Title
Recruitment characteristics and non-adherence associated factors of fibromyalgia patients in a randomized clinical trial: A retrospective survival analysis
Date Issued
01 December 2021
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Cardenas-Rojas A.
Castelo-Branco L.
Shaikh E.S.
Uygur-Kucukseymen E.
Giannoni-Luza S.
Vasconcelos Felippe L.
Gonzalez-Mego P.
Luna-Cuadros M.A.
Gianlorenco A.C.L.
Teixeira P.E.P.
Caumo W.
Fregni F.
Publisher(s)
Elsevier Inc.
Abstract
Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a complex pain condition that affects mostly women. Given the disease's lack of understanding, patients report poor adherence to medication and mistrust of medical services. This study aims to describe the recruitment characteristics and non-adherence associated factors of fibromyalgia patients to an RCT. Methods: We performed a retrospective longitudinal analysis with data from our ongoing RCT. We investigated characteristics of subjects recruited, consented, and randomized. Adherence was studied using survival analysis techniques, and its associated factors were identified using Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results: 524 subjects were contacted, 269 were eligible, 61 consented and 40 subjects were randomized. Thirty-eight percent were non-adherent to the protocol with a median of visits of five. The recruitment survey reported that 90% would likely participate in RCTs, 52% had previous participation, and 19% were aware of RCTs by their physicians. Some barriers were investigator-related (staff's friendliness and receiving the results of their trial participation) and center-related (privacy-confidentiality issues and the institution's reputation), without difference between adherent and non-adherent participants. We report significant factors for non-adherence as VAS anxiety score of 5 or more (5.3 HR, p = 0.01), Body Mass Index (BMI) (0.91 HR, p = 0.041) and Quality of Life (QoL) – Personal development subdomain (0.89 HR, p = 0.046). Conclusion: Recruitment and adherence of fibromyalgia patients is a challenge; however, they seem eager to participate in RCTs. We recommend creating a comfortable, friendly and trusting environment to increase the recruitment rate. Higher anxiety, lower BMI and lower quality of life were associated with a higher attrition rate.
Volume
24
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Reumatología
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85119404838
Source
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications
ISSN of the container
24518654
Sponsor(s)
This work is supported by the National Institutes of Health ( R01 AT009491-01A1 ).
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus