• Vibeke Strand, Grace C Wright, Martin J Bergman, Jeyanesh Tambiah, and Peter C Taylor.
• From Division of Immunology/Rheumatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA; New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY; Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA; UCB Pharma, Smyrna, GA, USA; Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Oxford, UK.V. Strand, MD, FACP, FACR, Biopharmaceutical Consultant; Adjunct Professor, Division of Immunology/Rheumatology, Stanford University School of Medicine; G.C. Wright, MD, New York University Langone Medical Center; M.J. Bergman, MD, Drexel University College of Medicine; J. Tambiah, MD, UCB Pharma; P.C. Taylor, MD, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology. vstrand@stanford.edu.
• J Rheumatol. 2015 Nov 1; 42 (11): 2046-54.

ObjectiveTo identify how patients perceive the broad effect of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on their daily lives and indicate how RA disease management could benefit from the inclusion of individual goal-setting strategies.MethodsTwo multinational surveys were completed by patients with RA. The "Good Days Fast" survey was conducted to explore the effect of disease on the daily lives and relationships of women with RA. The "Getting to Your Destination Faster" survey examined RA patients' treatment expectations and goal-setting practices.ResultsRespondents from all countries agreed that RA had a substantial negative effect on many aspects of their lives (work productivity, daily routines, participation in social and leisure activities) and emotional well-being (loss of self-confidence, feelings of detachment, isolation). Daily pain was a paramount issue, and being pain- and fatigue-free was considered the main indicator of a "good day." Setting personal, social, and treatment goals, as well as monitoring disease progress to achieve these, was considered very beneficial by patients with RA, but discussion of treatment goals seldom appeared to be a part of medical appointments.ConclusionMany patients with RA feel unable to communicate their disease burden and treatment goals, which are critically important to them, to their healthcare provider (HCP). Insights gained from these 2 surveys should help to guide patients and HCP to better focus upon mutually defined goals for continued improvement of management and achievement of optimal care in RA.

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