment attrition and 33% reported economic hardship (n = 26). Participants who experienced economic hardship or cost-related treatment attrition had higher median total gout-related direct costs than those who did not.

CONCLUSION

In Australia, gout has an OOP financial cost and reduces work productivity. The presence of cost-related treatment attrition among people with gout indicates that financial costs may be a significant barrier to seeking treatment for a subset of patients with gout.

Rebranding Gout: Could a Name Change for Gout Improve Adherence to Urate-Lowering Therapy?

Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis in men, yet both patients and the public often do not recognise gout as a form of arthritis. Instead, due to historical misconceptions, gout is typically seen as a lifestyle disease caused by poor diet. In reality, there are a number of risk factors that contribute to gout, including genetic factors. Views of gout as precipitated by lifestyle alone can lead to stigma, and maladaptive beliefs that it should be treated primarily through dietary changes. This is thought to contribute to poor uptake of, and adherence to, effective pharmaceutical treatments. Gout has some of the poorest medication adherence rates of any chronic disease, contributing to suboptimal health outcomes for patients. Recent research suggests that when gout is referred to as 'urate crystal arthritis' (a rarely used name for gout), the perception of the disease by members of the public was more accurate. It was viewed as being less under personal control (i.e. less appropriately managed by behaviours such as dietary intake), and more appropriately managed by long-term medical treatment. This finding raises the possibility that patients themselves might also benefit from gout being explicitly labelled as arthritis. Indeed, parallels can be drawn between this case and other diseases that have recently had their names changed to improve outcomes, namely primary biliary cirrhosis and schizophrenia. A movement away from the term gout may benefit those living with the disease by changing illness perceptions and increasing uptake of, and adherence to, guideline-recommended treatment(s).

2020 Recommendations from the French Society of Rheumatology for the management of gout: Management of acute flares

OBJECTIVE

To develop French Society of Rheumatology-endorsed recommendations for the management of gout flares.

METHODS

These evidence-based recommendations were developed by 9 rheumatologists (academic or community-based), 3 general practitioners, 1 cardiologist, 1 nephrologist and 1 patient, using a systematic literature search, one physical meeting to draft recommendations and 2 Delphi rounds to finalize them.

RESULTS

A set of 4 overarching principles and 4 recommendations was elaborated. The overarching principles emphasize the importance of patient education, including the need to auto-medicate for gout flares as early as possible, if possible within the first 12h after the onset, according to a pre-defined treatment. Patients must know that gout is a chronic disease, often requiring urate-lowering therapy in addition to flare treatment. Comorbidities and the risk of drug interaction should be screened carefully in every patient as they may contraindicate some anti-inflammatory treatments. Colchicine must be early prescribed at the following dosage: 1mg then 0.5mg one hour later, followed by 0.5mg,2 to 3 times/day over the next days. In case of diarrhea, which is the first symptom of colchicine poisoning, dosage must be reduced. Colchicine dosage must also be reduced in patients with chronic kidney disease or taking drugs, which interfere with its metabolism. Other first-line treatment options are systemic/intra-articular corticosteroids, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs). IL-1 inhibitors can be considered as a second-line option in case of failure, intolerance or contraindication to colchicine, corticosteroids and NSAIDs. They are contraindicated in cases of infection and neutrophil blood count should be monitored.

CONCLUSION

These recommendations aim to provide strategies for the safe use of anti-inflammatory agents, in order to improve the management of gout flares.

Better outcomes for patients with gout

Gout is increasing in prevalence despite effective pharmacotherapies. Barriers to effective management are largely educational deficiencies. Sufferers, usually men, need to understand more about gout, especially that maintaining serum urate below 0.36 mmol/L will eliminate recurrent attacks. Also, of great importance is appreciating that sub-optimal adherence to urate-lowering therapy (ULT) will result in a return of attacks. Prescribers also need to understand that acute attacks are likely to occur in the first few months of urate-lowering therapy (ULT), but these can be mitigated by commencing with a dose of ULT reflective of renal function and escalating the dose slowly, every 2-5 weeks until target serum urate is achieved. Prophylaxis against acute attacks over the initial 6 months period of ULT can be enhanced further with concomitant colchicine or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).Gout is largely managed in primary care. Rates of adherence to ULT are 50% or less, worse than most other chronic illnesses. Efforts at educating primary care physicians to, firstly, manage gout effectively and, secondly, to educate their gout patients sufficiently have not been successful. Allied health practitioners, such as nurses, working with prescribers in primary care settings and given the mandate to educate and manage patients with gout, have been spectacularly effective. However, this approach is resource intensive. 'Personalised' eHealth interventions show promise as an alternative strategy, notably in improving adherence to ULT.Numerous applications for smart phones (apps) are now available to assist people with chronic health conditions. Their design needs to accommodate the barriers and enablers perceived by patients to maintaining adherence to prescribed therapies. Personalised feedback of serum urate may represent an important enabler of adherence to ULT in the case of gout.Harnessing mobile apps to support patients managing their chronic illnesses represents an important opportunity to enhance health outcomes. Rigorous, patient-centred and driven development is critical. These tools also require careful evaluation for effectiveness.

What factors contribute to uncontrolled gout and hospital admission? A qualitative study of inpatients and their primary care practitioners

OBJECTIVE

To provide deeper insight into why patients are admitted to hospital with gout and discover potential targets for better disease control.

DESIGN

Data from semi-structured interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis approach.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Eleven inpatients from a tertiary institution in the Australian Capital Territory of Australia and their respective general practitioners (GPs) were invited to participate in the semi-structured interviews.

RESULTS

Despite significant pain and disability that accompanied acute flares, patients continue to experience shame in seeking treatment and regarded gout as being not particularly important. Other barriers included patients' poor continuity of care with and lack of confidence in GPs, suboptimal management in outpatient and inpatient settings, poor understanding of disease and treatment, and misconceptions held by both patients and physicians leading to uncontrolled disease activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Barriers to optimal gout management including patient and health practitioner factors have produced a complex effect which has led to a cycle of treatment avoidance behaviours and recurrent hospitalisations for severe acute gout flares. These barriers could be addressed using a multipronged approach guided by the chronic care model which has been applied in a variety of other chronic diseases with improved patient and professional-level outcomes. Managing gout according to best practice for chronic disease is more likely to prevent recurrent hospitalisations and improve health outcomes in patients with gout.

Gout, Hyperuricaemia and Crystal-Associated Disease Network (G-CAN) consensus statement regarding labels and definitions of disease states of gout

OBJECTIVE

There is a lack of standardisation in the terminology used to describe gout. The aim of this project was to develop a consensus statement describing the recommended nomenclature for disease states of gout.

METHODS

A content analysis of gout-related articles from rheumatology and general internal medicine journals published over a 5-year period identified potential disease states and the labels commonly assigned to them. Based on these findings, experts in gout were invited to participate in a Delphi exercise and face-to-face consensus meeting to reach agreement on disease state labels and definitions.

RESULTS

The content analysis identified 13 unique disease states and a total of 63 unique labels. The Delphi exercise (n=76 respondents) and face-to-face meeting (n=35 attendees) established consensus agreement for eight disease state labels and definitions. The agreed labels were as follows: 'asymptomatic hyperuricaemia', 'asymptomatic monosodium urate crystal deposition', 'asymptomatic hyperuricaemia with monosodium urate crystal deposition', 'gout', 'tophaceous gout', 'erosive gout', 'first gout flare' and 'recurrent gout flares'. There was consensus agreement that the label 'gout' should be restricted to current or prior clinically evident disease caused by monosodium urate crystal deposition (gout flare, chronic gouty arthritis or subcutaneous tophus).

CONCLUSION

Consensus agreement has been established for the labels and definitions of eight gout disease states, including 'gout' itself. The Gout, Hyperuricaemia and Crystal-Associated Disease Network recommends the use of these labels when describing disease states of gout in research and clinical practice.

Gout, flares, and allopurinol use: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of community-based data regarding the prevalence and impact of gout flares as these may often be self-managed. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of self-reported gout and gout flares, the use of urate-lowering therapy (ULT), and the association of gout flares with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a large community sample. Covariate associations with flare frequency and allopurinol use were also examined.

METHODS

The South Australian Health Omnibus Survey is an annual, face-to-face population-based survey. Data collected in the 2017 survey included self-reported medically diagnosed gout, allopurinol use (first-line ULT in Australia), and gout attacks (flares) in the last 12 months, in addition to sociodemographic variables and health-related quality of life (HRQoL, SF-12). Data were weighted to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016 census data to reflect the South Australian population. Participants 25 years and over (n = 2778) were included in the analysis.

RESULTS

The prevalence of gout was 6.5% (95%CI 5.5, 7.5). Amongst participants with gout, 37.1% (95%CI 29.6, 45.3) reported currently using allopurinol, while 23.2% (95%CI 16.9, 21.0) reported prior use (38% discontinuation rate). Frequent flares (≥ 2 in the last year) were reported by 25% of participants with gout and were more likely with younger age, higher body mass index, and current allopurinol use (p < 0.05). The frequency of gout flares was associated with a lower physical HRQoL (p = 0.012). Current allopurinol use was reported by 51% of participants with frequent gout flares.

CONCLUSION

Flares were frequently reported by people with gout in the community. Gout flares were associated with reduced physical HRQoL. Almost one half of people with frequent gout flares were not receiving allopurinol, and current allopurinol use was associated with frequent gout flares, suggesting undertreated disease and suboptimal use of ULT. Determining covariate associations with flares and ineffective allopurinol use may identify means of improving treatment and reducing flares.

Partners and nurses' knowledge and representations of gout: A qualitative study

Adherence to gout treatment is poor. Partners of patients and nurses are two major communicators with gouty patients, and their perceptions of illness may affect patient behavior.

OBJECTIVE

To explore partners' and nurses' knowledge and representations of gout.

METHODS

We used a qualitative grounded approach with semi-structured face-to-face individual interviews with a purposive sample of hospital nurses working in rheumatology and internal medicine departments and patient partners. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. All authors met regularly to discuss coding and data interpretation.

RESULTS

Overall, 20 nurses and 12 partners participated in the interviews. Four major themes were evidenced: knowledge gaps (gout cause was unknown, unawareness of urate-lowering therapy and the possibility to cure gout, focus in gout flare and diet); lack of information and education on gout (knowledge acquired by personal experiences, nurses complained to be insufficiently educated, partners highlighted the lack of information and that general practitioners did not have time to educate patients); gout consequences and social impacts (handicapping disease, avoid social activities like dinner with friends); attitudes towards gout flare and patient management (feeling powerless during flare, negative feelings such as being ashamed leading to postpone medical seek or unconcerned about their partner disease). Nurses regretted that they had not enough time to discuss issues with patients.

CONCLUSION

Partners and nurses' knowledge of gout is based on daily experiences. Participants were eager to learn more about gout. Nurses' education and education programs including partners may improve gout management and patient adherence to treatment.

mHealth App Patient Testing and Review of Educational Materials Designed for Self-Management of Gout Patients: Descriptive Qualitative Studies

BACKGROUND

Gout is a form of chronic arthritis caused by elevated serum uric acid (SUA) and culminates in painful gout attacks. Although effective uric acid-lowering therapies exist, adherence is low. This is partly due to the lack of support for patients to self-manage their disease. Mobile health apps have been used in the self-management of chronic conditions. However, not all are developed with patients, limiting their effectiveness.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of our study was to collect feedback from gout patients to design an effective gout self-management app.

METHODS

Two descriptive qualitative studies were conducted. In Study 1, researchers developed a short educational video and written materials about gout management, designed to be embedded into an app; 6 interviews and 1 focus group were held with gout patients to gather feedback on these materials. Usability testing in Study 2 involved additional gout patients using a pilot version of Healthy.me Gout, a gout self-management app, for 2 weeks. Following the trial, patients participated in an interview about their experiences using the app.

RESULTS

Patients viewed the gout educational material positively, appreciating the combined use of video, text, and images. Patients were receptive to using a mobile app to self-manage their gout. Feedback about Healthy.me Gout was generally positive with patients reporting that the tracking and diary features were most useful. Patients also provided suggestions for improving the app and educational materials.

CONCLUSIONS

These studies involved patients in the development of a gout self-management app. Patients provided insight to improve the app's presentation and usability and general lessons on useful features for chronic disease apps. Gout patients enjoyed tracking their SUA concentrations and gout attack triggers. These capabilities can be translated into self-management apps for chronic diseases that require monitoring of pathological values, medication adherence, or symptoms. Future health app design should integrate patient input and be developed iteratively to address concerns identified by patients.

How patients with gout become engaged in disease management: a constructivist grounded theory study

Background

Prior qualitative research on gout has focused primarily on barriers to disease management. Our objective was to use patients’ perspectives to construct an explanatory framework to understand how patients become engaged in the management of their gout.

Methods

We recruited a sample of individuals with gout who were participating in a proof-of-concept study of an eHealth-supported collaborative care model for gout involving rheumatology, pharmacy, and dietetics. Semistructured interviews were used. We analyzed transcripts using principles of constructivist grounded theory involving initial coding, focused coding and categorizing, and theoretical coding.

Results

Twelve participants with gout (ten males, two females; mean age, 66.5 ± 13.3 years) were interviewed. The analysis resulted in the construction of three themes as well as a framework describing the dynamically linked themes on (1) processing the diagnosis and management of gout, (2) supporting management of gout, and (3) interfering with management of gout. In this framework, patients with gout transition between each theme in the process of becoming engaged in the management of their gout and may represent potential opportunities for healthcare intervention.

Conclusions

Findings derived from this study show that becoming engaged in gout management is a dynamic process whereby patients with gout experience factors that interfere with gout management, process their disease and its management, and develop the practical and perceptual skills necessary to manage their gout. By understanding this process, healthcare providers can identify points to adapt care delivery and thereby improve health outcomes.

Education and non-pharmacological approaches for gout

The objectives of this review are as follows: to highlight the gaps in patient and physician knowledge of gout and how this might impede optimal disease management; to provide recommended core knowledge points that should be conveyed to people with gout; and to review non-pharmacological interventions that can be used in gout management. MeSH terms were used to identify eligible studies examining patients' and health-care professionals' knowledge about gout and its management. A narrative review of non-pharmacological management of gout is provided. Many health-care professionals have significant gaps in their knowledge about gout that have the potential to impede optimal management. Likewise, people with gout and the general population lack knowledge about causes, consequences and treatment of this condition. Full explanation about gout, including the potential benefits of urate-lowering treatment (ULT), motivates people with gout to want to start such treatment, and there is evidence, albeit limited, that educational interventions can improve uptake and adherence to ULT. Additionally, several non-pharmacological approaches, such as rest and topical ice application for acute attacks, avoidance of risk factors that can trigger acute attacks, and dietary interventions that may reduce gout attack frequency (e.g. cherry or cherry juice extract, skimmed milk powder or omega-3 fatty acid intake) or lower serum uric acid (e.g. vitamin C), can be used as adjuncts to ULT. There is a pressing need to educate health-care professionals, people with gout and society at large to remove the negative stereotypes associated with gout, which serve as barriers to optimal gout management, and to perceive gout as a significant medical condition. Moreover, there is a paucity of high-quality trial evidence on whether certain simple individual dietary and lifestyle factors can reduce the risk of recurrent gout attacks, and further studies are required in this field.

Exploring current and potential roles of Australian community pharmacists in gout management: a qualitative study

Background

Gout is an increasingly prevalent form of inflammatory arthritis. Although effective treatments for gout exist, current management is suboptimal due to low medication adherence rates and treatments that are non-concordant with guidelines. Medications are the mainstay and most effective form of gout management. Thus, there is potential for community pharmacists to play an important primary health care role in gout management, however their current role and their potential to improve management of gout treatment is currently unclear. The purpose of the study is to explore the views of Australian pharmacists on their roles in gout management and to identify factors influencing their involvement in gout management.

Methods

A convenience sample of community pharmacists were invited to participate using a snowballing recruitment strategy. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 15 pharmacists of varying age, gender and pharmacy experience. Interviews focused on pharmacists’ experiences of managing gout, interactions with people living with gout and their perceived roles and responsibilities in gout management. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and independently analysed by two reviewers to identify themes.

Results

The main role of pharmacists reported in gout management was providing patient education. The greatest facilitator to pharmacists involvement in gout management was identified to be pharmacists’ good understanding of gout and its management. Barriers to pharmacists involvement were identified to be difficulties in monitoring adherence to gout medications, low priority given to gout in the pharmacy compared to other chronic health conditions, and lack of specific training and/or continuing education in gout prevention and management.

Conclusions

Pharmacists can expand their primary health care role in gout management, particularly in the area of ongoing provision of education to people living with gout and in monitoring medication adherence in patients. However, a number of barriers need to be overcome including difficulties in monitoring patient adherence to medications, ensuring a higher priority is given to chronic gout management and providing continuing training to community pharmacists about gout. Implications for pharmacist practice include initiating conversations about medication adherence and education when dispensing medications and undertaking continuing education in gout.

Improving adherence to gout therapy: an expert review

Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis and is a considerable burden to patients and health care systems worldwide. Despite its clinical, economic, and social impact, patient persistence and adherence to prescribed urate-lowering therapies (ULT), ranging from 20% to 70%, is considered to be among the poorest of all chronic conditions. The majority of gout patients consequently receive suboptimal benefits of their prescribed pharmacotherapies. As gout is associated with several comorbidities along with an increased risk of premature mortality, achieving improved outcomes through adherence to ULT is crucial. Adherence to medication is complex and multidimensional and includes a combination of treatment-, patient-, and physician-related factors. This review explores the factors related to ULT adherence with the overall aim of helping health care providers better understand the barriers to adherence. Several interventions targeting pharmacists, nurses, and patients are being investigated to improve adherence. Furthermore, enhanced awareness and understanding of the need to treat-to-target in order to improve patient outcomes is needed among health care professionals. Greater understanding of the multidimensional nature of non-adherence can help physicians to treat gout more effectively and empower patients to improve self-management of this long-term disease.

Key barriers to gout care: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies

OBJECTIVES

Gout care remains highly suboptimal, contributing to an increased global disease burden. To understand barriers to gout care, our aim was to provide a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies worldwide reporting provider and patient perspectives and experiences with management.

METHODS

We conducted a mapped search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Social Sciences Citation Index databases and selected qualitative studies of provider and patient perspectives on gout management. We used thematic synthesis to combine the included studies and identify key themes across studies.

RESULTS

We included 20 studies that reported the experiences and perspectives of 480 gout patients and 120 providers spanning five different countries across three continents. We identified three predominant provider themes: knowledge gaps and management approaches; perceptions and beliefs about gout patients; and system barriers to optimal gout care (e.g. time constraints and a lack of incentives). We also identified four predominant themes among gout patients: limited gout knowledge; interactions with health-care providers; attitudes towards and experiences with taking medication; and practical barriers to long-term medication use.

CONCLUSION

Our systematic review of worldwide literature consistently identified gaps in gout knowledge among providers, which is likely to contribute to patients' lack of appropriate education about the fundamental causes of and essential treatment approaches for gout. Furthermore, system barriers among providers and day-to-day challenges of taking long-term medications among patients are considerable. These factors provide key targets to improve the widespread suboptimal gout care.

The nomenclature of the basic disease elements of gout: A content analysis of contemporary medical journals

OBJECTIVES

There is currently no standardised nomenclature for the basic disease elements of gout. This study aimed to identify these elements and examine how they are labelled in contemporary medical literature.

METHODS

We analysed articles from the ten highest ranked general rheumatology journals, and five highest ranked general internal medicine journals (by Impact Factor, according to 2015 Thomson-Reuters Journal Citation Reports), published between 1 January 2012 and 31 January 2017. For each journal, articles relevant to gout and hyperuricaemia were identified by the search terms 'gout' and/or 'urate' and/or 'uric acid' using MEDLINE. Basic disease elements were identified and their labels extracted. Labels designated 'unique' used different words or phrases to describe an element.

RESULTS

A total of 549 articles were analysed. Eleven basic disease elements and 343 unique labels were identified. Labelling was imprecise for most elements. 'An episode of acute inflammation triggered by the presence of pathogenic crystals' was represented by a total of 162 unique labels; 33.6% of articles referring to this element used at least four unique labels. For articles referencing 'the circulating form of the final enzymatic product generated by xanthine oxidase in purine metabolism in humans', the labels 'uric acid' and 'urate' were used with similar frequency (63.0% and 62.5%, respectively), and both labels were used in 25.9% of articles.

CONCLUSION

Labelling of the basic disease elements of gout is characterised by imprecision, inaccuracy and lack of clarity. Consensus regarding the nomenclature of these elements is required.

Are Doctors the Best People to Manage Gout? Is There a Role for Nurses and Pharmacists?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To discuss alternate models of long-term gout management RECENT FINDINGS: Nurse-led care of gout appears to improve the uptake of and adherence to urate-lowering treatment in a research setting. Less impressive improvements were achieved with pharmacist-led remote management of gout; however, both strategies were more effective than usual primary care provider management of gout. Individualised education about gout, patient involvement in decision-making, and access to trained support in managing side-effects and gout flares can improve the uptake of fine and adherence to urate-lowering treatment. This may be best achieved with nurse-led care of gout. However, further research is required to evaluate if the model of nurse-led care of gout can be implemented in routine clinical practice and in different healthcare systems.

How Can We Improve Disease Education in People with Gout?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Gout management is currently suboptimal despite excellent available therapy. Gout patient education has been shown to enhance medication adherence and self-management, but needs improvement. We explored the literature on gout patient education including gaps in gout patient knowledge; use of written materials; in-person individual and group sessions; education via nurses, pharmacists, or multi-disciplinary groups; and use of phone, web-based, mobile health app, and text messaging educational efforts.

RECENT FINDINGS

Nurse-led interventions have shown significant improvement in reaching urate goals. Pharmacist-led programs have likewise succeeded, but to a lesser degree. A multi-disciplinary approach has shown feasibility. Needs-assessments, patient questionnaires, and psychosocial evaluations can enhance targeted education. An interactive and patient-centered approach can enhance gout educational interventions. Optimal programs will assess for and address educational needs related to knowledge gaps, health literacy, race, gender, socio-economic status, and level of social support.

What Is the Evidence for Treat-to-Target Serum Urate in Gout?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Most current clinical guidelines for gout management advocate a treat-to-target serum urate approach, although notable differences exist. Serum urate is a rational target for gout treatment given the central role of urate in disease causality, its association with key outcomes and its practicality of use in clinical practice. This review analyses the evidence for this strategy in gout.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies have confirmed the efficacy of urate-lowering therapy in achieving serum urate targets, both in trials using fixed doses and those applying a treat-to-target strategy. In a limited number of long-term studies (> 12-month duration), interventions that incorporate a treat-to-target serum urate approach have been shown to promote regression of tophi, reduce the frequency of gout flares and improve MRI-detected synovitis. A strong case can be made for a treat-to-target serum urate strategy in gout, supported by existing knowledge of disease pathophysiology, outcomes from urate-lowering therapy studies and emerging results of randomised strategy trials of sufficient duration.

