Takahiro Itaya: Department of Healthcare Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Mie Torii: Department of Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Motomu Hashimoto: Department of Advanced Medicine for Rheumatic Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. mohashim@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp. ORCID
Kazuaki Jindai: Department of Healthcare Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Wataru Yamamoto: Department of Advanced Medicine for Rheumatic Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Kyosuke Tanigawa: Department of Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Yuki Urai: Department of Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Ayae Kinoshita: Department of Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Kazuko Nin: Department of Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Ryu Watanabe: Department of Advanced Medicine for Rheumatic Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Koichi Murata: Department of Advanced Medicine for Rheumatic Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Kosaku Murakami: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Masao Tanaka: Department of Advanced Medicine for Rheumatic Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Hiromu Ito: Department of Advanced Medicine for Rheumatic Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Shuichi Matsuda: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Akio Morinobu: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
OBJECTIVES: To study the perceptions and behavioural changes related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and determine their associations with patient characteristics, such as health literacy. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November of 2020 and included 400 outpatients with RA aged 18 and above. We measured self-reported perceptions as outcomes, such as awareness, knowledge and behaviours related to COVID-19. Health literacy and other characteristics as exposures were investigated using self-report questionnaires and electronic health records. To analyse the association between patient factors and the outcomes, multivariable linear and logistic regression models were performed. RESULTS: In total, 365 patients completed the survey. More than half (51%) of patients reported that they were 'very worried' about possible infection with COVID-19, whereas over 80% believed the possibility of getting COVID-19 was low. In the multivariable analyses, patients with low health literacy had limited knowledge about COVID-19 and did not change daily routines and perform preventive measures. CONCLUSIONS: In this pandemic, healthcare providers may need to be aware of more vulnerable individuals and share COVID-19 related information promptly and effectively with their patients. Key Points • This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the perceptions and behavioural changes related to COVID-19 in patients with RA. • All patients were aware of COVID-19 and most of them worried about getting infected. • Health literacy, age, sex, disease activity and rheumatic drugs were associated with perceptions and behaviours related to COVID-19.