"I can't bend it and it hurts like mad": direct observation of gout consultations in routine primary health care

BACKGROUND

Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis and is associated with considerable co-morbidity. It is usually managed in the primary care setting with a combination of lifestyle modification and pharmacological therapy. This study describes patterns of communication about gout observed in interactions between patients and primary care practitioners during routine consultations.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of video-recordings of individual healthcare consultations between patients and a range of primary care practitioners (including general practitioners, practice nurses, podiatrists and dietitians) from an archived database. Consultations that included any discussion about gout were eligible for inclusion (n = 31) and were not restricted to those where gout was the main presenting complaint. The consultation transcripts were analysed using a qualitative inductive approach from clinical and linguistic perspectives and supplemented with visual observation of the interactions.

RESULTS

Two main themes emerged from the data; the importance of gout and 'telling' versus 'listening' in consultations. The first theme had two distinct strands; gout as an incidental part of the consultation and the impact of gout on patients. A trend towards more didactic practitioner communication encompassed by the second theme occurred at many different consultation points including diagnosis, in more general post-diagnosis discussion, and when discussing biochemical test results and lifestyle advice. In contrast, when discussion about treatment with medicines occurred a tendency towards a greater degree of listening to patients was observed.

CONCLUSION

Our observation of the communication patterns in these consultations illustrates an inherent complexity of gout consultations in primary care. Gout may be more important to patients than is often apparent to practitioners in routine consultations. Consultation management needs to take into account the impact of the condition and the balance of information provided around lifestyle advice versus long-term management with medicines.

Effectiveness of an electronic patient-centred self-management tool for gout sufferers: a cluster randomised controlled trial protocol

INTRODUCTION

Gout is increasing despite effective therapies to lower serum urate concentrations to 0.36 mmol/L or less, which, if sustained, significantly reduces acute attacks of gout. Adherence to urate-lowering therapy (ULT) is poor, with rates of less than 50% 1 year after initiation of ULT. Attempts to increase adherence in gout patients have been disappointing. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of use of a personal, self-management, 'smartphone' application (app) to achieve target serum urate concentrations in people with gout. We hypothesise that personalised feedback of serum urate concentrations will improve adherence to ULT.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Setting and designPrimary care. A prospective, cluster randomised (by general practitioner (GP) practices), controlled trial.

PARTICIPANTS

GP practices will be randomised to either intervention or control clusters with their patients allocated to the same cluster.

INTERVENTION

The intervention group will have access to the Healthy.me app tailored for the self-management of gout. The control group patients will have access to the same app modified to remove all functions except the Gout Attack Diary.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES

The proportion of patients whose serum urate concentrations are less than or equal to 0.36 mmol/L after 6 months. Secondary outcomes will be proportions of patients achieving target urate concentrations at 12 months, ULT adherence rates, serum urate concentrations at 6 and 12 months, rates of attacks of gout, quality of life estimations and process and economic evaluations. The study is designed to detect a ≥30% improvement in the intervention group above the expected 50% achievement of target serum urate at 6 months in the control group: power 0.80, significance level 0.05, assumed 'dropout' rate 20%.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study has been approved by the University of New South Wales Human Research Ethics Committee. Study findings will be disseminated in international conferences and peer-reviewed journal.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12616000455460.

Xanthine oxidoreductase and its inhibitors: relevance for gout

Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) is the rate-limiting enzyme in purine catabolism and converts hypoxanthine to xanthine, and xanthine into uric acid. When concentrations of uric acid exceed its biochemical saturation point, crystals of uric acid, in the form of monosodium urate, emerge and can predispose an individual to gout, the commonest form of inflammatory arthritis in men aged over 40 years. XOR inhibitors are primarily used in the treatment of gout, reducing the formation of uric acid and thereby, preventing the formation of monosodium urate crystals. Allopurinol is established as first-line therapy for gout; a newer alternative, febuxostat, is used in patients unable to tolerate allopurinol. This review provides an overview of gout, a detailed analysis of the structure and function of XOR, discussion on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of XOR inhibitors-allopurinol and febuxostat, and the relevance of XOR in common comorbidities of gout.

A survey on the beliefs and knowledge of gout management in new medical graduates - New South Wales, Australia

AIM

To assess the beliefs and knowledge of gout management in new medical graduates.

METHOD

A survey on gout management was sent to new medical graduates during their orientation week, New South Wales, Australia.

RESULTS

Of 15 hospital networks, 11 agreed to participate. From these, 168 graduates responded (23.7% response rate). Most (81.1%) felt that gout was a serious disease, 51.2% answered that they had been taught adequately to manage acute gout, only 37.2% for chronic gout. In an acute gout flare, 63.4% answered they would continue urate lowering therapy and 67.2% were aware of first-line pharmacological management options; 28% answered the correct dosing regimen for colchicine. Chronic management was answered poorly. Only 42.0% stated they would titrate allopurinol dosing to a target urate level; 23.5% would check the urate level monthly. More than half, 56.8%, were aware that medical prophylaxis is indicated when initiating urate lowering therapy. Of this subgroup, 46.7% (25.9% overall) knew that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and colchicine were recommended and 28.4% (15.4% overall) answered the correct timeframe of use. Close to one-third (35.0%), were aware of febuxostat, probenecid and benzbromarone as second-line urate lowering therapy.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggest that new graduates' knowledge of gout management, especially chronic management, is suboptimal. Many felt their teaching on gout management inadequate; this is a potential target for intervention. Up to date university education which covers chronic management may lead to better clinical outcomes for this burdensome disease.

Treatment approaches and adherence to urate-lowering therapy for patients with gout

Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis characterized by painful disabling acute attacks. It is caused by hyperuricemia and deposition of urate crystals in and around the joints. Long-standing untreated hyperuricemia can lead to chronic arthritis with joint damage, tophi formation and urate nephropathy. Gout is associated with significant morbidity and health care associated cost. The goal of long-term therapy is to lower the serum urate level to promote dissolution of urate crystals, reduce recurrent acute gout flares, resolve tophi and prevent joint damage. Despite the presence of established gout treatment guidelines and effective medications to manage gout, patient outcomes are often poor. Etiology for these shortcomings is multifactorial including both physician and patient characteristics. Poor adherence to urate-lowering therapy (ULT) is prevalent and is a significant contributor to poor patient outcomes. This article reviews the treatment strategies for the management of hyperuricemia in chronic gout, gaps in quality of care in gout management, factors contributing to poor adherence to ULT and discusses potential interventions to achieve improved gout-related outcomes. These interventions include initiation of prophylactic anti-inflammatory medication when starting ULT, frequent follow-ups, regular serum urate monitoring and improved patient education, which can be achieved through pharmacist- or nurse-assisted programs. Interventions such as these could improve adherence to ULT and, ultimately, result in optimal gout-related outcomes.

A qualitative study to explore health professionals’ experience of treating gout: understanding perceived barriers to effective gout management

Abstract INTRODUCTION The management of gout is challenging and mainly occurs in primary care. This study aims to explore the experience of treating gout among primary care clinicians and understand the perceived barriers to effective therapy. METHODS Fourteen health professionals from primary care practices in South Auckland were recruited. Each participated in a semi-structured interview exploring their experience of treating and managing gout patients were analysed thematically. FINDINGS Participants described the large burden of gout in their communities and the importance of the clinician–patient relationship in gout management. Four themes summarise the perceived barriers to effective urate lowering therapy (ULT); unique gout factors, eg its intermittent nature and potential for stigmatisation; systemic barriers to optimal treatment, or barriers that emerge from working within a certain organisation; uncertainty about ownership, or who should carry responsibility for overcoming barriers to optimal treatment; and cultural barriers to optimal treatment. CONCLUSION Clinicians in primary practice perceive gout management to be mainly acute rather than preventive care. Patients may be stigmatised and management difficult particularly when diet is emphasised over ULT. Practice nurses are a group potentially available and willing to assist in educating patients. These findings may be helpful in planning for and improving healthcare in gout. KEYWORDS Gout; general practice; uric acid; primary health care; allopurinol; primary prevention